Spatial distribution of spin-labeled trichogin GA IV in the gram-positive bacterial cell membrane determined from PELDOR data

Trichogin GA IV is one of the shortest acyclic linear polypeptide antibiotics of fungal origin, characterized by the presence of three α-amino isobutyric acid residues, an N-octanoyl group and an amino alcohol at the C terminus. Its antibiotic activity is generally thought to be based on its self-assembling and membrane-modifying properties. The technique of double electron-electron resonance in electron spin echo is used to study the spatial distribution of spin-labeled [TOAC-4]-trichogin GA IV analog bound to the cell membrane of the Gram-positive bacteriumMicrococcus luteus. The intermolecular dipole-dipole spin-spin interaction of TOAC spin labels has been experimentally studied at 77 K in glassy dispersions of the spherical cell particles. It is shown that the nonaggregated peptide molecules are distributed at the cytoplasmic membrane. Two possible distribution models are proposed: (i) the peptide molecules are randomly distributed on both inner and outer membrane surfaces with a distance between the surfaces of 7 nm, (ii) the molecules are randomly distributed in a layer up to 2.4 nm from the external surface of the membrane.     

Pulsed EPR spin-probe study of intracellular glasses in seed and pollen

EPR spectra of 3-carboxy-proxyl (CP) in dry biological tissues exhibited a temperature-dependent change in the principal value A'(zz) of the hyperfine interaction tensor. The A'(zz) value changed sharply at a particular temperature that was dependent on water content. At elevated water contents, the break occurred at lower temperatures and appeared to be associated with the melting of the cytoplasmic glassy state. To investigate the reason for the change in A'(zz), we employed echo-detected EPR (ED EPR) spectroscopy. The shape of the ED EPR spectrum revealed the presence of librational motion of the spin probe, a motion typically present in glassy materials. The similarities in temperature dependency of A'(zz) and librational motion of CP in pea seed axes indicated that the change in A'(zz) arose from librational motion. ED EPR measurements of CP as a function of water content in Typha latifolia pollen showed that librational motion decreased with decreasing water contents until a plateau or minimum was reached. ED EPR spectroscopy is a valuable technique for characterizing the relation between molecular motion and storage kinetics of dry seed and pollen.     

Fullerene C<Subscript>70</Subscript> Triplet Zero-Field Splitting Parameters Revisited by Light-Induced EPR at Thermal Equilibrium

Continuous-wave (CW) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and echo-detected (ED) EPR spectra of triplet state of fullerene C₇₀ in molecular glasses of decalin, o-terphenyl and toluene, and in polymethylmethacrylate polymer were obtained under continuous light illumination. Temperature was high enough so that the EPR spectra corresponded to thermal equilibrium between the spin sublevels. The comparison of CW EPR and ED EPR data has shown that pseudorotation in the ³C₇₀ frame does not remarkably affect deriving the zero-field splitting (ZFS) D and E parameters from the EPR spectra. ³C₇₀ EPR spectra were simulated at 77 K fairly well using the distribution of the ZFS D and E parameters. These distributions may be caused by the inhomogeneity of the glassy matrix surrounding, which affects the Jahn–Teller distortions of ³C₇₀ molecules (D-strain and E-strain).     

Librational dynamics of nitroxide molecules in a molecular glass studied by echo-detected EPR

Nitroxides 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone N-oxide (tempone), 3-carboxy-proxyl and potassium peroxylamine disulfonate (Fremy salt) in glycerol solution were studied in a wide temperature range near the glass transition temperatureT _g. The echo-detected (ED) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) lineshape reveals strong dependence on the time interval τ between the echo-forming microwave pulses which is readily explained by anisotropic phase relaxation. Employing a librational model of molecular motion and the Redfield relaxation theory, spectra were simulated for the τ’s varying in a large interval. The anisotropic relaxation rate increases with temperature increase and it is larger for nitroxide with a larger molecular size. The mean-squared amplitude of motion, obtained from reduced hyperfine splitting in continuous-wave EPR, near T_g linearly depends on temperature which is characteristic of harmonic solids. For tempone in a host crystal 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-cyclobutan-1, 3-dione the anisotropic spin relaxation rate decreases with temperature increase so the found feature solely belongs to a glassy state. A new approach is proposed for modeling slow wobbling motion in a restricted angular space.     

The dynamical transition in proteins of bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers observed by echo-detected EPR of specific spin labels

An echo-detected electron paramagnetic resonance (ED EPR) approach was used to study molecular dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) fromRhodobacter sphaeroides R26, employing the specific spin label methanethiosulfonate and 3-maliemido proxyl. ED EPR has recently been shown to be sensitive to so-called dynamical transition in disordered media, which is characterized by the transition from a harmonic-like librational motion of a molecule to an anharmonic one or to a stochastic wobbling motion. ED EPR line shapes studied over a wide temperature range reveal a sharp transition occurring above 180 K. The possible relation of the found transition to the temperature dependence of electron transfer reactions in RC is discussed.     

Electron spin echo and CW perspective in 3D EPR imaging

Three-dimensional spectral-spatial-spatial images are presented for a sample containing six different species in seven compartments. EPR spectra used to construct these images were obtained by the normal CW methods and by electron spin echo detection. Images of the sample when viewed from these two different perspectives are contrasted.     

Self-Aggregation and Orientation of the Ion Channel-Forming Zervamicin IIA in the Membranes of ePC Vesicles Studied by cw EPR and ESEEM Spectroscopy

The ion channel-forming peptide antibiotic zervamicin A was studied in egg phosphocholin lipid membranes of large multilamellar vesicles (LMV) at 77 K. Continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) methods combined with site-specific electron spin labeling were used to study the aggregation and immersion depth of two analog molecules, i.e., each monolabeled either at the N- or C-terminal end of the helical molecule. Analysis of the shape of the EPR spectra indicates that zervamicin molecules form aggregates in which the dipolar interaction between the spin labels at the N-terminus is substantially larger than that between the labels at the C-terminus. The ESEEM method was used to study the interaction between the nitroxide radical spin labels of the zervamicin molecules and deuterium nuclei in LMV, which were prepared using a D₂O buffer. It is established that the largest amplitude of deuterium modulation of the unpaired electron is observed for zervamicin molecules labeled at the N-terminus. Based on the analysis of the Fourier parameters of the deuterium modulated spectrum, a model of the immersion depth of the terminal ends of the zervamicin molecule in a lipid bilayer is formulated. All of the spin labels at the N-terminus are grouped at the lipid–water interface, whereas 60% of labels at the C-terminus are located at the lipid–water interface and 40% are more deeply inserted into the lipid bilayer.     

Pulse EPR spectroscopy of Cu2+-doped inorganic glasses

Two-frequency continuous-wave and pulse EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopical techniques are applied to determine static and dynamic EPR parameters of Cu²⁺ ions in oxide and fluoride glasses. The investigations are focussed on the analysis of strain effects in the glassy matrices, the identification of the magnetic nuclei in the vicinity of Cu²⁺ ions as well as the determination of the dependence of the phase memory timeT _M on temperature and resonance field. The results obtained by X-band continuous-wave EPR, X- and S-band echo-detected EPR, and X- and S-band electron spin echo envelope modulation studies of Cu²⁺-doped inorganic glasses yield information on the local symmetry of the Cu²⁺ coordination polyhedra, the chemical nature of the atoms in the second and higher coordination spheres, the distribution of the parameters of the static spin Hamiltonian and the low-temperature motions of the dopant-containing structural units. Special techniques like 2-D Mims ENDOR (electron nuclear double resonance) and hyperfine-correlated ENDOR are applied for the first time to doped inorganic glasses. From the spin relaxation measurements a stronger tendency of the Cu²⁺ ions to aggregate is found for fluoride glasses in comparison to aluminosilicate and phosphate glasses.     

Evaluation of spin labels for in-cell EPR by analysis of nitroxide reduction in cell extract of Xenopus laevis oocytes

Spin-label electron paramagnetic resonance (SL-EPR) spectroscopy has become a powerful and useful tool for studying structure and dynamics of biomacromolecules. However, utilizing these methods at physiological temperatures for in-cell studies is hampered by reduction of the nitroxide spin labels and thus short half-lives in the cellular environment. Consequently, reduction kinetics of two structurally different nitroxides was investigated in cell extracts of Xenopus laevis oocytes using rapid-scan cw-experiments at X-band. The five member heterocyclic ring nitroxide PCA (3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidinyl-1-oxy) under investigation features much higher stability against intracellular reduction than the six member ring analog TOAC (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxilic acid) and is therefore a suitable spin label type for in-cell EPR. The kinetic data can be described according to the Michaelis–Menten model and thus suggest an enzymatic or enzyme-mediated reduction process.     

Temperature Dependence of Hyperfine Interaction for 15N Nitroxide in a Glassy Matrix at 10–210 K

Principal ¹⁵N hyperfine interaction (hfi) values in ¹⁵N-substituted nitroxide spin probe 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-pyrrolin-1-oxyl dissolved in nematic liquid crystal 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) were measured in a wide temperature range of 10–210 K, for 5CB frozen to a glassy state. X-band continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW EPR) and pulse X- and Q-band ¹⁵N electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) techniques were employed. To avoid microwave saturation at low temperatures in CW EPR studies, a holmium complex Ho(Dbm)₃Bpy (where Dbm is dibenzoylmethane and Bpy is 2,2′-bipyridine) was added. X- and Q-band ¹⁵N-ENDOR data have shown that the nitroxide hfi tensor is axially symmetric. The combination of data from all techniques allowed us to obtain the temperature dependence of isotropic and anisotropic parts of the nitroxide hfi tensor. Above ~100 K, a linear dependence of the anisotropic hfi value was observed, whereas below 30 K it was found to be nearly temperature independent. Such a behavior can be interpreted using the model of restricted orientational motions (librations) of a spin probe in a glassy matrix, with quantum effects occurring at low temperature (“freezing” of the librations). The energy quantum for the libration motion estimated from the temperature dependence of hfi of the spin probe is 84 cm^?1. Low-frequency Raman spectra of 5CB were also obtained, which provided the mean vibrational frequency of 76 cm^?1 for glassy 5CB.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance study of hole trapping at defects in silver halides

Abstract

Hole-trapping at cation vacancies and iodide impurity in silver halides was studied by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). In AgCl, the hole was found to be preferentially self-trapped on a Ag ion next to a cation vacancy, forming a perturbed self-trapped hole center. The position of the vacancy relative to the center of the STH was determined, by comparison of computer simulations to the experimental EPR spectra, to be in either the nearest-neighbor or next-nearest-neighbor equatorial position. The thermal trap depths of the hole in these centers are estimated to be 0.31 and 0.24 eV, respectively. For lightly doped (several tens of ppm) AgBr:I, an interesting spectrum has been observed, consisting of six equidistant and approximately equi-intense hyperfine EPR lines, consistent with a trapped hole localized at an iodide ion (nuclear spin 5/2), but not with an iodide-perturbed STH.     

Photoinduced decarboxylation of 9‐oxo‐6,9‐dihydro[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐f]quinoline‐8‐carboxylic acid

Photoinduced reactions of 9‐oxo‐6,9‐dihydro[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐f]quinoline‐8‐carboxylic acid (SeQCA) were investigated in alkaline media (aqueous NaOH solutions) by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, following the in situ formation of paramagnetic species. According to UV–Vis and nuclear magnetic resonance investigations, protonation (pH ≈ 11) and deprotonation (pH ≈ 13) of the imino hydrogen of the 4‐pyridone moiety has to be considered, reflected also in the different EPR spectra observed upon irradiation. Photoinduced generation of radicals was found only for carboxylate substituted SeQCA; other studied selenadiazoloquinolone derivatives, together with those substituted at the C(8) position (R = H, COOCH₂CH₃, COOCH₃, COCH₃ or CN), did not generate paramagnetic species during exposure. Consequently, photodecarboxylation was suggested as the decisive step, accompanied by the decomposition of the selenadiazole ring, resulting in the formation of ortho‐hydroxylate anions. EPR parameters elucidated from experimental EPR spectra obtained at pH ≈ 11 and pH ≈ 13 indicate the formation of oxygen‐centered radicals at the decarboxylated 4‐pyridone ring. EPR spin trapping experiments with nitromethane confirmed a very effective photoinduced electron transfer from all the selenadiazoloquinolones investigated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CW EPR, echo-detected EPR, and field-step ELDOR study of molecular motions of nitroxides ino-terphenyl glass: Dynamical transition, dynamical heterogeneity and β-relaxation

Continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW EPR), echo-detected (ED) EPR, and field-step electron-electron double resonance (FS ELDOR) were simultaneously applied to study molecular motions of nitroxide spin probes of two different types in glassyo-terphenyl. A strong linear temperature dependence of the overall splitting of the CW EPR lineshape was found for nitroxide Tempone and only a weak one for a phenyl-ring-containing imidasoline nitroxide. The linear temperature dependence of the splitting is explained within the model of harmonic librations. The assessed libration frequency for Tempone is of the order of 3·10¹² rad/s. The observed remarkable difference between the two nitroxides is explained by the different strength of interactions between guest and host molecules and by dynamical heterogeneity of the glass. The nonlinear temperature dependence above 250 K is attributed to the onset of anharmonic motion that is postulated in a number of neutron scattering and Mössbauer spectroscopy studies for molecular glasses and proteins (the so-called dynamical transition). Above 245 K also ED EPR spectra change drastically, which may be explained on the same ground. Magnetization transfer was observed in FS ELDOR for nitroxide Tempone, with a time constant around 10^?5 s. It was found to be almost temperature-independent between 160 K and 265 K and was attributed to the Johari-Goldstein β-relaxation process. For the phenyl-ring-containing imidasoline nitroxide this transfer was not observed, which may be explained again by the dynamical heterogeneity of the glass and by small effectivity of the β-relaxation process in this case.     

EPR of Yb3+ ions in Ba1−xLaxF2+x mixed crystals

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of impurity Yb³⁺ ions (about 0.1 at.%) in mixed crystals BaF₂(1-x) plus LaF₃(x) have been investigated for different values of the concentrationx at a frequency of about 9.5 GHz by both continuous-wave (CW) EPR and electron spin echo methods. A spectrum of trigonal symmetry with a complex hyperfine structure is observed in “pure” BaF₂:Yb³⁺ (x=0). Upon admixture of small amounts of LaF₃ (x=0.001), additional EPR lines arise with intensities increasing with the increase ofx up to 0.005. These lines are attributed to trigonal centers including two rare-earth ions and two compensating fluorine ions. A further increase ofx results in a decrease of the total EPR spectrum intensity, and atx≥0.05 the CW resonance becomes practically unobservable. This may be due to the formation of rare-earth ion clusters with paramagnetic Yb³⁺ ions occurring in domains with a disordered structure of surroundings resulting in very broad EPR lines, which cannot be registered by CW EPR. Indeed, very broad (not less than 1 KG) EPR lines were observed by the electron spin echo method for concentrationsx<-0.02.     

The Temperature Dependence of Nitroxide Spin–Label Interaction Parameters: a High-Field EPR Study of Intramolecular Motional Contributions

High-field W-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was utilized to study the temperature dependence of the magnetic interaction parameters (g-, hyperfine-, quadrupole tensors) of two types of doublet-state nitroxide spin probes in glass-forming ortho-terphenyl solution: a five-membered ring system of pyrroline type (model for the commonly used methane thiosulfonate spin label) and a six-membered ring system of piperidine type (model for the commonly used TOAC spin label). The analysis of the g- and hyperfine tensors in terms of their isotropic and anisotropic parts reveals at least two mechanisms of motion that are responsible for the temperature dependence of the interaction parameters. The first mechanism is attributed to the overall small-angle motion of the nitroxide molecule in the glassy matrix; it leads to an averaging of the anisotropies of the EPR parameters. The second mechanism originates in an intramolecular out-of-plane motion of oxygen in the nitroxide group. This type of motion is evidenced by comparing the experimental findings for the spin-interaction parameters with the results of density functional theory calculations. The harmonic oxygen out-of-plane vibrations result in a variation of both the isotropic and anisotropic parts of the g- and hyperfine tensors. In contrast, the quadrupole tensor is not influenced by this vibration mechanism in the temperature range under study (90–240 K). Consequences of the applicability of such typical nitroxide radicals for probing details of their protein environment and for studying librational dynamics in frozen solutions are discussed.     

Direct EPR detection of transient and continuous wave signals at 2.5 GHz

Direct detection of free induction decays and electron spin echoes, and the recording of echo-detected EPR spectra and electron spin echo envelope modulation patterns at a microwave frequency of 2.5 GHz is demonstrated. This corresponds to the measurement of the transverse magnetization in the laboratory frame, rather than in the rotating frame as usually done by down-converting the signal (homodyne detection). An oscilloscope with a 6-GHz analog bandwidth, a sampling rate of 20 GigaSamples per second, and a trigger frequency of 5 GHz for the edge trigger and 750 MHz for the advanced trigger, is used in these experiments. For signal averaging a 3-GHz microwave clock divider has been developed to synchronize the oscilloscope with the frequency of the EPR signal. Moreover, direct detection of continuous wave EPR signals at 2.5 GHz is described.     

Nitroxide Side-Chain Dynamics in a Spin-Labeled Helix-Forming Peptide Revealed by High-Frequency (139.5-GHz) EPR Spectroscopy

High-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has been performed on a nitroxide spin-labeled peptide in fluid aqueous solution. The peptide, which follows the single letter sequence, was reacted with the methanethiosulfonate spin label at the cysteine sulfur. The spin sensitivity of high-frequency EPR is excellent with less than 20 pmol of sample required to obtain spectra with good signal-to-noise ratios. Simulation of the temperature-dependent spectral lineshapes reveals the existence of local anisotropic motion about the nitroxide N-O bond with a motional anisotropy tau( perpendicular)/tau( parallel) ( identical with N) approaching 2.6 at 306 K. Comparison with previous work on rigidly labeled peptides suggests that the spin label is reorienting about its side-chain tether. This study demonstrates the feasibility of performing 140-GHz EPR on biological samples in fluid aqueous solution.     

Numerical simulation of one- and two-dimensional ESEEM experiments

Numerical simulation has become an indispensable tool for the interpretation of pulse EPR experiments. In this work it is shown how automatic orientation selection, grouping of operator factors, and direct selection and elimination of coherences can be used to improve the efficiency of time-domain simulations of one- and two-dimensional electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectra. The program allows for the computation of magnetic interactions of any symmetry and can be used to simulate spin systems with an arbitrary number of nuclei with any spin quantum number. Experimental restrictions due to finite microwave pulse lengths are addressed and the enhancement of forbidden coherences by microwave pulse matching is illustrated. A comparison of simulated and experimental HYSCORE (hyperfine sublevel correlation) spectra of ordered and disordered systems with varying complexity shows good qualitative agreement.     

[Cu2(O COO C-O-N H-O-CH3)4(DMF2)]·4DMF的EPR谱、磁性与电子结构研究

在室温、77K条件下,对·4DMF(1)簇合物的固态和溶液样品进行了EPR谱的测定,获得三套谱图(Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ),其分别归属于簇合物中未配对电子的两种形式:(1)类似于自由的单铜离子的未配对电了(Ⅰ、Ⅱ两套谱).(2)双铜未配对电子偶合成的三重态(Ⅲ套谱). 文中用双铜的三重态自旋哈密顿H_S=βHgS+DS_z²+E(S_x²-S_y²)-(2)/3D公式计算三重态EPR谱的参数. 题目化合物(1)与双铜簇合物·4DMF(2)相比较,在配体结构上稍有不同(前者,甲苯胺中的甲基是连接于苯环的间位;而后者,甲基是连接于苯环的对位),由此引起一些磁性参数:有效磁矩μ_eff、磁交换相互作用参数J、相对的电子自旋浓度ρ和EPR谱的超精细结构(h.f.s)参数都有所不同.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of LiIn(WO4)2 nanopowders and single crystals doped with chromium(III) ions

LiIn(WO₄)₂ single crystals and nanopowders doped with chromium(III) ions were synthesized and investigated, including their EPR spectra and magnetic properties. The EPR spectra have shown low and high field lines attributed to isolated chromium ions with an electron spin S=3/2 and complex chromium centers with higher spin value, respectively. Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed an almost linear dependence on the magnetic field. The electron resonance and magnetic properties have been related to the structural and spectroscopic data of the studied material.