No presente trabalho, realizado com hemoproteínas na forma de pó, o efeito da hidratação foi observado através de espectroscopia fotoacústica. Amostras de carboxi-hemoglobina e carboxi-mioglobina mantidas em diferentes ambientes de umidade relativa (UR), mostraram variações em seus espectros na região da banda de Soret. Para amostras mantidas em baixa hidratação característico do derivado carboxi, em alta hidratação (acima de aproximadamente 90% UR) o espectro era característico do derivado carboxi e na região intermediária o espectro era de uma mistura dos dois derivados. Essa mudança de ligante observada em alta hidratação pode ser explicada supondo que a proteína tem flexibilidade e atinge um estado conformacional que possibilita a entrada e saída do ligante. Em baixa hidratação a estrutura da proteína é rígida e tal que o acesso ao grupo heme está fechado, impossibilitando a troca do ligante. Essa explicação é coerente com vários resultados experimentais que indicam a existência de duas estruturas para essas hemoproteínas em solução / At the present work accomplished with powder of hemoproteins, the hydration effect was observed through photoacoustic spectroscopy. Samples of caroxyhemoglobin and carboxymyglobin kept at different relative humidity (RH) environments, showed variations in their spectra in the Soret bad region. For the samples which were kept at low hydration (Bellow about 33% RH) the spectrum was characteristic of carboxy derivative, whereas at high hydration (above about 93% RH) the spectrum was characteristic of oxy derivative, and in the the intermediate region the spectrum was a mixture of both derivatives. This ligand change observed at high hydration, may be explained assuming that the protein has flexibility, and reach a conformational state which enables the ligand to GO in and out. At low hydrations the protein structure is rigid and such that the access to the heme group is closed becoming impossible the ligand change. This explanation agrees with several experimental results that point to the existence of two structures to these hemoproteins in solution

Cristais de mioglobina tipo A foram dopados por processo de difusão com o marcador 2, 2, 6, 6 - tetrametil-l-oxil (TEMPO). Observa-se a existência de uma espécie de marcador isotrópica e outra anisotrópica, que exibe uma simetria axial com A// = 23,4 G, A&#8869 = 20, 6 G e g = 2,0056. São estimados os tempos de correlação rotacional &#964// = 7,2.10-9s e &#964&#8869 = 4,8.10-9s. Uma análise do grau de hidrofobicidade dos resíduos, situados na parte interna da molécula, sugere como um possível sitio de localização para o TEMPO o bolso formado na região da tirosina 103 - hélice H e 151 - terminal 3HC. Este bolso tem tamanho suficiente para abrigar o radical e posição coerente com a heme, o que não acontece com outros sítios. Observa-se uma mudança conformacional da proteína, induzida pela temperatura na região 20-30&#176. Esta pode ser atribuída a um movimento da hélice H. Este resultado somado ao de outros autores indica uma mudança conformacional de grande extensão na molécula. / Type A myoglobin single crystals were doped with the 2, 2, 6, 6 -tetramethyl - 1 - oxyl (TEMPO) spin label by a diffusion process. We observed one isotropic spin label type, and another anisotropic type which shows an axial symmetry with A// = 23,4 G, A&#8869 = 20, 6 G and g = 2,0056. The rotational correlation times are estimated to be a &#964// = 7,2.10-9s and &#964&#8869 = 4,8.10-9s. A quantitative analysis on the hydrophobic nature of the residues situated inside the molecule suggests, as a possible site for the TEMPO, the pocket formed in the region of tyrosine 103-helix H and tyrpsine 151 - terminal 3HC. This pocket is of sufficient size to contain the radical and is positioned in such fashion as to be a compatible with the heme group, this not holding for other sites. A temperature induced conformational change in the protein is observed in the region 20-30&#176, which may be ascribed to a shift of the H helix. This fact, together with the finds of other authors, seems to indicate a generalized temperature induced conformational alteration in the molecule.

A novel experimental approach for micro-absorption spectroscopy and high-pressure microscopy of single cells is developed and applied to the investigation of morphological, volume, and spectroscopic changes in healthy red blood cells (RBCs) and erythrocytes infected with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Through real-time optical imaging of individual erythrocytes (size ~ 7[micrometer]) we determine the change in volume over the pressure range from 0.1 to 210 MPa. The lateral diameter of healthy RBCs decreases reversibly with pressure with an approximate slope of 0.015 [micrometer] / MPa. In infected cells, clear differences in the deformability and between the compression and decompression curves are observed. The results are discussed with respect to the elasticity of the phospholipid membrane and the spectrin molecular network. Employing micro-absorption spectroscopy with spatial resolution of 1.4 [micrometer] in the lateral and 3.6 [micrometer] in the axial direction the visible absorption spectrum of hemoglobin in a single red blood cell is measured under physiological conditions. The spectra of cells infected with the malaria parasite show changes in peak positions and relative intensities in the Soret and [alpha]- and [beta]- bands. These indicate hemoglobin degradation that can be correlated with the stages of the parasite multiplication cycle and can be used as a potential diagnostic marker. The research is further extended towards the understanding of pressure effects on the ligand binding kinetics to heme proteins. For a well characterized reaction at ambient pressure, CO binding to myoglobin in solution, we investigate the transient absorption following laser flash photolysis over eight decades in time at variable pressure and temperature. The data demonstrate that pressure significantly affects the amplitudes (not just the rates) of the component processes. The amplitude of the geminate process increases with pressure corresponding to a smaller escape fraction of ligands into the solvent and a smaller inner barrier.

Neste trabalho são estudadas as mioglobínas de Aplysía Brasiliana (MbApB) e da tartaruga marinha \"Dermoche lis Coriacea\" (MbT) focalizando a transição ácida alcalina (TAA), a interação com metais de transição e mudanças conformacionais induzidas - termicamente com objetivo de observar diferenças estruturais destas mioglobinas. A TAA da MbApB possui um pK = 7,2 quando observada Fe3+ em espectro do Fe3+ em g1 = 5,83 e pK = 7,5 quando medida através da absorção óptica (&#955=590nm). O espectro de EPR do Fe+ a pH alcalino revela uma distorção rômbica no campo cristalino do ferro que esta de acordo com a ausência da histidina distantes ta proteína. Além disso, as linhas associadas à configuração de baixo spin são bastante alargadas. Este alargamento de linha PQ de ser explicado por uma flutuação no posicionamento da heme em relação aos eixos de simetria. A MbApB forma complexos com o Cu2+ e Mn2+ . Existe som te um sitio de ligação para esses metais na proteína. Este sítio provavelmente envolve ligantes comuns ao Mn2+ e Cu2+ pois a ligação é competitiva, indicando que o complexo com o Cu2+ é mais estável do que com Mn2+ (KAMn2+ = (11,5-0,8).103 M-1 ). O complexo MbApB: Cu2+ exibe uma transição dependente do pH indicando uma mudança na coordenação do Cu2+ . Esta transição pode ser ajustada teoricamente admitindo-se uma interconversão entre duas formas, fornecendo um pK = 11,0. Observa-se também que a complexação da MbApB com mais de um Cu2+ provoca desnaturação. A TAA da MbT foi estudada por absorção óptica (pK=8,4) e EPR (pK = 8,3). Os espectros de EPR mostram que o Fe3+ esta num campo cristalino com simetria axial e distorção rômbica. As medidas de absorção óptica revelam pontos isosbéstioos praticamente idênticos aos de outras mioglobinas e um espectro na região de Soret típico de hemoproteínas que possuem a histidina distal. Estes dados permitem antecipar que a MbT deve possuir os mesmos resíduos de aminoácidos na região da heme que a Mb(II), porem com a histidina E-7 ligeiramente inclinada em relação ao eixo de simetria da heme. As mudanças conformacionais induzidas pela temperatura foram estudadas para a MbT em várias pH\'s. Esta proteína possui uma cisteína em sua cadeia polipeptídica que permite a ligação de um marcador de spin especifico para os grupos SR. Os resultados obtidos através do espectro de EPR do marcador de spin e da absorção óptica do Fe3+ permitem concluir que esta proteína exibe o fenômeno de pré-desnaturação e a transição da forma nativa para a desnaturada é o resultado de uma seqüência de etapas indicando que existem estados intermediários. / The myoblobins of \"Applysia Brasiliana\" (MbApB) and of the sea turtle \"Dermochelis Coriacea\" (MbT) are studied in this work with special attention devoted to the acid-aIkaIyne transition (AAT) , the interaction with transition metals and temperature induced conformational changes in order to characterize structural differences in these proteins. The AAT of MbApB has a pK = 7.2 obtained from the EPR spectra of Fe3+ at g1 = 5,83 and a pK = 7,5 obtained from optical absorption (&#955=590nm). The EPR Spectrum of Fe3+ at alkaline pH shows a rhombic distortion the ion crystal field which is in agreement with the absence in this protein of the distal histidine residue. The ESR lines associated with the low spin configuration are considerably broadened. This effect can be explained by fluctuations on the heme position relative to the symmetry axis. MbApB forms complexes with both Cu2+ and Mn2+ only one binding site is obtained for both metals in the protein. This site probably has common ligands for Mn2+ and Cu2+ as the binding is competitive, suggesting also that the Cu2+ complex is more stable than the Mn2+ one (KAMn2+ = (11,5-0,8).103 M-1 ). The Cu2+: MbApB complex shows a pH dependent transition probably related to a change in the Cu2+ coordination. This transition can be adjusted assuming an interconversion between two different forms with a pK = 11,0. Addition of more than one Cu2+ ion per MbApB produces the denaturation of the protein. The AAT of MbT was studied through optical absorption (pK =: 8,4) and EPR (pK =: 8.3). The EPR spectra show that the Fe3+ ion is in a crystal field with axial symmetry with rhombic distortion. Measurements of optical absorption show isosbestic points practically identical to other hemoproteins with the distal histidina present. Our data permit to anticipate that MbT probably has the same aminoacid residues in the heme region as Mb (II), and thÉit a slight displacement of the histidine E-7 about the heme symmetry axis is observed. Temperature induced conformational changes were studied in MbT at various pH\'s. This protein has a cysteine residue in the polypeptide chain which allows the binding of a specific spin label, a maleimide derivative. Our results from the EBR spectra of the spin label attached to MbT together with the optical absorption by Fe3+ lead to the conclusion that this protein exhibits a pre-denaturation behaviour and the transition from the native to the denatured forms in a result of a sequence of steps suggesting the existence of intermediate states.

Neste trabalho são estudadas as mioglobínas de Aplysía Brasiliana (MbApB) e da tartaruga marinha \"Dermoche lis Coriacea\" (MbT) focalizando a transição ácida alcalina (TAA), a interação com metais de transição e mudanças conformacionais induzidas - termicamente com objetivo de observar diferenças estruturais destas mioglobinas. A TAA da MbApB possui um pK = 7,2 quando observada Fe3+ em espectro do Fe3+ em g1 = 5,83 e pK = 7,5 quando medida através da absorção óptica (&#955=590nm). O espectro de EPR do Fe+ a pH alcalino revela uma distorção rômbica no campo cristalino do ferro que esta de acordo com a ausência da histidina distantes ta proteína. Além disso, as linhas associadas à configuração de baixo spin são bastante alargadas. Este alargamento de linha PQ de ser explicado por uma flutuação no posicionamento da heme em relação aos eixos de simetria. A MbApB forma complexos com o Cu2+ e Mn2+ . Existe som te um sitio de ligação para esses metais na proteína. Este sítio provavelmente envolve ligantes comuns ao Mn2+ e Cu2+ pois a ligação é competitiva, indicando que o complexo com o Cu2+ é mais estável do que com Mn2+ (KAMn2+ = (11,5-0,8).103 M-1 ). O complexo MbApB: Cu2+ exibe uma transição dependente do pH indicando uma mudança na coordenação do Cu2+ . Esta transição pode ser ajustada teoricamente admitindo-se uma interconversão entre duas formas, fornecendo um pK = 11,0. Observa-se também que a complexação da MbApB com mais de um Cu2+ provoca desnaturação. A TAA da MbT foi estudada por absorção óptica (pK=8,4) e EPR (pK = 8,3). Os espectros de EPR mostram que o Fe3+ esta num campo cristalino com simetria axial e distorção rômbica. As medidas de absorção óptica revelam pontos isosbéstioos praticamente idênticos aos de outras mioglobinas e um espectro na região de Soret típico de hemoproteínas que possuem a histidina distal. Estes dados permitem antecipar que a MbT deve possuir os mesmos resíduos de aminoácidos na região da heme que a Mb(II), porem com a histidina E-7 ligeiramente inclinada em relação ao eixo de simetria da heme. As mudanças conformacionais induzidas pela temperatura foram estudadas para a MbT em várias pH\'s. Esta proteína possui uma cisteína em sua cadeia polipeptídica que permite a ligação de um marcador de spin especifico para os grupos SR. Os resultados obtidos através do espectro de EPR do marcador de spin e da absorção óptica do Fe3+ permitem concluir que esta proteína exibe o fenômeno de pré-desnaturação e a transição da forma nativa para a desnaturada é o resultado de uma seqüência de etapas indicando que existem estados intermediários. / The myoblobins of \"Applysia Brasiliana\" (MbApB) and of the sea turtle \"Dermochelis Coriacea\" (MbT) are studied in this work with special attention devoted to the acid-aIkaIyne transition (AAT) , the interaction with transition metals and temperature induced conformational changes in order to characterize structural differences in these proteins. The AAT of MbApB has a pK = 7.2 obtained from the EPR spectra of Fe3+ at g1 = 5,83 and a pK = 7,5 obtained from optical absorption (&#955=590nm). The EPR Spectrum of Fe3+ at alkaline pH shows a rhombic distortion the ion crystal field which is in agreement with the absence in this protein of the distal histidine residue. The ESR lines associated with the low spin configuration are considerably broadened. This effect can be explained by fluctuations on the heme position relative to the symmetry axis. MbApB forms complexes with both Cu2+ and Mn2+ only one binding site is obtained for both metals in the protein. This site probably has common ligands for Mn2+ and Cu2+ as the binding is competitive, suggesting also that the Cu2+ complex is more stable than the Mn2+ one (KAMn2+ = (11,5-0,8).103 M-1 ). The Cu2+: MbApB complex shows a pH dependent transition probably related to a change in the Cu2+ coordination. This transition can be adjusted assuming an interconversion between two different forms with a pK = 11,0. Addition of more than one Cu2+ ion per MbApB produces the denaturation of the protein. The AAT of MbT was studied through optical absorption (pK =: 8,4) and EPR (pK =: 8.3). The EPR spectra show that the Fe3+ ion is in a crystal field with axial symmetry with rhombic distortion. Measurements of optical absorption show isosbestic points practically identical to other hemoproteins with the distal histidina present. Our data permit to anticipate that MbT probably has the same aminoacid residues in the heme region as Mb (II), and thÉit a slight displacement of the histidine E-7 about the heme symmetry axis is observed. Temperature induced conformational changes were studied in MbT at various pH\'s. This protein has a cysteine residue in the polypeptide chain which allows the binding of a specific spin label, a maleimide derivative. Our results from the EBR spectra of the spin label attached to MbT together with the optical absorption by Fe3+ lead to the conclusion that this protein exhibits a pre-denaturation behaviour and the transition from the native to the denatured forms in a result of a sequence of steps suggesting the existence of intermediate states.

Hemoproteins represent very important components of many living organisms. Participation in the processes of oxygen transport and storage, electron transport or enzymatic catalysis of reactions involving oxygen or hydrogen peroxide are commonly known functions of hemoproteins. Recently, there has been discovered a new group of hemoproteins. The main feature of this new group of proteins is their ability to detect changes in heme concentration (heme-responsive proteins) or changes in diatomic gas concentration (gas-responsive heme-containing sensor proteins) in their vicinity. Detection of these concentration changes generates signals that induce structural changes of the respective sensor proteins. Finally, the structural changes of the respective sensor proteins affect their functions or activities. The subject of this diploma thesis is the preparation and characterization of the eukaryotic heme sensor Bach1. We especially focused on the ability of Bach1 to bind heme molecules and on the comparison of various Bach1 properties in its apoform and holoform. Determination of the exact amount of heme molecules that specifically interact with heme sensor Bach1 represents very important part of this thesis. We also studied the effect of different redox states of heme iron and the presence of interaction...

A limited understanding of iron uptake mechanisms is available for Streptococcus pyogenes, a hemolytic human pathogen capable of using a variety of hemoproteins in addition to ferric and ferrous iron. This study characterizes the transporters of iron-complexes siuADBG (for streptococcal iron uptake) and siaABC (for streptococcal iron acquisition). These ABC-type transporters are encoded by iron regulated operons and their protein products are homologous to components of heme and siderophore transporters found in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Mutants of the membrane permeases siuG and siaB were constructed and characterized. Mutations in both transporters demonstrated growth reduction in comparison to the parent strain when grown in complex medium containing iron in the form of hemoglobin. The addition of heme to the growth medium inhibited ferric uptake by the wild-type while the addition of protoporphyrin IX did not, suggesting that heme utilization as an iron source is responsible for the inhibition of ferric accumulation. Inactivation of siuG reduced the ability of heme to inhibit ferric incorporation by the cells. Inactivation of siaB in addition to siuG had a cumulative effect, indicating that both siu and sia transporters are involved in heme utilization. We also demonstrated that purified rSiaA, the surface receptor of SiaABC, binds heme and hemoglobin in vitro, and we propose a mechanism of heme binding by SiaA. Studies in a zebrafish infection model revealed that the siuG mutant was attenuated in producing disease. While the siaB mutant also presented virulence attenuation, infection by this mutant was characterized by an increase in the host inflammatory response. These observations show that iron acquisition is important for S. pyogenes virulence. We propose that the SiaABC and SiuADBG, together with the multi-metal transporter MtsABC, are involved in iron acquisition from different iron sources present in the human body, thus contributing to the survival and pathogenesis of S. pyogenes.

L’objectif de ce travail est l’obtention de mimes efficaces d’hémoprotéines telles le cytochrome P450, la myoglobine ou la cytochrome c oxydase, grâce à des variations synthétiques autour d’une porphyrine à anse phénanthroline (Porphen). Un nouveau modèle de cytochrome c oxydase a plus particulièrement été analysé ici. Il est préparé par substitution des deux positions meso d’une Zn-Porphen. Des phénomènes dynamiques ont été observés et étudiés par RMN 1H, mettant en évidence la présence d’atropoisomères et la coordination-décoordination de la pyridine proximale sur le zinc. Le remplacement du zinc par du fer a ensuite permis l’étude de la coordination d’un sixième ligand exogène dans un site distal dynamique. L’évolution de la géométrie du complexe a été suivie par spectrophotométrie UV-Visible et RPE. En présence de ligands azotés de type midazoles, il se forme dans tous les cas des complexes [1 récepteur/ 1 substrat]. La forte affinité de notre modèle pour le dioxygène a été montrée à la fois par spectrophotométrie UV-Visible, RMN 1H et par résonance Raman. Que ce soit en UV-Visible ou en RMN, la réversibilité du dioxygène a été montré par son remplacement par du CO. La souplesse de cette nouvelle architecture a été mise en évidence, par l’observation d’une relative flexibilité lors des études par spectroscopie IR de la fixation de CO dans le site distal. Cette adaptabilité est également à l’origine d’un comportement assez surprenant en électrochimie, où la réduction du fer(III) et l’oxydation du cuivre(I) en présence de O2 sont facilitées. En électrocatalyse, la réduction de O2 par ce nouveau modèle de cytochrome c oxydase n’est pas facilitée en terme de potentiel, mais efficace quant à la contribution d’un mécanisme à 4 électrons. / The purpose of this work was to prepare efficient models of cytochrome P450, hemoglobin and cytochrome c oxidase, by various synthetic modifications on a phenanthroline-strapped porphyrin (Porphen). In particular, a new model of cytochrome c oxidase was analyzed here. This compound was obtained by substitution of both meso positions of a Zn-Porphen. Dynamics phenoma were observed and analyzed by 1H NMR, showing the presence of atropoisomers and coordination-decoordination of the proximal pyridine on zinc. Zinc was then replaced by iron, which allows the coordination of a sixth exogenous ligand in the dynamic distal site. The evolution of the complexes’ geometry was monitored by UV-Visible spectrophotometry and EPR. In the presence of imidazolesligands, complexes [1 receptor/ 1 substrate] were observed in all cases. Our model’s high affinity for dioxygen was shown by UV-Visible and 1H NMR spectroscopy and Raman resonance. In UV-Visible and NMR studies, the reversibility of dioxygen binding was demonstrated by replacement with CO.The versatility of this new architecture was demonstrated during IR studies by the relative flexibility of the CO binding in the distal site. This versatility also led to surprisingly behavior in electrochemistry, where the reduction of iron(III) and the oxidation of copper(I) were easier in the presence of O2. In electrocatalysis, the reduction of O2 by this new cytochrome c oxidase model was not easier in terms of potentiel, but was efficient in a 4-electrons mechanism.

Cette thèse porte sur deux projets visant au développement de nouvelles approches pour simuler les dynamiques moléculaire et électronique avec application à des biomolécules étendues. Dans la première partie nous cherchons à améliorer significativement la précision des simulations des propriétés rédox des protéines. Dans ce contexte, l'objectif est de recourir à de champ de force reposant sur une description multipolaire des interactions électrostatiques (AMOEBA) pour estimer les potentiels redox d'hémoprotéines. Nous avons dérivé des paramètres pour AMOEBA afin de décrire précisément les interactions électrostatiques avec l'hème. Une amélioration très encourageante est obtenue par rapport aux champs de forces standard. Le second projet vise à développer de nouvelles méthodes pour étudier la dynamique des électrons dans des biomolécules à l'échelle attoseconde en incluant les effets d'environnement. Nous avons conçu un couplage original entre la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité dépendant du temps (RT-TDDFT) et un modèle de mécanique moléculaire polarisable (MMpol). Une implémentation efficace et robuste de cette méthode a été réalisée dans le logiciel deMon2k. L'utilisation de techniques d'ajustements de densités électroniques auxiliaires permet de réduire drastiquement le coût de calcul des propagations RT-TDDFT/MMpol. La méthode est appliquée à l'analyse de la dissipation d'énergie dans l'environnement d'un peptide excité par un impulsion laser. / This thesis involves two projects devoted to the development of advanced approaches for simulating molecular and electron dynamics in extended biomolecules. The first project aims at significantly improving the accuracy of redox potentials of proteins by numerical simulations. A sophisticated force field relying on a multipolar description of electrostartic interactions (AMOEBA) is used to perform molecular dynamics simulations onheme proteins. We derived parameters for AMOEBA to accurately describe electrostatic interactions with hemein both ferrous and ferric states. Very encouraging improvements are obtained compared to the standard force fields. The second project aims at developing original approaches for simulating ultrafast electron dynamics in biomolecules in contact to polarizable environments. We devised acombination of Real-time Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (RT-TDDFT) and polarizable Molecular Mechanics (MMpol). An efficient and robust implementation of this method has been realized in deMon2k software. Density fitting techniques allow to reduce the computational cost of RT-TDDFT/MMpol propagations. The methodology is applied to understand the mechanisms of energy dissipation of a peptide excited by a laser pulse.