Orientation-selected three-pulse ESEEM experiments have been performed on a series of nitrosyl
hemoproteins: HbNO in its two quaternary (R/T) states, the isolated NO-ligated α(β)-chains of hemoglobin,
two hybrids of hemoglobin with asymmetrically ligated α(β)-chains, NO−myoglobin, and NO−Fe2+(TPP)−imidazole model complexes. The ESEEM spectra of the native complexes clearly revealed the contribution
from two conformational states of the NO−heme group. At 4.2 K the αNO and βNO chains were found in an
almost pure state, i.e., 80% “state I” and 90% “state II”, respectively. These results correlate well with the
two-conformation model of 6-coordinated NO−heme complexes proposed earlier from the evaluation of
temperature-dependent EPR/ENDOR spectra (Morse, R. H.; Chan, S. I. J. Biol. Chem.
1980
, 255, 7876.
Hüttermann, J.; Burgard, C.; Kappl, R. J.
Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 1994,
90, 3077). Application of two-dimensional ESEEM spectroscopy (HYSCORE) to the isolated αNO and βNO chains allowed the
characterization of the pyrrole nitrogen HFI in both conformations. A third nitrogen coupling was identified
in the HYSCORE of the βNO chain. It was tentatively assigned to the Nε nitrogen of distal His E7 which is
suggested to form a hydrogen bond to the NO group in the axial NO−heme conformation. These findings
support the proposal that the variation of binding geometry in two states of NO−heme is controlled by the
heme's protein surrounding and could provide an important contribution to the discussion on the physiological
role of NO related to its interactions with protein metal centers.