Sulfite Oxidase

Sulfite oxidase is a crucial enzyme that is responsible for oxidizing harmful sulfites to sulfates. The enzyme is found in the mitochondria of the cell and mostly can be found in hearts, kidneys and livers. Very little can be seen in the brain, skeletal muscle, blood and spleen.

The enzyme is a homodimer, a chemical entity consisting of two identical subunits called monomers, which are linked together by intramolecular forces. Sulfite oxidase contains two identical subunits. Each subunit has two domains, iron and molybdenum that are linked together by a loop composed of amino acids.

The molybdopertin cofactor is crucial to the enzyme because the oxidation of the sulfite occurs at the molybdenum center; the molybdenum center serves as the active site.

Point mutations in sulfite oxidase and defects in the molybdenum cofactor synthesis can ultimately lead to sulfite oxidase deficiency. The disorder causes neurological disorders, mental retardation, physical deformities, deterioration of the brain, and ultimately death.

Sulfite Oxidase Electron Transfer

The molybdopertin cofactor is crucial to the enzyme because the oxidation of the sulfite occurs at the molybdenum center; the molybdenum center serves as the active site. When the molybdenum reacts with sulfite, one oxygen atom is transferred to sulfite, which produces sulfate and consequently reduces the molybdenum center by two electrons, thus resulting in Mo(IV). Intramolcular electron transfer from Mo(IV) to Fe(III) results in Fe(II) and Mo(V). One-electron photochemical reduction then moves Fe(II) to the exterior cytochrome resulting in Fe(III). This process occurs twice, and restores the enzyme to its original state.

Tryptophan's Importance in Sulfite Oxidase

Tryptophan has been shown as a crucial amino acid that can facilitate electron transfer. A paper written by Shih C (Shih C, Museth AK, Abrahamsson M, Blanco-Rodriguez AM, Di Bilio AJ, Sudhamsu J, Crane BR, Ronayne KL, Towrie M, Vlcek A Jr, Richards JH, Winkler JR, Gray HB. Science. 2008. 320, 1760-1762.) suggests that multi-step electron tunneling can enhance charge transfer rates, in which redox active amino acid side chains act as intermediate donors or acceptors.

Since tryptophan is found in the active site of sulfite oxidase it is hypothesized that it plays a major role in the electron transfer rate of the enzyme. Currently, mutations of the tryptophan are being performed to see the effects that mutating the tryptophan with another amino acid, such as phenylalanine, will have on sulfite oxidase's electron transfer rate.