Arg375 tunes tetrahydrobiopterin functions and modulates catalysis by inducible nitric oxide synthase

NO synthase enzymes (NOS) support unique single-electron transitions of a bound H(4)B cofactor during catalysis. Previous studies showed that both the pterin structure and surrounding protein residues impact H(4)B redox function during catalysis. A conserved Arg residue (Arg375 in iNOS) forms hydrogen bonds with the H(4)B ring. In order to understand the role of this residue in modulating the function of H(4)B and overall NO synthesis of the enzyme, we generated and characterized three mutants R375D, R375K and R375N of the oxygenase domain of inducible NOS (iNOSoxy). The mutations affected the dimer stability of iNOSoxy and its binding affinity toward substrates and H(4)B to varying degrees. Optical spectra of the ferric, ferrous, ferrous dioxy, ferrous-NO, ferric-NO, and ferrous-CO forms of each mutant were similar to the wild-type. However, mutants displayed somewhat lower heme midpoint potentials and faster ferrous heme-NO complex reactivity with O(2). Unlike the wild-type protein, mutants could not oxidize NOHA to nitrite in a H(2)O(2)-driven reaction. Mutation could potentially change the ferrous dioxy decay rate, H(4)B radical formation rate, and the amount of the Arg hydroxylation during single turnover Arg hydroxylation reaction. All mutants were able to form heterodimers with the iNOS G450A full-length protein and displayed lower NO synthesis activities and uncoupled NADPH consumption. We conclude that the conserved residue Arg375 (1) regulates the tempo and extent of the electron transfer between H(4)B and ferrous dioxy species and (2) controls the reactivity of the heme-based oxidant formed after electron transfer from H(4)B during steady state NO synthesis and H(2)O(2)-driven NOHA oxidation. Thus, Arg375 modulates the redox function of H(4)B and is important in controlling the catalytic function of NOS enzymes.