We have performed resonance Raman and optical absorption studies on ferric cytochrome P450(cam) complexed with oxidized putidaredoxin. Optical absorption and resonance Raman measurements demonstrate that this complexation shifts the spin-state equilibrium of P450(cam) to the low-spin form. In the resonance Raman spectra, the nu(3) heme skeletal mode characteristic of low-spin P450(cam) intensifies upon complexation with putidaredoxin. Its frequency is indistinguishable to that of the usual low-spin species, indicating that this low-spin form originates from a water-bound, hexacoordinate heme. This observation suggests that putidaredoxin binding affects the distal side of P450(cam) and allows water entry into the heme pocket. We also examined the effects of putidaredoxin binding on the heme axial ligand (Fe-S) stretching mode. The binding of putidaredoxin upshifts the made by similar to 3 cm(-1) Investigations of the Fe-S mode for the Thr252 --> Ala distal pocket mutant and P450(cam) bound to various camphor analogues demonstrate that the frequency of the nu(Fe-S) is sensitive to distal pocket water. The water lowers the Fe-S stretching frequency by similar to 1 cm(-1), demonstrating that the putidaredoxin-induced similar to 3-cm(-1) increase in the Fe-S stretching frequency is not Simply caused by the increased hydration of the heme pocket. We also found that the Fe-S frequency is increased by similar to 0.5 cm(-1) in the presence of high salt concentrations. This result suggests that the shielding of positive charges at the proximal face of P450(cam) leads to an increased nu(Fe-S) frequency. The salt effect is consistent with the observation that the binding of negatively charged putidaredoxin at the proximal side of the enzyme also increases the nu(Fe-S) frequency. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that electrostatic shielding of charged groups on the proximal face of P450(cam) takes place when putidaredoxin binds and contributes to the observed upshift of the Fe-S mode.