Protein conformation from electron spin relaxation data

Biophys J. 1982 Jun;38(3):299-310. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(82)84562-1.

Abstract

Electron spin relaxation data from five ferric proteins are analyzed in terms of the fractal model of protein structures. Details of this model are presented. The results lead to a characterization of protein structures by a single parameter, the fractal dimension, d. This structural parameter is shown to determine the temperature dependence of the Raman electron spin relaxation rate, which varies as T3 + 2d. Computations of d are made using x-ray data for 17 proteins. The results range from d = 1.76 for lysozyme to d = 1.34 for ferredoxin. These values are compared with values of d obtained from the present electron spin relaxation data on five ferric proteins. Typical results are d = 1.34 +/- 0.06 from relaxation data and 1.34 +/- 0.05 from x-ray data for ferredoxin; d = 1.67 +/- 0.03 from relaxation data and 1.66 +/- 0.05 from x-ray data for ferricytochrome c. The data thus support the theoretical model. Applications of this spin resonance technique to the study of changes in protein conformation are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Cytochrome c Group
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Ferredoxins
  • Horses
  • Mathematics
  • Muramidase
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Pseudomonas
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Cytochrome c Group
  • Ferredoxins
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Muramidase