The positive charge at position 189 is essential for the catalytic activity of iron- and manganese-containing superoxide dismutases

Abstract

We have previously shown (C.L. Borders, Jr. et al., (1989) Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 268, 74-80) that the iron-containing (FeSOD) and manganese-containing (MnSOD) superoxide dismutases from Escherichia coli are extensively (greater than 98%) inactivated by treatment with phenylglyoxal, an arginine-specific reagent. Examination of the published primary sequences of these two enzymes shows that Arg-189 is the only conserved arginine. This arginine is also conserved in the three additional FeSODs and seven of the eight additional MnSODs sequenced to date, with the only exception being the MnSOD from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in which it is conservatively replaced by lysine. Treatment of S. cerevisiae MnSOD with phenylglyoxal under the same conditions used for the E. coli enzymes gives very little inactivation. However, treatment with low levels of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate (TNBS) and acetic anhydride, two lysine-selective reagents that cause a maximum of 65-80% inactivation of the E. coli SODs, gives complete inactivation of the yeast enzyme. Total inactivation of yeast MnSOD with TNBS correlates with the modification of approximately 5 lysines per subunit, whereas 6-7 lysines per subunit are acylated with acetic anhydride on complete inactivation. It appears that the positive charge contributed by residue 189, lysine in yeast MnSOD and arginine in all other SODs, may be critical for the catalytic activity of MnSODs and FeSODs.