The solution structure and backbone dynamics of
Cu(I) pseudoazurin, a 123 amino acid electron transfer
protein from Paracoccus pantotrophus, have been
determined using NMR methods. The structure was calculated
to high precision, with a backbone RMS deviation for secondary
structure elements of 0.35 ± 0.06 Å, using
1,498 distance and 55 torsion angle constraints. The protein
has a double-wound Greek-key fold with two α-helices
toward its C-terminus, similar to that of its oxidized
counterpart determined by X-ray crystallography. Comparison
of the Cu(I) solution structure with the X-ray structure
of the Cu(II) protein shows only small differences in the
positions of some of the secondary structure elements.
Order parameters S2, measured for amide
nitrogens, indicate that the backbone of the protein is
rigid on the picosecond to nanosecond timescale.