The IH electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectra in frozen buffer solutions of the reduced [2Fe-2S] clusters in adrenodoxin (Adx) and in the "Rieske" iron-sulfur protein (ISP) from the bovine mitochondrial bcl complex were measured at low temperatures (5-20 K) and analyzed by spectra reconstruction. A single paramagnetic species with iron valence states (II) and (III) connected uniquely to the cluster irons was found in both proteins. For Adx, the experimental spectra from 23 ¡ positions across the nearly axial (gm~x = 2.0241, gint -----1.9347, and gro,, = 1.9331) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum were analyzed. Four larger hyperfine couplings were assigned to the cysteine [3-protons near the Fe(III) ion. Transfer into the crystal structure showed that the Fe(III) ion was coordinated to the residues Cys55 and Cys92. The spin density was estimated as + 1.60 for the Fe(III) and -0.6 for the Fe(II) ion, respectively. The g-tensor direction with respect to the cluster showed strong similarities with the earlier assignment in Arthospira platensis ferredoxin (Canne C., Ebelshauser M., Gay E., Shergill J.K., Cammack R., Kappl R., Hª J.: J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 5, 514, 2000). Ah Adx mutant (T54A) exhibiting a change (70 mV) in redox potential showed no significant influence at the [2Fe-2S] cluster. The Rieske ISP was subjected to the same analysis. The ENDOR spectra from 35 field positions across the rhombic (gmax = 2.028, gint = 1.891, and gm~, = 1.757) EPR spectrum were simulated. Three major proton contributions were identified from the o¡ behavior. Two were assigned to cysteine ~-protons and one to a ~-proton of Hisl41. In contrast to Adx, the direction of the gm,~-component was found to lie roughly in the FeScore plane and the largest proton coupling occurred along g~,t. The spin population was estimated as about +1.6 for the oxidized and -0.55 for the reduced iron.