The suggestion that hydroxide is coordinated to the oxidised molybdenu
m site in xanthine oxidase (XnO) is tested theoretically by computing
the structures of a range of four-, five-, and six-coordinate active s
ite models. The local density approximation of density functional theo
ry has been used with the two experimentally verified singly bonded su
lfur ligands modeled by both dithiolene, [SRCCRS](2-) (R = H and CH3),
and thiolate, [CH3S](-) groups. Both ligand types give virtually iden
tical results for analogous species. Based on a comparison of the comp
uted M-L distances and those reported in recent EXAFS studies, it is c
oncluded that both four- and six-coordination are unlikely since the o
ptimized Mo-S contacts are too short or too long respectively. Of the
five-coordinate MoOS(SR)(2)X models, the ones with X = [OH](-) give co
mputed M-L bond lengths in excellent agreement with the reported EXAFS
data while X = H2O, NH3, [CH3S](-), and O2- give relatively poor agre
ement. The theoretical results imply that the active site represents a
stable, preferred geometry rather than some imposed entatic state.