CORM-3 reactivity toward proteins: the crystal structure of a Ru(II) dicarbonyl-lysozyme complex

CORM-3, fac-Ru(CO)(3)Cl(κ(2)-H(2)NCH(2)CO(2))], is a well-known carbon monoxide releasing molecule (CORM) capable of delivering CO in vivo. Herein we show for the first time that the interactions of CORM-3 with proteins result in the loss of a chloride ion, glycinate, and one CO ligand. The rapid formation of stable adducts between the protein and the remaining cis-Ru(II)(CO)(2) fragments was confirmed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Liquid-Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), and X-ray crystallography. Three Ru coordination sites are observed in the structure of hen egg white lysozyme crystals soaked with CORM-3. The site with highest Ru occupancy (80%) shows a fac-(His15)Ru(CO)(2)(H(2)O)(3)] structure.