复合物Ca+-RNA碱基的结构与稳定性

Gas-phase metal ion affinities and optimized structures of RNA nucleic acid bases for the Ca+ were determined at a density functional level employing the hybrid B3LYP exchange correlation potential in connection with the 6-311+G(2df,2p) basis set. All the molecular complexes, obtained by the interaction between several low-lying tautomers of RNA nucleic acid and Ca+ on the different binding sites, were considered. For Cytosine, the most stable complex was obtained starting from the most stable tautomer of the free nucleic acid base tautomers. As to thymine, the bond energy of the ion with the most stable tautomer of the free nucleic acid base is the weakest among the three tautomer’s complexes, and that of the ion with least stable tautomer of the free nucleic acid base is the strongest . Uracil is similar to thymine. The two kinds of relation, bond energy and total energy for the complex, are in disagreement, as the metal affinities of RNA bases for the Ca+ depend on binding sites, and total energy of complex (Ca+-RNA base) relies on all atoms and their relative positions in the complex.     

精氨酸侧链和核酸碱基间离子氢键作用强度分析

采用MP2/6-31+G(d,p)方法优化得到了22个由精氨酸侧链与碱基尿嘧啶、 胸腺嘧啶、 胞嘧啶、 鸟嘌呤及腺嘌呤形成的氢键复合物的气相稳定结构, 使用包含BSSE校正的MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ方法计算得到了复合物的气相结合能, 通过MP2/6-31+G(d,p)方法和PCM模型优化得到了复合物的水相稳定结构, 采用MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ方法和PCM模型计算得到了复合物的水相结合能. 研究发现, 精氨酸侧链与碱基间的离子氢键作用强度与单体间电荷转移量、 氢键临界点电子密度及二阶作用稳定化能密切相关. 与中性氢键相比, 离子氢键作用具有更显著的共价作用成分. 研究还发现, 精氨酸侧链和碱基间形成的氢键复合物的稳定性次序可以通过氢键受体碱基分子上氧原子和氮原子的质子化反应焓变进行预测, 质子化反应焓变越负, 形成的氢键复合物越稳定.     

TDDFT investigation on nucleic acid bases: comparison with experiments and standard approach

A comprehensive theoretical study of electronic transitions of canonical nucleic acid bases, namely guanine, adenine, cytosine, uracil, and thymine, was performed. Ground state geometries were optimized at the MP2/6-311G(d,p) level. The nature of respective potential energy surfaces was determined using the harmonic vibrational frequency analysis. The MP2 optimized geometries were used to compute electronic vertical singlet transition energies at the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) level using the B3LYP functional. The 6-311++G(d,p), 6-311(2+,2+)G(d,p), 6-311(3+,3+)G(df,pd), and 6-311(5+,5+)G(df,pd) basis sets were used for the transition energy calculations. Computed transition energies were found in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data. However, in higher transitions, the Rydberg contaminations were also obtained. The existence of pisigma* type Rydberg transition was found near the lowest singlet pipi* state of all bases, which may be responsible for the ultrafast deactivation process in nucleic acid bases.     

Bond energies and attachments sites of sodium and potassium cations to DNA and RNA nucleic acid bases in the gas phase

Gas-phase metal affinities of DNA and RNA bases for the Na(+) and K(+) ions were determined at density functional level employing the hybrid B3LYP exchange correlation potential in connection with the 6-311+G(2df,2p) basis set. All the molecular complexes, obtained by the interaction between several low-lying tautomers of nucleic acid bases and the alkali ions on the different binding sites, were considered. Structural features of the sodium and potassium complexes were found to be similar except in some uracil and thymine compounds in which the tendency of potassium ion toward monocoordination appeared evident. B3LYP bond energies for both metal ions were in agreement with the available experimental results in the cases of uracil and thymine for which the most stable complex was obtained starting from the most stable tautomer of the free nucleic acid base. For adenine, although the interaction of the ions with the most stable free tautomer generated the least stable molecular complex, the best agreement with experiment was found in just this case. For the remaining cytosine and guanine bases, our calculations indicated that the metal ion affinity value closest to experiment should be determined taking into account the role played by the different tautomers of the free bases with similar energy and all the possible complexes obtained by them.     

Hydration of DNA Bases and Compounds Containing Small Rings—A Model for Interactions of the Ricin Toxin A-Chain. A Theoretical Ab Initio Study

Ab initio quantum chemical calculations were performed for four neutral gas phase adenine and four pterin tautomers along with guanine and formycin bases. The water complexes of the lowest energy tautomers of these bases have been studied to mimic their interaction with the ricin toxin A chain (RTA). The water molecules create a full first hydration shell around the bases. Full geometry optimizations without any constraints on the planarity of these hydrated complexes were carried out at the HF/6-31G(d,p) level. Single point calculations were also performed at the correlated MP2/6-31G(d,p)//HF/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. Hydration energies were corrected for the basis set superposition error. Hydration energies of adenine and formycin are predicted to be lower (in magnitude) than those for the pterin and guanine. Due to these properties, two pterin tautomers can be considered as potentially useful inhibitors of RTA.     

Transitions to high tautomeric states can be induced in adenine by interactions with carboxylate and sodium ions: DFT calculation data

Twelve triple complexes of nine adenine tautomers with carboxylate ion of acetic acid CH₃COO⁻ and sodium ion Na⁺ of the CH₃COO⁻:Ade:Na⁺ type were studied by the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) quantum chemical method. It was established that three rare adenine tautomers generate more stable complexes than the ground state one. The B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) full optimization was applied to four most stable triple complexes in order to refine on their stability order. To evaluate contributions of each ligands for stabilization of these complexes, calculations of energies and dipole moments of respective binary complexes of the CH₃COO⁻:Ade and Ade:Na⁺ types were performed at the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level of theory. At the same level, there were computed energies and dipole moments of isolated tautomers. Two of them, first calculated in this work, appeared to be zwitter-ions. Highly cooperative interplay of interactions of both ligands with adenine tautomers was observed in triple complexes. Preferable sites of coordination of Na⁺ with tautomers were ascertained. Biological importance of the results obtained is discussed.     

Solvation free energies of molecules. The most stable anionic tautomers of uracil

Anionic states of nucleic acid bases are suspected to play a role in the radiation damage processes of DNA. Our recent studies suggested that the excess electron attachment to the nucleic acid bases can stabilize some rare tautomers, i.e. imine-enamine tautomers and other tautomers with a proton being transferred from nitrogen sites to carbon sites (with respect to the canonical tautomer). So far, these new anionic tautomers have been characterized by the gas-phase electronic structure calculations and photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. In the current contribution we explore the effect of water solvation on the stability of the new anionic tautomers of uracil. The accurate free energies of solvation are calculated in a two step approach. The major contribution was calculated using the classical free-energy perturbation adiabatic-charging approach, where it is assumed that the solvated molecule has the charge distribution given by the polarizable continuum model. In the second step the free energy of solvation is refined by taking into account the real, average solvent charge distribution. This is done using our accelerated QM/MM simulations, where the QM energy of the solute is calculated in the mean potential averaged over many MD steps. We found that in water solution three of the recently identified anionic tautomers are 6.5-3.6 kcal mol(-1) more stable than the anion of the canonical tautomer.     

Theoretical study of tautomeric and ionizing effects of guanine,cytosine, and their methyl derivatives

The study of pre-translational effects (ionization, tautomerization) and post-translational effects (methylation) of guanine and cytosine has only recently been the focus of some studies. These effects can potentially help regulate gene expression as well as potentially disrupt normal gene function. Because of this wide array of roles, greater insight into these effects in deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) are paramount. There has been considerable research of each phenomenon (tautomerization, methylation and ionization) individually. In this work, we attempt to shed light upon the pre- and post-translational effects of guanine and cytosine by investigating the electron affinities (EAs) and ionization potentials (IPs) of the major and minor tautomers and their methyl derivatives. We performed all calculations using the density functional theory B3LYP functional accompanied with 6-311G (d,p), 6-311+G (d,p), and 6-311++G (df,pd) basis sets. Our results reveal that the cytosine tautomer has a higher EA and IP than the guanine tautomers. The higher EA suggest that an electron that attaches to the GC base pair would predominately attach to the cytosine instead of guanine. The higher IP would suggest that an electron that is removed from the GC base pair would be predominately removed from the guanine within the base pair. Understanding how tautomerization, ionization, and methylation differences change effects, discourages, or promotes one another is lacking. In this work, we begin the steps of integrating these effects with one another, to gain a greater understanding of molecular changes in DNA bases.     

Ab initio study of 2,4-substituted azolidines. II. Amino-imino tautomerism of 2-aminothiazolidine-4-one and 4-aminothiazolidine-2-one in water solution

The relative stabilities of the tautomers of 2-aminothiazolidine-4-one and 4-aminothiazolidine-2-one were calculated at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level by considering their mono- and trihydrated complexes. Single-point calculations at the MP4/6-31+G(d,p)//MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory were performed to obtain more accurate energies. The values of proton transfer barriers in the isolated, mono- and trihydrated tautomers of 2-aminothiazolidine-4-one (2AT) and 4-aminothiazolidine-2-one (4AT) were calculated for two different mechanisms of tautomerisation. In the absence of water, the process of proton transfer should not occur. Addition of water molecules decreases the barrier making the process faster, as the participation of two water molecules in a proton transfer reaction is more favorable than the participation of only one water molecule. To estimate the effect of the medium (water) on the relative stabilities of the tautomers of the studied compounds we applied the polarizable continuum model (PCM). (13)C NMR chemical shieldings were calculated using the GIAO approach at MP2/6-31+G(d,p) optimized geometries. HF and the DFT B3LYP functional with 6-31+G(d,p) basis set were employed. The quantum chemical results for the chemical shifts in gas phase and in polar solvents (water and DMSO) were compared with experimental data. TD DFT B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations were performed to predict the absorption maxima of tautomers A and B of 2AT and 4AT.     

Oxo-hydroxy tautomerism of 5-fluorouracil: water-assisted proton transfer

Post-Hartree-Fock ab initio quantum chemical calculations were performed for 5-fluorouracil in the gas phase and in a three-water cluster. Full geometry optimizations of the 5-fluorouracil-water complexes were carried out at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. MP4/6-31+G(d,p)//MP2/6-31+G(d,p) and MP4/6-31++G(d,p)//MP2/6-31+G(d,p) single-point calculations were performed to obtain more accurate energies. In water solution, 5-fluorouracil exists mainly in the 2,4-dioxo form (A). We propose that the populations of the 2-hydroxy-4-oxo (B) and 4-hydroxy-2-oxo (D) tautomers are 1 x 10(-4)% and 3.9 x 10(-8)%, respectively, on the basis of the relative stabilities of the tautomers calculated at the MP4/6-31++G(d,p)//MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. A profound difference between isolated and hydrated 5-fluorouracil is noted for the height of the tautomerization barrier. In the absence of water, the process of proton transfer is very slow. The addition of water molecules decreases the barrier by 2.3 times, making the process much faster. The minimum energy path (MP2/6-31+G(d,p)) for water-assisted proton transfer in trihydrated 5-fluorouracil was followed. CNDO/S-CI calculations predict singlet pi-pi(*) electron transitions at 312 nm for B and at 318 nm for D. The fluorescence spectrum of 5-fluorouracil in water confirms the presence of the hydroxy tautomer.     

Study of the protonation (methylation) position and tautomeric structure of thiopyrimidine derivatives by 2D <Superscript>1</Superscript>H—<Superscript>15</Superscript>H NMR HSQC/HMBC. Experimental approach and theoretical modeling

Two-dimensional ₁H—₁₅N NMR HSQC/HMBC experiments enable the unambiguous determination of the protonation (methylation) position and tautomeric structure of nitrogen-containing heterocycles. In investigated thiopyrimidines protonation (or methylation) occurs at the N(1) atom of the pyrimidine ring. The tautomeric structures of these compounds were established based on the analysis of ₁H—₁₅N NMR spectra. Ab initio calculations of chemical shifts (GIAO B3LYP/6-31G(d)//HF/6-31G) are in full agreement with experimental values. The stability of various protonated (methylated) and tautomeric species is explained in terms of a thermodynamic approach.     

The effect of methylation on the hydrogen-bonding and stacking interaction of nucleic acid bases

Methylated nucleosides play an important role in DNA/RNA function, and may affect republication by interrupting the base-pairing and base-stacking. In order to investigate the effect of methylation on the interaction between nucleic acid bases, this work presents the hydrogen-bonding and stacking interactions between 5-methylcytosine and guanine (G), cytosine (C) and G, 1-methyladenine and thymine (T), as well as adenine and T. Geometry optimization and potential energy surface scan have been performed for the involved complexes by MP2 calculations. The interaction energies, which were corrected for the basis-set superposition error by the full Boys–Bernardi counterpoise correction scheme, were used to evaluate the interaction intensity of these nucleic acid bases. The atoms in molecules theory and natural bond orbital analysis have been performed to study the hydrogen bonds in these complexes. The result shows that the methyl substitute contributes the stability to these complexes because it enhances either the hydrogen bonding or the staking interaction between nucleic acid bases studied.     

Modeling the allosteric effect: modification of the tautomerism by intermolecular interactions and extension to molecular wires

B3LYP/6−31G(d) and B3LYP/6−311++G(d,p) calculations were carried out on quinolone and its four azaderivatives (15 tautomers), five wire models (10 tautomers) for proton transfer formed of anthracenol and azaacridines and the corresponding five crown ethers (ten tautomers) in the anthracenol part. The wires are formed by four carbon atoms existing either as cumulenes (pentaene) or polyynes (diyne). On these structures the effect of hydrogen bonds with HF as hydrogen bond donor, protonation on the aza N atoms and coordination with Li⁺ on the same positions were studied. The resulting energies were analyzed taking into account proximity effects.     

Methylation of DNA bases by methyl free radicals: mechanism of formation of C8-methylguanine

The C8-methylguanine (C8mG) lesions are reported to be produced in vivo due to methylation of guanine base of DNA by methyl free (·CH₃) radicals derived from the carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazines and tert-butylhydroperoxide. It is believed that C8mG lesions can induce G to T and G to C transversion mutations and deletions. However, the mechanisms of reactions of ·CH₃ radicals with DNA bases leading to formation of C8mG and other methylated DNA bases and their biological implications are not properly understood. In the present contribution, we have carried out density functional theory (DFT) calculations to ascertain the various stable methylated derivatives of all the four DNA bases that are formed by the attack of ·CH₃ radicals on DNA bases as well as to understand the mechanism of formation of C8mG due to reaction of ·CH₃ radicals with the C8 site of guanine. Our calculations reveal that ·CH₃ radical would form stable methylated products at the C8 sites of purine bases (guanine and adenine) and at the C5 and C6 sites of pyrimidine bases (cytosine and thymine) by directly attacking to bases. The C8mG is the most stable. This is in agreement with experimental observation. Further, we have found that in absence of any external agents, the C8mG is formed preferably by direct addition of a ·CH₃ radical to the C8 site of guanine followed by abstraction of the H8 hydrogen atom by another ·CH₃ radical. The barrier energies for these two steps are found to be 18.16 (18.73) and 16.05 (18.54) kcal/mol, respectively, as determined at the M06-2X/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory in gas phase (aqueous media). Thus, the present study explains the mechanism of formation of C8mG.     

Post Hartree–Fock and density functional theory studies on Di-Protonated Allopurinol

Post Hartree–Fock and density functional theory (DFT) methods have been employed to study the molecular properties of Di-Protonated Allopurinol²⁺ tautomers in gaseous and aqueous phase environments. The tautomers in gaseous phase have been optimized at MP2/6-311G(2d,2p) and B3LYP/6-311G(2d,2p) levels of theory. The self-consistent reaction field theory (SCRF) has been employed to optimize the tautomers in aqueous phase (ε = 78.5) at B3LYP/6-311G(2d,2p) level of theory and the solvent effect has been studied. The structure, energetics and relative stabilities of the tautomers have been analyzed both in gaseous and aqueous phases. The principle of maximum hardness (MHP) has been tested at B3LYP/6-311G(2d,2p) level of theory. The condensed Fukui functions have been calculated using the atomic charges obtained through Natural population analysis to identify the relative change in the most reactive site of the optimized structures. NMR studies have been carried out, on the basis of Cheeseman coworker’s method, to analyze the molecular environment as well as the delocalization activities of electron clouds.     

密度泛函理论研究分子筛相邻双酸性位对乙烯质子化反应的影响

采用密度泛函理论B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)方法,研究了HZSM-5分子筛上不同酸性位以及相邻双酸性位对乙烯质子化反应的影响,考察了乙烯吸附、质子化反应过渡态和表面乙氧中间体的几何结构、原子电荷和相关能量.结果表明,存在紧邻酸性位的分子筛酸性明显减弱,乙烯分子的吸附能降低,但质子转移过渡态的活化能仅略有降低;次邻酸...     

Diketoacid HIV-1 integrase inhibitors: An ab initio study

The stable tautomeric forms of two representative arene-substituted diketoacid HIV-1 integrase inhibitors, 5-ClTEP and L-731,988, were investigated by B3LYP with 6-31G*, 6-31G(d,p), and 6-31+G(d,p) basis sets. Optimization with MP2/6-31G* was also performed for 5-ClTEP. The solvation effect was considered using a conductor-like screening model. With the density functional theory method, the trans diketo conformations are more stable than the cis conformers. The difference is 14 kJ mol(-1) for 5-ClTEP and 33 kJ mol(-1) for L-731,988. Two trans diketo structures were obtained. The difference between these two trans diketo structures is less than 4 kJ mol(-1) calculated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) level. Two enol forms prevail over the diketo tautomers and are calculated to have the same free energy. Because there is no barrier observed between these two enol forms, they can interchange easily such that a delocalized transition state is suggested to be the observed form. Contradictory to the results of the MP2 method that predicts a preference for the trans diketo forms, the B3LYP method predicts a preference for the enol tautomers, which is in agreement with the experimental results.     

Detection of tautomer proportions of dimedone in solution: a new approach based on theoretical and FT-IR viewpoint

Molecular structures of stable tautomers of dimedone [5,5-dimethyl-cyclohexane-1,3-dione (1) and 3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-enone (2)] were optimized and vibrational frequencies were calculated in five different organic solvents (dimethylsulfoxide, methanol, acetonitrile, dichloromethane and chloroform). Geometry optimizations and harmonic vibrational frequency calculations were performed at DFT 6-31+G(d,p), DFT 6-311++G(2d,2p), MP2 6-311++G (2d,2p) and MP2 aug-cc-pVDZ levels for both stable forms of dimedone. Experimental FT-IR spectra of dimedone have also been recorded in the same solvents. A new approach was developed in order to determine tautomers’ ratio using both experimental and theoretical data in Lambert–Beer equation. Obtained results were compared with experimental results published in literature. It has been concluded that while DFT 6-31+G(d,p) method provides accurate enol ratio in DMSO, MeOH, and DCM, in order to obtain accurate results for the other solvents the MP2 aug-cc-pVDZ level calculations should be used for CH₃CN and CHCl₃ solutions.     

Gas phase interaction of zinc ion with purine and pyrimidine DNA and RNA bases

The interaction of uracil, thymine, cytosine, adenine, and guanine with zinc ion was studied at the density functional B3LYP/6‐311+G(2df,2p) level. Different binding sites allowing both mono‐metal and bi‐metal coordination were considered for the different low‐lying tautomers of nucleic acid bases. Zinc ion forms stable compounds with all nucleobases. Except for cytosine, mono‐coordination appears to be less favored than bi‐coordination in the other pyrimidines. Instead, the preferred sites in the case of adenine and guanine were found to be the N7 and O6 and N7 and N6 pairs of atoms, respectively. Zinc ion affinity was evaluated for all the complexes and compared with values previously obtained for other transition metal ions. In the present case, the following order of metal ion affinity (MIA) was found: G>A>C>T>U. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007