Advances in the Understanding of the Structure-Function Relationship in Cu,Zn Superoxide Dismutase

The structure-function relationship in Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase has been partially elucidated by the combined use of many spectroscopic techniques (electronic spectroscopy, circular dichroism, EPR and NMR) and site-directed mutagenesis techniques. The comparison of the spectroscopic and catalytic properties of various mutants, in which some active site residues have been substituted through site-directed mutagenesis, allowed us to establish that the activity is in general more sensitive to electrostatic effects rather than to steric effects or changes in the copper hydration or coordination geometry.