Profiling the Active Site of a Copper Enzyme through Its Far-Infrared Fingerprint

摘要

Present in all eukaryotic cells, the Cu,Zn-superoxide dismu-tase enzyme (Cu,Zn-SOD) plays a key role in the protection of cells against aging caused by superoxide and deriving reactive oxygen species. Dismutation of superoxide (O2~(-·)) into dioxygen and hydrogen peroxide is catalyzed by Cu,Zn-SOD at one of the fastest enzyme rates (around 10~3 M S~(-1)). Dismutation of O2~(-·) directly involves the redox Cu~(II)/Cu~I center [Eqs. (1) and (2)].