Effect of cyanide binding on the copper sites of cytochrome c oxidase: an X-ray absorption spectroscopic study.

Cu x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been used to investigate the effect of cyanide treatment on the structures of the copper sites in beef heart cytochrome c oxidase. The Cu K-edge spectrum changes significantly upon cyanide binding to resting state enzyme, as does the Cu extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectrum. The Cu EXAFS Fourier transfer (FT) exhibits an enhanced peak for the cyanide-treated enzyme in the region containing the Cu...Fe peak in the resting state FT (at R' approximately equal to 2.6-2.7 A). This peak in the cyanide-treated sample is hypothesized to arise from "outer shell" scattering from a linear Cu-cyanide moiety, suggesting cyanide binding to CuB only (CuB 2+-CN-) or cyanide bridging between the Fe of heme a3 and CuB (Fe3+-(CN-)-CuB 2+).