Structure and Function Relationships in Biochemical Systems

Studies on the elucidation of structure-function relationships in biochemistry and molecular biology started a few decades ago and represent an area of continuing interest. The celebration of the 75th birthday of Alessandro Rossi Fanelli, who has made signi- cant contributions in this field, prompted the organization of a Symposium on 'Structure-Function Relationships in Biochemical Systems' with the aim of bringing together Rossi Fanelli's students and many of the scientists who have been connected with the Institute of Biological Chemistry in Rome. The Symposium was held in Rome on September 28-30, 1981 at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. This volume contains the lectures presented at the Symposium as well as articles covering the main themes of research conducted in Rossi-Fanelli's Institute. The material is divided into five sections: Hemoglobin, Myoglobin and Other Respiratory Proteins; Mechanism of Action of Metal-Containing Enzym~s; Bioenergetics, Mem brane Structure and Multienzyme Complexes; Cofactor-Dependent En zymes; Sulfur Metabolism. We gratefully acknow~edge the generous financial support of the Italian National Research Council and of the University of Rome, which rendered the Symposium possible. We wish to thank all the con tributors and Maurizio Gattoni, Paolo Gerosa and Mario Sanchioni for their help in the preparation of the illustrative material. Fi nally we wish to express our gratitude to Professor Rossi Fanelli, the unfailing animator of our Institute; in his honour we happily undertook the task of editing this volume.

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Professor Rossi Fanelli: A Profile.- A Statistical Analysis of the Publications and Collaborations of Alessandro Rossi Fanelli.- Hemoglobin, Myoglobin, and other Respiratory Proteins.- Linkage Graphs.- Nature of the Iron-Oxygen Bond and Control of Oxygen Affinity of the Haem by the Structure of the Globin in Haemoglobin.- The Function of High Hemoglobin in Large Fish.- Invertebrate Hemoglobins: The Dimeric Hemoglobin from the Mollusc Scapharca inaequivalvis.- Effects of Heavy Metals on the Respiratory Proteins of Marine Organisms in Relation to Enviromental Pollution.- Mechanism of Action of Metal-Containing Enzymes.- Intermediates in the Reduction of Dioxygen by Laccase and Cytochrome c Oxidase.- Structure and Function of the Redox Site of Cytochrome Oxidase.- Kinetic Studies of Cytochrome-c-Oxidase: Significance of Different Functional States of the Enzyme.- Non-Heme Components of Electron Transfer Systems: Interactions and Conformational Effects.- Structure and Function of Amine Oxidases.- The Mechanism of Action of Cu,Zn Superoxide Dismutase.- Bioenergetics, Membrane Structure, and Multienzyme Complexes.- Proton and Electric Charge Translocation in Mitochondrial Energy Transduction.- The Molecular Slipping in the Redox-Driven H+ Pumps.- Structural Aspects of the Binding of Melittin to Phospholipid Bilayers, as a Model for Protein-Lipid Interactions in Membranes.- Acetylcholine Receptors from Electroplax Membranes: in vitro and in situ Properties.- Interaction of Fusicoccin with Plant Cell Plasma Membranes.- Structure-Function Relationships in Pyruvate and ?-Ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase Complexes.- Facilitation of Enzyme Catalysis by Formation of Multienzyme Complexes.- Cofactor-Dependent Enzymes.- Some Comparative Aspects of Pyridoxal Phosphate andPyruvoyl-Dependent Amino Acid Decarboxylases.- Structural Studies of Aspartate Aminotransferase Isozymes.- Recent Advances in the Study of Coenzyme Binding to Aspartate Apoaminotransferases.- Flavoproteins: Correlation of Structure and Function.- Role of Flavin and Iron Sulfur Centers in the Transition of Succinate Dehydrogenase from the Activated to the Non-Activated Form.- Sulfur Metabolism.- Biochemical Function of Persulfides.- Biological Utilization of Some Selenium- and Sulfur-Containing Amino Acids.- The Oxidation of Sulfur-Containing Amino Acids by L-Amino Acid Oxidases.- Contributors.