The effect of anions on the oxidase activity of rat ceruloplasmin

Ceruloplasmin: the copper transport protein with essential oxidase activity

Ceruloplasmin, the blue copper-protein of vertebrate plasma, has been reviewed mainly from a functional point of view. However we have surveyed the chemistry and state copper in the molecule because of the implications of the recent data of Ryden (13,28). His observations suggest that unless special precautions are taken in the isolation of ceruloplasmin degradation, probably proteolytic, produces fragments of various sizes. When isolated, these fragments appear to be held together by noncovalent interactions. Comparison of their catalytic and spectral properties reveals no significant differences from a single homogeneous species of molecular weight of 134,000 isolated by Ryden's methods. On the other hand, the homogeneous molecule may differ in properties highly sensitive to conformation and three-dimensional parameters. Three types of copper atoms have been identified in ceruloplasmin, but their amino acid environment is still unknown. Ceruloplasmin possesses significant oxidase activity towards Fe(II) and numerous aromatic amines and phenols. Its ferroxidase activity has led to the discovery that it is a molecular link between copper and iron metabolism. Ceruloplasmin mobilizes iron into the plasma from iron storage cells in the liver. An equally important duty is that ceruloplasmin, after its rapid biosynthesis in the liver, serves as a major copper transport vehicle, comparable to transferrin. Evidence is accumulating that the copper atoms of ceruloplasmin are a prerequisite for copper utilization in the biosynthesis of cytochrome oxidase and other copper proteins. The ability of ceruloplasmin to release copper at specific cellular sites may be related to its broad substrate spectrum of biological reducing agents. A possible third role of ceruloplasmin is as a contributor to the regulation of the balance of biogenic amines through its oxidase action on the epinephrine and the hydroxyindole series. Thus ceruloplasmin is a copper-protein with several important functions, all of which are directly related to its oxidase activity.

Purification and partial characterization of camel (Camelus Dromedarius) ceruloplasmin

Adult and young camel ceruloplasmin (Cp) were isolated and purified using the single-step chromatography on amino ethyl-activated sepharose. There are no differences between the adult and the young camel protein. The molecular mass of the protein, as estimated by SDS-PAGE (denaturant conditions), was approximately 130000 Da. The electrophoretic mobility of camel Cp is slightly higher as compared to human and sheep protein suggesting that the camel Cp is homogeneous, compact and more acid. The copper content was estimated to be 5.8+/-0.3 atoms per molecule. The spectroscopic feature includes an absorption maximum at 610 nm, which could be attributed to type 1 copper. The EPR spectrum was completely devoid of any typical signal of the type 2 copper. The kinetic parameters of the adult camel Cp for the specific activity as p-phenylendiamine oxidase were determined as K(m)=0.42 mM and V(max)=0.93 microM NADH/mn/mg Cp. The optimum pH for the activity was 5.7.

Modulation of the redox state of the copper sites of human ceruloplasmin by chloride

Incubation of human ceruloplasmin with physiological concentrations of chloride at neutral pH invariably caused dramatic changes of both the spectroscopic and the functional properties of the protein. The optical intensity at 610 nm increased up to 60%, with a concomitant decrease at 330 nm and the appearance of new bands between 410 and 500 nm. Signals previously undetectable appeared in the EPR spectrum. On the basis of computer simulations, they were interpreted as stemming from an oxidized type 1 copper site and from a half-reduced type 3 copper pair. Removal of chloride completely restored the original optical and EPR lineshapes. Hydrogen peroxide, added to ceruloplasmin in the presence of chloride, was able to capture the electron of the half-reduced type 3 site and to yield a protein insensitive to subsequent removal and readdition of the anion. As a whole, the spectroscopic data indicate that a blue site is partially reduced in the resting protein and that, upon binding of chloride, human ceruloplasmin undergoes a structural change leading to displacement of an electron from the reduced type 1 site to the type 3 site pair. Chloride dramatically affected the catalytic efficiency of human ceruloplasmin. At neutral pH, the anion was an activator of the oxidase activity, being able to enhance up to tenfold the catalytic rate. At pH < 6, in line with all previous reports, chloride strongly inhibited the activity. At intermediate pH values, i.e., around 6, the effect was composite, with an activating effect at low concentration and an inhibitory effect at higher concentration. Since chloride is present at very high concentrations in the plasma, these results suggest that human ceruloplasmin is, in the plasma, under control of this anion.

Unusual stability properties of a reptilian ceruloplasmin

Ceruloplasmin from the turtle Caretta caretta was isolated to purity by using the single-step procedure recently developed by us to purify sheep and chicken ceruloplasmin. It has a Mr of ca. 145,000 and a total copper content of 5.1 +/- 0.2 atoms of copper per molecule, 50% of which are detectable by EPR. The spectroscopic features include an absorption maximum at 603 nm in the electronic spectrum and the total absence of any resonance attributable to Type 2 copper in the EPR spectrum. Turtle ceruloplasmin was found to be unusually resistant to aging and proteolysis, when compared to ceruloplasmins isolated from other species. p-Phenyl-endiamine oxidase activity measurements revealed an unusually low catalytic efficiency, while the kinetic parameters of Fe(II) oxidation were consistent with those reported for other species of ceruloplasmin.

The biological role of ceruloplasmin and its oxidase activity

Ceruloplasmin (ferroxidase) the blue Cu-protein of vertebrate plasma, possesses significant oxidase activity towards Fe(II) and numerous aromatic amines and phenols. Its ferroxidase activity has led to the discovery that it is a molecular link between copper and iron metabolism. Ceruloplasmin mobilizes iron into the plasma from iron storage cells in the liver. An additional role of Cp may be as a contributor to the regulation of the balance of biogenic amines through its oxidase action on the epinephrine and the hydroxyindole series. Ceruloplasmin also serves as a major copper transport vehicle, comparable to transferrin for iron. Evidence is presented that the copper atoms of Cp are a prerequisite for copper utilization in the biosynthesis of cytochrome oxidase. The ability of Cp to release copper at specific cellular sites is believed to be related to its broad substrate spectrum of biological reducing agents. Thus Cp is a serum protein with several important functions, all of which are directly related to its oxidase activity.