Mapping protein matrix cavities in human cytoglobin through Xe atom binding

Cytoglobin is the fourth recognized globin type, almost ubiquitously distributed in human tissues; its function is still poorly understood. Cytoglobin displays a core region of about 150 residues, structurally related to hemoglobin and myoglobin, and two extra segments, about 20 residues each, at the N- and C-termini. The core region hosts a large apolar cavity, held to provide a ligand diffusion pathway to/from the heme, and/or ligand temporary docking sites. Here we report the crystal structure (2.4Å resolution, R-factor 19.1%) of a human cytoglobin mutant bearing the CysB2(38)→Ser and CysE9(83)→Ser substitutions (CYGB*), treated under pressurized xenon. Three Xe atoms bind to the heme distal site region of CYGB* mapping the protein matrix apolar cavity. Despite the conserved globin fold, the cavity found in CYGB* is structured differently from those recognized to play a functional role in myoglobin, neuroglobin, truncated hemoglobins, and Cerebratulus lacteus mini-hemoglobin.