Reduction of transient histidine radicals by tryptophan: influence of the amino group charge.

Second-order rate constants of the reduction of histidine radicals by tryptophan were obtained for all combinations of the two amino acids and their N-acetyl derivatives. For the dipeptide N-acetyl histidine-tryptophan, contributions from inter- and intramolecular reduction were revealed. The pH dependences of the rate constants were found to be determined by the protonation state of the amino group of tryptophan. Proton coupled electron transfer is proposed as a reaction mechanism.