A binding site for metal ions has been created on the surface of horse heart myoglobin (Mb) near the heme 6-propionate group by replacing K45 and K63 with glutamyl residues. One-dimensional 1 H NMR spectroscopy indicates that Mn 2؉ binds in the vicinity of the heme 6-propionate as anticipated, and potentiometric titrations establish that the affinity of the new site for Mn 2؉ is 1.28(4) ؋ 10 4 M ؊1 (pH 6.96, ionic strength I ؍ 17.2 M, 25°C). In addition, these substitutions lower the reduction potential of the protein and increase the pK a for the water molecule coordinated to the heme iron of metmyoglobin. The peroxidase [2,2 -azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), ABTS, as substrate] and the Mn 2؉ -peroxidase activity of the variant are both increased Ϸ3-fold. In contrast to wild-type Mb, both the affinity for azide and the midpoint potential of the variant are significantly influenced by the addition of Mn 2؉ . The structure of the variant has been determined by x-ray crystallography to define the coordination environment of bound Mn 2؉ and Cd 2؉ . Although slight differences are observed between the geometry of the binding of the two metal ions, both are hexacoordinate, and neither involves coordination by E63.