Spectroscopic properties of the loop variants. UV/Vis (A) and EPR (B) spectra of the loop variants of AZ compared with the WT protein. UV/Vis spectra were obtained at 25 °C in 20 mM Tris pH 8.0 for AZ2G2G, AZ2A2A, AZ2V2V, and AZ4A3A; 50 mM Hepes pH 7.6 for AZ3A3A and AZ4A4A; and 10 mM phosphate pH 8.0 for AZ. All EPR spectra were measured at −196 °C and for AZ, AZ2G2G, and AZ3A3A were recorded in 25 mM Hepes pH 7.6 containing 40% glycerol, and those of AZ2V2V, AZ2A2A, AZ4A3A, and AZ4A4A were measured in 50 mM Hepes pH 7.6.