Fet3p is a multicopper-containing glycoprotein localized to the yeast plasma membrane that catalyzes the oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III). This ferrous iron oxidation is coupled to the reduction of O2 to H2O and is termed the ferroxidase reaction. ferroxidase ͉ iron trafficking ͉ metal homeostasis ͉ multicopper oxidase

The multicopper oxidase Fet3p couples four 1e − oxidations of substrate to the 4e − reduction of O 2 to H 2 O. Fet3p uses four Cu atoms to accomplish this reaction: the type 1, type 2, and coupled binuclear type 3 sites. The type 2 and type 3 sites together form a trinuclear Cu cluster (TNC) which is the site of O 2 reduction. This study focuses on mutants of two residues, E487 and D94, which lie in the second coordination sphere of the TNC and defines the role that each plays in the structural integrity of the TNC, its reactivity with O 2 , and in the directional movement of protons during reductive cleavage of the O-O bond. The E487D, E487A, and D94E mutants have been studied in the holo and type 1 depleted (T1D) forms. Residue E487, located near the T3 center, is found to be responsible for donation of a proton during the reductive cleavage of the O-O bond in the peroxide intermediate and an inverse kinetic solvent isotope effect, which indicates that this proton is already transferred when the O-O bond is cleaved. Residue D94, near the T2 site, plays a key role in the reaction of the reduced TNC with O 2 , and drives electron transfer from the T2 Cu to cleave the O-O bond by deprotonating the T2 Cu water ligand. A mechanism is developed where these second sphere residues participate in the proton assisted reductive cleavage of the O-O bond at the TNC.

Fet3p is a multicopper oxidase that contains four Cu ions: one type 1, one type 2, and a coupled binuclear type 3 site. The type 2 and type 3 centers form a trinuclear cluster that is the active site for O(2) reduction to H(2)O. When the type 1 Cu is depleted (C484S mutation), the reaction of the reduced trinuclear cluster with O(2) generates a peroxide intermediate. Kinetic studies of the decay of the peroxide intermediate suggest that a carboxyl residue (D94 in Fet3p) assists the reductive cleavage of the O-O bond at low pH. Mutations at the D94 residue (D94A, D94N, and D94E) have been studied to evaluate its role in the decay of the peroxide intermediate. Spectroscopic studies show that the D94 mutations affect the geometric and electronic structure of the trinuclear cluster in a way that is consistent with the hydrogen bond connectivity of D94. While the D94E mutation does not affect the initial reaction of the cluster with O(2), the D94A mutation causes larger structural changes that render the trinuclear cluster unreactive toward O(2), demonstrating a structural role for the D94 residue. The decay of the peroxide intermediate is markedly affected by the D94E mutation, confirming the involvement of D94 in this reaction. The D94 residue appears to activate a proton of the type 2 Cu(+)-bound water for participation in the transition state. These studies provide new insight into the role of D94 and proton involvement in the reductive cleavage of the O-O bond.