Thiol- and pH-modulated slow conformational changes and cooperativity of phenol-binding sites in phenol hydroxylase

Spectrophotometric titration of phenol hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.7) with phenol indicated interacting sites for phenol binding. In the absence of added thiol, the cooperativity was positive up to a pH around 8.0 but negative at higher pH values. With added thiol-ethylenediaminetetraacetate, the cooperativity was negative at all investigated pH values. Conversely, a corresponding titration of an enzyme preparation that had been selectively modified in its two most reactive SH groups indicated positive cooperativity at all studied pH values. This selective modification affects the activity of the enzyme to a very minor degree, in contrast to more extensive SH blocking, which displaces flavin adenine dinucleotide with a corresponding loss of activity [Neujahr, H. Y., & Gaal, A. (1975) Eur. J. Biochem. 58, 351-357]. The reactivity of SH groups in the enzyme was significantly decreased after turnover. Thiol treatment restored it to that of the native enzyme. Adding phenol prior to reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) in the assay of phenol hydroxylase gave immediate linearity and higher initial rates than when NADPH was added first. In the absence of added thiol, there was then a shift of the pH optimum. The results indicate slow conformational changes limiting the rate of the overall reaction. The two most reactive SH groups of phenol hydroxylase, though not participating in any obvious redox reactions, are important for these slow conformational changes and for the cooperativity of phenol-binding sites, wherein the anionic S- forms may be involved (pKa for cysteine is 8.35).