A further investigation of the cytochrome b5-cytochrome c complex

The interaction of reduced rabbit cytochrome b(5) with reduced yeast iso-1 cytochrome c has been studied through the analysis of H-1-N-15 HSQC spectra, of N-15 longitudinal (R-1) and transverse (R-2) relaxation rates, and of the solvent exchange rates of protein backbone amides. For the first time, the adduct has been investigated also from the cytochrome c side. The analysis of the NMR data was integrated with docking calculations. The result is that cytochrome b(5) has two negative patches capable of interacting with a single positive surface area of cytochrome c. At low protein concentrations and in equimolar mixture, two different 1:1 adducts are formed. At high concentration and/or with excess cytochrome c, a 2:1 adduct is formed. All the species are in fast exchange on the scale of differences in chemical shift. By comparison with literature data, it appears that the structure of one 1:1 adduct changes with the origin or primary sequence of cytochrome b(5).