The binding of cytochrome c to neuroglobin: a docking and surface plasmon resonance study

It has recently been proposed that the role of neuroglobin in the protection of neurons from ischaemia induced cell death requires the formation of a transient complex with cytochrome c. No such complex has yet been isolated. Here, we present the results of soft docking calculations, which indicate one major binding site for cytochrome c to neuroglobin. The results yield a plausible structure for the most likely complex structure in which the hemes of each protein are in close contact. NMR analysis identifies the formation of a weak complex in which the heme group of cytochrome c is involved. surface plasmon resonance studies provide a value of 45 microM for the equilibrium constant for cytochrome c binding to neuroglobin, which increases significantly as the ionic strength of the solution increases. The temperature dependence of the binding constant indicates that the complex formation is associated with a small unfavourable enthalpy change (1.9 kcal mol(-1)) and a moderately large, favourable entropy change (14.8 cal mol(-1) deg(-1)). The sensitivity of the binding constant to the presence of salt suggests that the complex formation involves electrostatic interactions.