Trace cobalt speciation in bacteria and at enzymic active sites using emission Mössbauer spectroscopy

57Co emission M?ssbauer spectroscopy (EMS) allows the chemical state of cobalt, as influenced by its coordination environment, to be monitored in biological samples at its physiological (trace) concentrations. To draw attention to EMS as a valuable tool for speciation of cobalt in biocomplexes, the process of cobalt(II) metabolism in cells of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 was investigated using EMS of 57CoII-doped bacterial cells. EMS measurements also showed 57CoII-activated glutamine synthetase (GS, a key enzyme of nitrogen metabolism, isolated from this bacterium) to have two different cobalt(II) forms at its active sites, in agreement with data available on other bacterial GSs. Chemical after-effects following electron capture by the nucleus of the parent 57CoII during the 57Co-->57Fe transition, which contribute to the formation of a stabilised daughter 57FeIII component along with the nucleogenic 57FeII forms, are also briefly considered.     

Pressure-induced phase transition of Fe2TiO4: X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy

X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy were employed to investigate structural stability of Fe₂TiO₄ under high pressure. Measurements were performed up to about 24 GPa at room temperature using diamond anvil cell. Experimental results demonstrate that Fe₂TiO₄ undergoes a series of phase transitions from cubic (Fd3?m) to tetragonal (I4₁/amd) at 8.7 GPa, and then to orthorhombic structure (Cmcm) at 16.0 GPa. The high-pressure phase (Cmcm) of Fe₂TiO₄ is kept on decompression to ambient pressure. In all polymorphs of Fe₂TiO₄, iron cations present a high-spin ferrous property without electric charge exchange with titanium cations at high pressure supported by Mössbauer evidences.     

Mössbauer properties of the diferric cluster and the differential iron(II)-binding affinity of the iron sites in protein R2 of class Ia Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase: a DFT/electrostatics study

The R2 subunit of class-Ia ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) from Escherichia coli (E. coli) contains a diiron active site. Starting from the apo-protein and Fe(II) in solution at low Fe(II)/apoR2 ratios, mononuclear Fe(II) binding is observed indicating possible different Fe(II) binding affinities for the two alternative sites. Further, based on their M?ssbauer spectroscopy and two-iron-isotope reaction experiments, Bollinger et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1997, 119, 5976-5977) proposed that the site Fe1, which bonds to Asp84, should be associated with the higher observed (57)Fe M?ssbauer quadrupole splitting (2.41 mm s(-1)) and lower isomer shift (0.45 mm s(-1)) in the Fe(III)Fe(III) state, site Fe2, which is further from Tyr122, should have a greater affinity for Fe(II) binding than site Fe1, and Fe(IV) in the intermediate X state should reside at site Fe2. In this paper, using density functional theory (DFT) incorporated with the conductor-like screening (COSMO) solvation model and with the finite-difference Poisson-Boltzmann self-consistent reaction field (PB-SCRF) methodologies, we have demonstrated that the observed large quadrupole splitting for the diferric state R2 does come from site Fe1(III) and it is mainly caused by the binding position of the carboxylate group of the Asp84 sidechain. Further, a series of active site clusters with mononuclear Fe(II) binding at either site Fe1 or Fe2 have been studied, which show that with a single dielectric medium outside the active site quantum region, there is no energetic preference for Fe(II) binding at one site over another. However, when including the explicit extended protein environment in the PB-SCRF model, the reaction field favors the Fe(II) binding at site Fe2 rather than at site Fe1 by ~9 kcal mol(-1). Therefore our calculations support the proposal of the previous M?ssbauer spectroscopy and two-iron-isotope reaction experiments by Bollinger et al.     

Detecting unalloyed tin in LiSn2(PO4)3-based anodes with Mössbauer spectroscopy

The first discharge of the Li⁺ ion anode material LiSn₂(PO₄)₃ was investigated with Mössbauer spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques. Mössbauer spectroscopy provided insight into the structure of the tin atoms of the fully discharged anode materials. Spectra consist of overlapping peaks, which are assigned to noncrystalline β-Sn and Li–Sn alloy domains. An analysis of the relative intensities of the Mössbauer spectra shows the relative abundance of β-Sn increases at the expense of the Li–Sn alloy as the discharge rate increases. Cell polarization occurs at higher discharge rates, leading to inefficient electrode utilization and poor cycling performance. Sluggish Li⁺ ion diffusion through the amorphous Li₃PO₄ network that is formed early in the discharge process might be responsible for the poor electrochemical performance and the accumulation of unalloyed tin.     

The structure of Fe(III) ions in strongly alkaline aqueous solutions from EXAFS and Mössbauer spectroscopy

To establish the structure of ferric ions in strongly alkaline (pH > 13) environments, aqueous NaOH solutions supersaturated with respect to Fe(III) and the solid ferric-hydroxo complex salts precipitating from them have been characterized with a variety of experimental techniques. From UV measurements, in solutions of pH > 13, only one kind of Fe(III)-hydroxo complex species was found to be present. The micro crystals obtained from such solutions were proven to be a new, so far unidentified solid phase. M?ssbauer spectra of the quick-frozen solution and that of the complex salt indicated a highly symmetrical ferric environment in both systems From the EXAFS and XANES spectra, the environment of the ferric ion in these solutions (both native and quick-frozen) and in the complex salt was found to be different. In the complex salt, the bond lengths are consistent with an octahedral coordination around the ferric centres. In solution, the coordination geometry of Fe(III) is most probably tetrahedral. Our results demonstrate that in strongly alkaline aqueous solutions, ferric ions behave very similarly to other structurally related tervalent ions, like Al(III) or Ga(III).     

Mössbauer and photocatalytic studies of CaFe2O4 nanoparticle-containing aluminosilicate prepared from domestic waste simulated slag

The relationship between local structure and visible-light activated photocatalytic effect of simulated domestic waste slag glass–ceramics (R-NaWSFe) was investigated. The largest pseudo-first-order rate constant of 9.75?×?10^?3 min^?1 was estimated for methylene blue decomposition test under the visible-light irradiation using R-NaWSFe with additional 30 mass% of Fe₂O₃ heat-treated at 900 °C for 100 min. The reason for the high photoactivity of this sample was mainly due to nanoparticles of CaFe₂O₄ and α-Fe₂O₃ confirmed by the Mössbauer spectrum measured at 77 K. It is concluded that the nanoparticles of magnetic components in silica are essential for exhibiting visible-light activated catalytic effect.

     

Ti and Fe speciation by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and Mössbauer spectroscopy for a full crystal chemical characterisation of Ti-garnets from Colli Albani (Italy)

Different analytical and structural methods (Electron Probe Micro-Analysis, Single Crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, M?ssbauer spectroscopy) were combined to fully characterise the crystal chemistry of natural Ti-bearing garnets from Colli Albani (Lazio, Italy). The study of the relevant complex crystal chemistry ( large number of cation substitutions affecting the three independent X(8-fold), Y(6-fold) and Z(4-fold) crystallographic sites and Fe and Ti transition elements exhibiting several oxidation states and coordination environments) benefited from the multi-technique approach. Electron probe microanalysis provided elemental composition of the analysed samples, which have low Ti-content (TiO2 in the range 1.99 - 3.48 wt %) and slightly different Fe/Al ratios. For all samples, two doublets were fitted to room temperature M?ssbauer spectra and assigned to Fe3+(Y) (approximately 95%) and Fe2+(X) (approximately 5%). Up to three doublets (Ti3+(Y), Ti4+(Y), Ti4+(Z)) were fitted to XPS spectra and yielded direct evaluation of Ti site population. XPS technique confirmed its potential for the study of speciation of Ti in minerals.     

Nuclear inelastic scattering and Mössbauer spectroscopy as local probes for ligand binding modes and electronic properties in proteins: vibrational behavior of a ferriheme center inside a β-barrel protein

In this work, we present a study of the influence of the protein matrix on its ability to tune the binding of small ligands such as NO, cyanide (CN(-)), and histamine to the ferric heme iron center in the NO-storage and -transport protein Nitrophorin 2 (NP2) from the salivary glands of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus. Conventional M?ssbauer spectroscopy shows a diamagnetic ground state of the NP2-NO complex and Type I and II electronic ground states of the NP2-CN(-) and NP2-histamine complex, respectively. The change in the vibrational signature of the protein upon ligand binding has been monitored by Nuclear Inelastic Scattering (NIS), also called Nuclear Resonant Vibrational Spectroscopy (NRVS). The NIS data thus obtained have also been calculated by quantum mechanical (QM) density functional theory (DFT) coupled with molecular mechanics (MM) methods. The calculations presented here show that the heme ruffling in NP2 is a consequence of the interaction with the protein matrix. Structure optimizations of the heme and its ligands with DFT retain the characteristic saddling and ruffling only if the protein matrix is taken into account. Furthermore, simulations of the NIS data by QM/MM calculations suggest that the pH dependence of the binding of NO, but not of CN(-) and histamine, might be a consequence of the protonation state of the heme carboxyls.     

Coordination of adenosylmethionine to a unique iron site of the [4Fe-4S] of pyruvate formate-lyase activating enzyme: a Mössbauer spectroscopic study

Pyruvate formate-lyase activating enzyme (PFL-AE) generates the catalytically essential glycyl radical of PFL. It is a member of the so-called "radical-SAM superfamily" of enzymes that use a [4Fe-4S] cluster and S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet or SAM) to catalyze diverse radical-mediated reactions. Evidence suggests that this class of enzymes operate by common initial steps involving the generation of an AdoMet-derived adenosyl radical intermediate, of which the mechanism remains unresolved. The three-cysteine CX3CX2C cluster-binding motif common to all members of this superfamily suggests a unique Fe site in the [4Fe-4S] cluster, which presumably interacts with AdoMet to effect the reductive cleavage and radical generation. Here we employ a dual-iron-isotope (56Fe/57Fe) approach to demonstrate the existence of a unique Fe site in the [4Fe-4S] cluster of PFL-AE by M?ssbauer spectroscopy. Coordination of AdoMet to this unique Fe site was made evident by the observation of a substantial increase in the isomer shift (delta) of the M?ssbauer spectrum associated with the unique Fe site: delta = 0.42 mm/s in the absence of AdoMet increases to delta = 0.72 mm/s in the presence of AdoMet. Further, the M?ssbauer data show that the binding of AdoMet to the unique Fe site occurs in the [4Fe-4S]2+ state, prior to the injection of the reducing equivalent required for catalysis. This observation indicates that AdoMet coordination is a necessary prerequisite to adenosyl radical generation.     

Solid-state 119Sn NMR and Mössbauer spectroscopy of "distannynes": evidence for large structural differences in the crystalline phase

The "distannynes" Ar'SnSnAr' (Ar' = C6H3-2,6(C6H3-2,6-Pr(i)2)2) and ArSnSnAr (Ar = C6H3-2,6(C6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)2) were examined by solid-state (119)Sn NMR and M?ssbauer spectroscopy. The two compounds display substantially different spectroscopic parameters, while differing only in the absence (Ar'SnSnAr') or presence (ArSnSnAr) of a para-Pr(i) group in the flanking aryl rings of their terphenyl substituents. The spectroscopic differences can be interpreted in terms of a more trans-bent geometry and a longer Sn-Sn bond for ArSnSnAr in comparison to the wider Sn-Sn-C angle (125.24(7) degrees ) and shorter Sn-Sn bond length (2.6675(4)A) determined from the crystal structure of Ar'SnSnAr'. The differences are consistent with previously published calculations by Nagase and Takagi for ArSnSnAr.     

On the Mössbauer spectra of isopenicillin N synthase and a model (FeNO)7 (S = 3/2) system

We have carried out a series of density functional theory (DFT) calculations to predict the 57Fe M?ssbauer quadrupole splittings (DeltaEQ) and isomer shifts (deltaFe) for the nitrosyl complex of isopenicillin N synthase with the substrate delta-(l-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-l-cysteinyl-d-valine (IPNS.ACV.NO) and an {FeNO}7 (S = 3/2) model system, FeL(NO)(N3)2 (L = N,N',N' '-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane). B3LYP predictions on the model compound are in almost exact agreement with experiment. The same DFT methods did not enable the prediction of the experimental DeltaEQ and deltaFe results for IPNS.ACV.NO when using the experimental protein crystal structure but did permit good predictions of DeltaEQ, deltaFe, and the asymmetry parameter (eta) when using a fully optimized structure. This optimized structure also enabled good predictions of the M?ssbauer spectra of the photodissociation product of IPNS.ACV.NO. Mulliken and natural bonding orbital (NBO) spin density analyses indicate an electronic configuration of FeII (S = 2) anti-ferromagnetically coupled to NO (S = 1/2) in the protein as well as in the model system and the geometry optimized structure helps explain part of the enzyme reaction.     

Superstructure in RE2-xFe4Si14-y (RE = Y, Gd-Lu) characterized by diffraction, electron microscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy

Ternary rare-earth iron silicides RE(2-x)Fe4Si(14-y) (RE = Y, Gd-Lu; x approximately equal to 0.8; y approximately equal to 4.1) crystallize in the hexagonal system with a approximately equal to 3.9 A, c approximately equal to 15.3 A, Pearson symbol hP20-4.9. Their structures involve rare-earth silicide planes with approximate compositions of "RE1.2Si1.9" alternating with beta-FeSi2-derived slabs and are part of a growing class of rare-earth/transition-metal/main-group compounds based on rare-earth/main-group element planes interspersed with (distorted) fluorite-type transition-metal/main-group element layers. The rare-earth silicide planes in the crystallographic unit cells show partial occupancies of both the RE and Si sites because of interatomic distance constraints. Transmission electron microscopy reveals a 4a x 4b x c superstructure for these compounds, whereas further X-ray diffraction experiments suggest ordering within the ab planes but disordered stacking along the c direction. A 4a x 4b structural model for the rare-earth silicide plane is proposed, which provides good agreement with the electron microscopy results and creates two distinct Fe environments in a 15:1 ratio. Fe-57 M?ssbauer spectra confirm these two different iron environments in the powder samples. Magnetic susceptibilities suggest weak (essentially no) magnetic coupling between rare-earth elements, and resistivity measurements indicate poor metallic behavior with a large residual resistivity at low temperatures, which is consistent with disorder. First-principles electronic-structure calculations on model structures identify a pseudogap in the densities of states for specific valence-electron counts that provides a basis for a useful electron-counting scheme for this class of rare-earth/transition-metal/main-group compounds.     

Molecular orbital calculation of Mössbauer parameters for Fe(CO)4 (C2H4) in low temperature matrix

Molecular orbital calculations have been performed to obtain the electron density and electric field gradient at the iron nucleus of tetracarbonylethene iron Fe(CO)₄(C₂H₄) produced by UV-irradiation of pentacarbonyliron cocondensed homogeneously with ethene in a low temperature matrix, so as to estimate the Mössbauer parameters of the species. Mössbauer isomer shifts and electron densities at iron nuclei (O) of Fe(CO)_n (n=5,4,3,2) as well as Fe(CO)₄(C₂H₄) are discussed: they have fairly good linear relationship to give –0.27 mm/s/a_O ^–3. An isomer of Fe(CO)₄(C₂H₄) produced via thermal reactions of Fe(CO)₄ with ethene in a stratified matrix is discussed by comparing the calculated and observed Mössbauer parameters.     

Emission (57Co) Mössbauer spectroscopy as a tool for probing speciation and metabolic transformations of cobalt(II) in bacterial cells

The emission (⁵⁷Co) variant of Mössbauer spectroscopy, rarely used in biology-related studies, was applied to study binding and possible transformations of ⁵⁷Co^II traces in live and dead (hydrothermally treated) cells of the rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense (strain Sp7) at T?=?80 K in frozen aqueous suspensions and as their dried residues. The Mössbauer parameters calculated from the spectra were compared with the similarly obtained data reported earlier for another A. brasilense strain, Sp245 (which differs from strain Sp7 by the ecological niche occupied in the rhizosphere and was found earlier to exhibit different metabolic responses under similar environmental conditions). Similarly to strain Sp245, live cells of strain Sp7, rapidly frozen 2 min and 1 h after their contact with ⁵⁷Co²⁺ (measured in frozen suspensions), showed marked differences in their Mössbauer parameters, reflecting metabolic transformations of ⁵⁷Co²⁺ occurring within an hour. However, the parameters for strains Sp7 (this work) and Sp245 (reported earlier), obtained under similar conditions, were found to significantly differ, implying dissimilarity in their metabolic response to Co²⁺. This is in line with their different metabolic responses to several heavy metals, including Co²⁺, detected earlier using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.     

The Unprecedented [S4N2O10]2− Anion in the Molecular Gold Complexes [Au2Br2(S4N2O10)2] and [Au2Cl2(S4N2O10)2](S2O5Cl2)

The reaction of hexachlorophosphazene, P₃N₃Cl₆, with SO₃ and the gold halides AuCl₃ and AuBr₃, respectively, leads to the new cyclic anionic tetramer, [S₄N₂O₁₀]²⁻, which is coordinated to Au³⁺ in the dimeric complexes [Au₂X₂(S₄N₂O₁₀)₂] (X=Cl, Br). The [S₄N₂O₁₀]²⁻ anion can be seen as the condensation product of two sulfate anions, [SO₄]²⁻_, and two amidosulfate anions, [NH₂SO₃]⁻.     

Syntheses, structure, and a Mössbauer and magnetic study of Ba(4)Fe(2)I(5)S(4)

The compound Ba4Fe2I5S4 has been prepared at 1223-1123 K by the "U-assisted" reaction of FeS, BaS, S, and U with BaI2 as a flux. A more rational synthesis was also found; however, the presence of U appears to be essential for the formation of single crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies. Ba4Fe2I5S4 crystallizes in a new structure type with two formula units in space group I4/m of the tetragonal system. The structure consists of a Ba-I network penetrated by (1)infinity[Fe2S4] chains. Each Fe atom, which is located on a site with 4 symmetry, is tetrahedrally coordinated to four S atoms. The FeS4 tetrahedra edge-share to form linear (1)infinity[Fe2S4] chains in the [001] direction. The Fe-Fe interatomic distance in these chains is 2.5630(4) A, only about 3% longer than the shortest Fe-Fe distance in -Fe metal. Charge balance dictates that the average formal oxidation state of Fe in these chains is +2.5. The M?ssbauer spectra obtained at 85 and 270 K comprise a single quadrupole doublet that has hyperfine parameters consistent with an average Fe oxidation state of +2.5. The M?ssbauer spectrum obtained at 4.2 K consists of a single magnetic sextet with a small hyperfine field of -15.5 T. This spectrum is also consistent with rapid electron delocalization and an average Fe oxidation state of +2.5. The molar magnetic susceptibility of Ba4Fe2I5S4, obtained between 3.4 and 300 K, qualitatively indicates the presence of weak pseudo-one-dimensional ferromagnetic exchange within a linear chain above 100 K and weak three-dimensional ordering between the chains at lower temperatures.     

Mössbauer characterization and in situ monitoring of thermal decomposition of potassium ferrate(VI), K2FeO4 in static air conditions

Solid orthorhombic crystals of potassium ferrate(VI) (K(2)FeO(4)) of a high-chemical purity (>99.0%) were characterized by low-temperature (1.5-5 K), high-temperature (463-863 K), and in-field (1.5 K/3 T) M?ssbauer spectroscopy. Potassium ferrate(VI) reveals a Néel magnetic transition temperature (TN) of approximately 3.8 K and a saturation hyperfine magnetic field of 13.8 T at 1.5 K. Spectral line intensities recorded below TN in an external magnetic field of 3 T manifest a perfect antiferromagnetic ordering. For the in situ monitoring of the thermal behavior of K(2)FeO(4), high-temperature M?ssbauer data were combined with those obtained from thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and variable-temperature X-ray diffraction measurements. Such in situ approach allowed the identification of the reaction products and intermediates and yielded the first experimental evidence for the participation of CO2 in the decomposition process. As the primary conversion products, KFeO(2) and two potassium oxides in equivalent molar ratio, KO2 and K(2)O, were suggested. However, the KO2 phase is detectable with difficulty as it reacts very quickly with CO2 from air resulting in the formation of K(2)CO(3). The presented decomposition model is consistent with thermogravimetric data giving the mass loss of 8.0%, which corresponds to the participation of 1/6 mol of CO2 and liberation of 3/4 mol of O2 per 1 mol of K(2)FeO(4) (K(2)FeO(4) + 1/6CO2 --> KFeO(2) + 1/3K(2)O + 1/6K(2)CO(3) + 3/4O2). An explanation of the multistage reaction mechanism has an important practical impact for the optimization of the solid-state synthesis of potassium ferrate(VI).     

Disclosure of Ground-State Zimmerman-Möbius Aromaticity in the Radical Anion of [6]Helicene and Evidence for 4π Periodic Aromatic Ring Currents in a Molecular “Metallic” Möbius Strip

In 1966, Zimmerman proposed a type of Möbius aromaticity that involves through-space electron delocalization; it has since been widely applied to explain reactivity in pericyclic reactions, but is considered to be limited to transition-state structures. Although the easily accessible hexahelicene radical anion has been known for more than half a century, it was overlooked that it exhibits a ground-state minimum and robust Zimmerman-Möbius aromaticity in its central noose-like opening, becoming, hence, the oldest existing Möbius aromatic system and with smallest Möbius cycle known. Despite its overall aromatic stabilization energy of 13.6 kcal mol⁻¹ (at B3LYP/6-311+G**), the radical also features a strong, globally induced paramagnetic ring current along its outer edge. Exclusive global paramagnetic currents can also be found in other fully delocalized radical anions of 4N+2 π-electron aromatic polycyclic benzenoid hydrocarbons (PAH), thus questioning the established magnetic criterion of antiaromaticity. As an example of a PAH with nontrivial topology, we studied a novel Möbius[16]cyclacene that has a non-orientable surface manifold and a stable closed-shell singlet ground state at several density functional theory levels. Its metallic monoanion radical (0.0095 eV band gap at HSE06/6-31G* level) is also wave-function stable and displays an unusual 4π-periodic, magnetically induced ring current (reminiscent of the transformation behaviour of spinors under spatial rotation), thus indicating the existence of a new, Hückel-rule-evading type of aromaticity.