Chemical rescue of the distal histidine mutants of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase

Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) is a heme-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative degradation of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) to N-formylkynurenine (NFK). A highly conserved histidine residue in the distal heme pocket has attracted great attention in the mechanistic studies of TDO. However, a consensus has not been reached regarding whether and how this distal histidine plays a catalytic role after substrate binding. In this study, three mutant proteins, H72S, H72N, and Q73F were generated to investigate the function of the distal histidine residue in Cupriavidus metallidurans TDO (cmTDO). Spectroscopic characterizations, enzymatic kinetic analysis, and chemical rescue assays were employed to study the biochemical properties of the wild-type enzyme and the mutant proteins. Rapid kinetic methods were utilized to explore the molecular basis for the observed stimulation of catalytic activity by 2-methylimidazole in the His72 variants. The results indicate that the distal histidine plays multiple roles in cmTDO. First, His72 contributes to but is not essential for substrate binding. In addition, it shields the heme center from nonproductive binding of exogenous small ligand molecules (i.e., imidazole and its analogs) via steric hindrance. Most importantly, His72 participates in the subsequent chemical catalytic steps after substrate binding possibly by providing H-bonding interactions to the heme-bound oxygen.     

Distinct reaction pathways followed upon reduction of oxy-heme oxygenase and oxy-myoglobin as characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy

Activation of O(2) by heme-containing monooxygenases generally commences with the common initial steps of reduction to the ferrous heme and binding of O(2) followed by a one-electron reduction of the O(2)-bound heme. Subsequent steps that generate reactive oxygen intermediates diverge and reflect the effects of protein control on the reaction pathway. In this study, M?ssbauer and EPR spectroscopies were used to characterize the electronic states and reaction pathways of reactive oxygen intermediates generated by 77 K radiolytic cryoreduction and subsequent annealing of oxy-heme oxygenase (HO) and oxy-myoglobin (Mb). The results confirm that one-electron reduction of (Fe(II)-O(2))HO is accompanied by protonation of the bound O(2) to generate a low-spin (Fe(III)-O(2)H(-))HO that undergoes self-hydroxylation to form the alpha-meso-hydroxyhemin-HO product. In contrast, one-electron reduction of (Fe(II)-O(2))Mb yields a low-spin (Fe(III)-O(2)(2-))Mb. Protonation of this intermediate generates (Fe(III)-O(2)H(-))Mb, which then decays to a ferryl complex, (Fe(IV)=O(2-))Mb, that exhibits magnetic properties characteristic of the compound II species generated in the reactions of peroxide with heme peroxidases and with Mb. Generation of reactive high-valent states with ferryl species via hydroperoxo intermediates is believed to be the key oxygen-activation steps involved in the catalytic cycles of P450-type monooxygenases. The M?ssbauer data presented here provide direct spectroscopic evidence supporting the idea that ferric-hydroperoxo hemes are indeed the precursors of the reactive ferryl intermediates. The fact that a ferryl intermediate does not accumulate in HO underscores the determining role played by protein structure in controlling the reactivity of reaction intermediates.     

Quantum yield and mechanism of singlet oxygen generation via UV photoexcitation of O2-O2 and N2-O2 encounter complexes

The mechanism and spectral dependence of the quantum yield of singlet oxygen O(2)(a (1)Δ(g)) photogenerated by UV radiation in gaseous oxygen at elevated pressure (32-130 bar) have been experimentally investigated within the 238-285 nm spectral region overlapping the range of the Wulf bands in the absorption spectrum of oxygen. The dominant channel of singlet oxygen generation with measured quantum yield up to about 2 is attributed to the one-quantum absorption by the encounter complexes O(2)-O(2). This absorption gives rise to oxygen in the Herzberg III state O(2)(A' (3)Δ(u)), which is assumed to be responsible for singlet oxygen production in the relaxation process O(2)(A' (3)Δ(u), υ) + O(2)(X (3)Σ(g)(-)) → O(2)({a (1)Δ(g)}, {b (1)Σ(g)(+)}) + O(2)({a (1)Δ(g), υ = 0}, {b (1)Σ(g)(+), υ = 0}) with further collisional relaxation of b to a state. This mechanism is deduced from the analysis of the avoiding crossing locations on the potential energy surface of colliding O(2)-O(2) pair. The observed drop of the O(2)(a (1)Δ(g)) yield near spectral threshold for O(2) dissociation is explained by the competition between above relaxation and reaction giving rise to O(3) + O (O + O + O(2)) supposed in literature. The quantum yield of O(2)(a (1)Δ(g)) formation from encounter complex N(2)-O(2) measured at λ = 266 nm was found to be the same as that for O(2)-O(2).     

Theoretical study of the complexes of horminone with Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions and their relation with the bacteriostatic activity

The coordination of the horminone molecule with hydrated magnesium and calcium divalent ions was studied by means of the density functional theory. All-electron calculations were performed with the B3LYP/6-31G method. The first layer of the water molecules surrounding the metallic cations was included. It was found that the octahedral [horminone(O(a)-O(d))-Mg-(H(2)O)(4)](2+) complex is more stable than [Mg(H(2)O)(6)](2+). That is, horminone is able to displace two water units from the hexahydrated complex. This behavior does not occur for Ca(2+). Consistently, [horminone(O(a)-O(d))-Mg-(H(2)O)(4)](2+) has a greater metal-ligand binding energy than [horminone(O(a)-O(d))-Ca-(H(2)O)(4)](2+). The preference of horminone by Mg(2+) is enlightened by these results. Moreover, its electronic structure, as shown by huge changes in the atomic populations, is strongly perturbed by Mg(2+). Indeed, horminone, bonded to [Mg(H(2)O)(4)](2+), is able to cross the bacterial membrane cell. Once inside, [horminone(O(a)-O(d))-Mg-(H(2)O)(4)](2+) binds to rRNA phosphate groups yielding [horminone(O(a)-O(d))-Mg-(H(2)O)(PO(4)H(2))(PO(4)H(3))(2)](+). These results give insights into how horminone may inhibit the initial steps of protein synthesis. The stability of the studied systems is accounted for in terms of the calculated structural and electronic properties: Mg-O and Ca-O bond lengths, charge transfers, and binding energies.     

Olefin epoxidation by molybdenum peroxo compound: molecular mechanism characterized by the electron localization function and catastrophe theory

The oxygen atom transfer reaction from the Mimoun-type complex MoO(η(2)-O(2))(2)OPH(3) to ethylene C(2)H(4) affording oxirane C(2)H(4)O has been investigated within the framework of the Bonding Evolution Theory in which the corresponding molecular mechanism is characterized by the topological analysis of the electron localization function (ELF) and Thom's catastrophe theory (CT). Topological analysis of ELF and electron density analysis reveals that all Mo-O bonds in MoO(η(2)-O(2))(2)OPH(3) and MoO(2)(η(2)-O(2))OPH(3) belong to closed-shell type interactions though negative values of total energy densities E(e)(r(BCP)) imply some covalent contribution. The peroxo O(i)-O(j) bonds are characterized as charge-shift or protocovalent species in which pairs of monosynaptic basins V(3)(O(i)), V(3)(O(j)) with a small electron population of ~0.25e each, are localized between core basins C(O(i)), C(O(j)). The oxygen transfer reaction from molybdenum diperoxo complex MoO(η(2)-O(2))(2)OPH(3) to C(2)H(4) system can be described by the following consecutive chemical events: (a) protocovalent peroxo O(2)-O(1) bond breaking, (b) reduction of the double C(1)=C(2) bond to single C(1)-C(2) bond in ethylene, (c) displacement of oxygen O(1) with two nonbonding basins, V(i=1,2)(O(1)), (d) increase of a number of the nonbonding basins to three (V(i=1,2,4)(O(1))); (e) reorganization and reduction in the number of nonbonding basis to two basins (V(i=1,4)(O(1))) resembling the ELF-topology of the nonbonding electron density in oxirane, (e) formation of the first O(1)-C(2) bond in oxirane, (f) C(2)-O(1)-C(2) ring closure, (g) formation of singular nonbonding basin V(O(2)) in new Mo=O(2) bond. The oxygen atom is transferred as an anionic moiety carrying a rather small electronic charge ranging from 0.5 to 0.7e.     

The mechanism of formation of N-formylkynurenine by heme dioxygenases

Heme dioxygenases catalyze the oxidation of L-tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine (NFK), the first and rate-limiting step in tryptophan catabolism. Although recent progress has been made on early stages in the mechanism, there is currently no experimental data on the mechanism of product (NFK) formation. In this work, we have used mass spectrometry to examine product formation in a number of dioxygenases. In addition to NFK formation (m/z = 237), the data identify a species (m/z = 221) that is consistent with insertion of a single atom of oxygen into the substrate during O(2)-driven turnover. The fragmentation pattern for this m/z = 221 species is consistent with a cyclic amino acetal structure; independent chemical synthesis of the 3a-hydroxypyrroloindole-2-carboxylic acid compound is in agreement with this assignment. Labeling experiments with (18)O(2) confirm the origin of the oxygen atom as arising from O(2)-dependent turnover. These data suggest that the dioxygenases use a ring-opening mechanism during NFK formation, rather than Criegee or dioxetane mechanisms as previously proposed.     

Oxygen binding to [Pd(L)(L')] (L= NHC, L' = NHC or PR3, NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene). synthesis and structure of a paramagnetic trans-[Pd(NHC)2(η(1)-O2)2] complex

The reactivity of a number of two-coordinate [Pd(L)(L')] (L = N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and L' = NHC or PR(3)) complexes with O(2) has been examined. Stopped-flow kinetic studies show that O(2) binding to [Pd(IPr)(P(p-tolyl)(3))] to form cis-[Pd(IPr)(P(p-tolyl)(3))(η(2)-O(2))] occurs in a rapid, second-order process. The enthalpy of O(2) binding to the Pd(0) center has been determined by solution calorimetry to be -26.2(1.9) kcal/mol. Extension of this work to the bis-NHC complex [Pd(IPr)(2)], however, did not lead to the formation of the expected diamagnetic complex cis-[Pd(IPr)(2)(η(2)-O(2))] but to paramagnetic trans-[(Pd(IPr)(2)(η(1)-O(2))(2)], which has been fully characterized. Computational studies addressing the energetics of O(2) binding have been performed and provide insight into reactivity changes as steric pressure is increased.     

分子印迹聚吡咯/Fe3O4复合材料的制备及其在识别色氨酸光学异构体中的应用

首先利用共沉淀法合成了磁性材料Fe3O4,再以吡咯为单体,L-色氨酸为模板分子,采用化学聚合法使吡咯在Fe3O4表面发生原位聚合,同时通过分子间的作用力以及氢键作用将模板分子掺杂到Fe3O4表面的聚吡咯中,从而制备了分子印迹聚吡咯/Fe3O4复合材料,并且利用该材料的磁性质实现固液分离。在1 mol/L的NaOH溶液中,通过施加1 V的电位使聚吡咯发生过氧化从而使L-色氨酸模板分子脱掺杂。根据分子印迹的原理,该分子印迹的复合材料可用于识别L-色氨酸光学异构体。将扫描电镜、X射线衍射及电化学法用于该分子印迹复合材料的表征。将该材料填入到多孔陶瓷管,将L-和D-色氨酸溶液分别流过该多孔陶瓷管,流出液用高效液相色谱检测,发现该复合材料对于L-色氨酸的富集能力接近D-色氨酸的两倍,说明该复合材料具有作为手性识别色谱固定相的潜力。     

Inner-sphere mechanism for molecular oxygen reduction catalyzed by copper amine oxidases

Copper and topaquinone (TPQ) containing amine oxidases utilize O2 for the metabolism of biogenic amines while concomitantly generating H2O2 for use by the cell. The mechanism of O2 reduction has been the subject of long-standing debate due to the obscuring influence of a proton-coupled electron transfer between the tyrosine-derived TPQ and copper, a rapidly established equilibrium precluding assignment of the enzyme in its reactive form. Here, we show that substrate-reduced pea seedling amine oxidase (PSAO) exists predominantly in the Cu(I), TPQ semiquinone state. A new mechanistic proposal for O2 reduction is advanced on the basis of thermodynamic considerations together with kinetic studies (at varying pH, temperature, and viscosity), the identification of steady-state intermediates, and the analysis of competitive oxygen kinetic isotope effects, (18)O KIEs, [kcat/KM((16,16)O2)]/[kcat/KM((16,18)O2)]. The (18)O KIE = 1.0136 +/- 0.0013 at pH 7.2 is independent of temperature from 5 degrees C to 47 degrees C and insignificantly changed to 1.0122 +/- 0.0020 upon raising the pH to 9, thus indicating the absence of kinetic complexity. Using density functional methods, the effect is found to be precisely in the range expected for reversible O2 binding to Cu(I) to afford a superoxide, [Cu(II)(eta(1)-O2)(-I)](+), intermediate. Electron transfer from the TPQ semiquinone follows in the first irreversible step to form a peroxide, Cu(II)(eta(1)-O2)(-II), intermediate driving the reduction of O2. The similar (18)O KIEs reported for copper amine oxidases from other sources raise the possibility that all enzymes react by related inner-sphere mechanisms although additional experiments are needed to test this proposal.     

Expanding molecular transition metal cubane clusters of the form [M4(μ3)-O)4]12+: syntheses, spectroscopic and structural characterizations of molecules M4(μ3-O)4(O2P(Bn)2)4(O4), M = V(V) and W(V)

Oxidizing the trimer V(3)(μ(3)-O)(O(2))(μ(2)-O(2)P(Bn)(2))(6)(H(2)O) in the presence of excess (t)BuOOH results in V(4)(μ(3)-O)(4)(μ(2)-O(2)P(Bn)(2))(4)(O(4)) and heating W(CO)(6) and bis(benzyl)phosphinic acid in 1:1 EtOH/THF at 120 °C produces W(4)(μ(3)-O)(4)(μ(2)-O(2)P(Bn)(2))(4)(O(4)).     

Transfer and distribution of L-tryptophan between W/O and O/W, and between W/O and bicontinuous microemulsions through the study of interphase electric properties

The influence of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) on the interphase electric properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/n-pentanol (n-C(5)H(11)OH)/water (H(2)O) system was studied by the method of AC impedance, and the distribution of L-Trp between the microemulsion phases with different structures in SDS/n-C(5)H(11)OH/H(2)O system was determined by UV-vis spectroscopy. The results show that L-Trp transfers from the lower phase (O/W or bicontinuous) to the upper phase (W/O), and that a small amount of SDS transfers from the upper phase to the lower phase correspondingly with the increase of the total SDS content at a constant weight ratio of n-C(5)H(11)OH/H(2)O=50/50 and a total L-Trp concentration of 1.0 x 10(-4) mol/L. In addition, the concentrations of L-Trp in both the upper and lower phases increase, but the SDS content decreases slightly in the upper phase and increases appreciably in the lower phase with the increase of the total L-Trp concentration at a constant total content of SDS. The interphase capacitance and the interphase charge-transfer current of the system increase, but the interphase resistivity decreases.     

Mechanism of N2O reduction by the mu4-S tetranuclear CuZ cluster of nitrous oxide reductase

Reaction thermodynamics and potential energy surfaces are calculated using density functional theory to investigate the mechanism of the reductive cleavage of the N-O bond by the mu(4)-sulfide-bridged tetranuclear Cu(Z) site of nitrous oxide reductase. The Cu(Z) cluster provides an exogenous ligand-binding site, and, in its fully reduced 4Cu(I) state, the cluster turns off binding of stronger donor ligands while enabling the formation of the Cu(Z)-N(2)O complex through enhanced Cu(Z) --> N(2)O back-donation. The two copper atoms (Cu(I) and Cu(IV)) at the ligand-binding site of the cluster play a crucial role in the enzymatic function, as these atoms are directly involved in bridged N(2)O binding, bending the ligand to a configuration that resembles the transition state (TS) and contributing the two electrons for N(2)O reduction. The other atoms of the Cu(Z) cluster are required for extensive back-bonding with minimal sigma ligand-to-metal donation for the N(2)O activation. The low reaction barrier (18 kcal mol(-)(1)) of the direct cleavage of the N-O bond in the Cu(Z)-N(2)O complex is due to the stabilization of the TS by a strong Cu(IV)(2+)-O(-) bond. Due to the charge transfer from the Cu(Z) cluster to the N(2)O ligand, noncovalent interactions with the protein environment stabilize the polar TS and reduce the activation energy to an extent dependent on the strength of proton donor. After the N-O bond cleavage, the catalytic cycle consists of a sequence of alternating protonation/one-electron reduction steps which return the Cu(Z) cluster to the fully reduced (4Cu(I)) state for future turnover.     

Study on Interaction of L-Tryptophan with p-Sulfonatocalix[4]arene by Spectrofluorometry

A variety of analytical techniques have been employed to investigate the interaction of calixarene with amino acids including 1HNMR1, MALDI-MS2 and calorimetric titration3. Furthermore, spectrofluorometry is another excellent method for its convenience an…     

Olefin epoxidation by peroxo complexes of cr, mo, and W. A comparative density functional study

The epoxidation of olefins by peroxo complexes of Cr(VI), Mo(VI) and W(VI) was investigated using the B3LYP hybrid density functional method. For the mono- and bisperoxo model complexes with the structures (NH(3))(L)M(O)(2)(-)(n)()(eta(2)-O(2))(1+)(n)() (n = 0, 1; L = none, NH(3); M = Cr, Mo, W) and ethylene as model olefin, two reaction mechanism were considered, direct oxygen transfer and a two-step insertion into the metal-peroxo bond. The calculations reveal that direct attack of the nucleophilic olefin on an electrophilic peroxo oxygen center via a transition state of spiro structure is preferred as significantly higher activation barriers were calculated for the insertion mechanism than for the direct mechanism. W complexes are the most active in the series investigated with the calculated activation barriers of direct oxygen transfer to ethylene decreasing in the order Cr > Mo > W. Barriers of bisperoxo species are lower than those of the corresponding monoperoxo species. Coordination of a second NH(3) base ligand to the mono-coordinated species, (NH(3))M(O)(2)(eta(2)-O(2)) and (NH(3))MO(eta(2)-O(2))(2), results in a significant increase of the activation barrier which deactivates the complex. Finally, based on a molecular orbital analysis, we discuss factors that govern the activity of the metal peroxo group M(eta(2)-O(2)), in particular the role of metal center.     

Coupled oxidation vs heme oxygenation: insights from axial ligand mutants of mitochondrial cytochrome b5

Mutation of His-39, one of the axial ligands in rat outer mitochondrial membrane cytochrome b(5) (OM cyt b(5)), to Val produces a mutant (H39V) capable of carrying out the oxidation of heme to biliverdin when incubated with hydrazine and O(2). The reaction proceeds via the formation of an oxyferrous complex (Fe(II)(-)O(2)) that is reduced by hydrazine to a ferric hydroperoxide (Fe(III)(-)OOH) species. The latter adds a hydroxyl group to the porphyrin to form meso-hydroxyheme. The observation that catalase does not inhibit the oxidation of the heme in the H39V mutant is consistent with the formation of a coordinated hydroperoxide (Fe(III)(-)OOH), which in heme oxygenase is the precursor of meso-hydroxyheme. By comparison, mutation of His-63, the other axial ligand in OM cyt b(5), to Val results in a mutant (H63V) capable of oxidizing heme to verdoheme in the absence of catalase. However, the oxidation of heme by H63V is completely inhibited by catalase. Furthermore, whereas the incubation of Fe(III)(-)H63V with H(2)O(2) leads to the nonspecific degradation of heme, the incubation of Fe(II)(-)H63V with H(2)O(2) results in the formation of meso-hydroxyheme, which upon exposure to O(2) is rapidly converted to verdoheme. These findings revealed that although meso-hydroxyheme is formed during the degradation of heme by the enzyme heme oxygenase or by the process of coupled oxidation of model hemes and hemoproteins not involved in heme catabolism, the corresponding mechanisms by which meso-hydroxyheme is generated are different. In the coupled oxidation process O(2) is reduced to noncoordinated H(2)O(2), which reacts with Fe(II)-heme to form meso-hydroxyheme. In the heme oxygenation reaction a coordinated O(2) molecule (Fe(II)(-)O(2)) is reduced to a coordinated peroxide molecule (Fe(III)(-)OOH), which oxidizes heme to meso-hydroxyheme.     

Synthesis and characterization of mixed-valent manganese phosphonate cage complexes

The reaction of phenylphosphonic acid (PhPO(3)H(2)) with the mixed-valent basic oxo-centered manganese triangle [Mn(3)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(py)(3)] (1; where py=pyridine) in the presence of a suitable base gives four different manganese clusters depending on the identity of the base. The syntheses and structural characterization of [Mn(18)(mu(3)-O)(8)(PhPO(3))(14)(O(2)CCMe(3))(12)(py)(6)(H(2)O)(2)] (2), [Mn(7)(mu(3)-O)(3)(O(3)PPh)(3)(O(2)CCMe(3))(8)(py)(3)] (3), [Mn(9)Na(mu(3)-O)(4)(mu(4)-O)(2)(O(3)PPh)(2)(O(2)CCMe(3))(12)(H(2)O)(2)(H(2)O)(0.67)(Py)(0.33)] (4), and [Mn(13)(mu(3)-O)(8)(OMe)(8)(O(3)PPh)(4)(O(2)CCMe(3))(10)] (5) are described. Complexes 4 and 5 are homovalent Mn(III) cages, while 2 and 3 contain divalent, trivalent, and/or tetravalent ions. All the manganese centers are valence-localized, the octahedral Mn(III) sites being recognizable by marked Jahn-Teller distortions. The magnetic properties of compounds 2-5 have been investigated in the polycrystalline state by magnetic susceptibility and high-field magnetization measurements, which reveal that spin ground states vary from 0< or =S > or =8. AC susceptibility measurements performed on 4 and 5, in the 1.6-10.0 K ranges show the presence of out of AC susceptibility signal (chi(M)') for 4, and an effective energy barrier (U(eff)) for the re-orientation of the magnetization is found to be 17 K, but for 5, the chi(M)' maximum is found to be below 1.5 K.     

Redox chemistry of the acetato-bridged clusters [M3(mu3-O)n(mu-O2CCH3)6(H2O)3]2+ (M = Mo, W, n = 1, 2): reversible redox between mono-micro3-oxo d8 M(III)2M(IV) and d9 M(III)3 forms

A cyclic voltammogram of aqueous 0.1 mol dm(-3) triflic acid solutions of the d6 bioxo-capped M-M bonded cluster [Mo3(mu3-O)2(O2CCH3)6(H2O)3]2+ at a glassy carbon electrode at 25 degrees C gives rise to an irreversible 3e- cathodic wave to a d9 Mo(III)3 species at -0.8 V vs. SCE which on the return scan gives rise to two anodic waves at +0.05 V vs. SCE (E(1/2), 1e- reversible to d8 Mo(III)2Mo(IV)) and +0.48 V vs. SCE (2e- irreversible back to d6 Mo(IV)3). The number of electrons passed at each redox wave has been confirmed by redox titration and controlled potential electrolysis which resulted in 90% recovery of [Mo3(mu3-O)2(O2CCH3)6(H2O)3]2+ following electrochemical re-oxidation at +0.8 V. A corresponding CV study of the d8 monoxo-capped W(III)2W(IV) cluster [W3(mu3-O)(O2CCH3)6(H2O)3]2+ gives rise to a reversible 1e- cathodic process at -0.92 V vs. SCE to give the d9 W(III)3 species [W3(mu3-O)(O2CCH3)6(H2O)3]+; the first authentic example of a W(III) complex with coordinated water ligands. However the cluster is too unstable (O2/water sensitive) to allow isolation. Comparisons with the cv study on [Mo3(mu3-O)2(O2CCH3)6(H2O)3]2+ suggest irreversible reduction of this complex to monoxo-capped [Mo(III)3(mu3-O)(O2CCH3)6(H2O)3]+ followed by reversible oxidation to its d8 counterpart [Mo3(mu3-O)(O2CCH3)6(H2O)3]2+ (Mo(III)2Mo(IV)) and finally irreversible oxidation back to the starting bioxo-capped cluster. Exposing the d9 Mo(III)3 cluster to air (O2) however gives a different final product with evidence of break up of the acetate bridged framework. Corresponding redox processes on d6 [W3(mu3-O)2(O2CCH3)6(H2O)3]2+ are too cathodic to allow similar generation of the monoxo-capped W(III)3 and W(III)2W(IV) clusters at the electrode surface.     

First-principles study of interaction of cluster Au32 with CO, H2, and O2

First-principles calculations are performed to study the interaction of cluster Au(32) with small molecules, such as CO, H(2), and O(2). The cagelike Au(32)(I(h)) shows a higher chemical inertness than the amorphous Au(32)(C(1)) with respect to the interaction with small molecules CO, H(2), and O(2). H(2) can only be physically adsorbed on Au(32)(I(h)), while it can be dissociatively chemisorbed on Au(32)(C(1)). Although CO can be chemically adsorbed on Au(32)(I(h)) and Au(32)(C(1)) with one electron transferred from Au(32) to the antibonding pi* orbit of CO, it is bound more strongly on Au(32)(C(1)) than on Au(32)(I(h)). Spin polarized and spin nonpolarized calculations result almost identical ground state structures of Au(32)(I(h))-O(2) and Au(32)(C(1))-O(2), in which O(2) is dissociatively chemisorbed.     

The catalytic mechanism of peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase investigated by computer simulation

The molecular basis of the hydroxylation reaction of the Calpha of a C-terminal glycine catalyzed by peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) was investigated using hybrid quantum-classical (QM-MM) computational techniques. We have identified the most reactive oxygenated species and presented new insights into the hydrogen abstraction (H-abstraction) mechanism operative in PHM. Our results suggest that O(2) binds to Cu(B) to generate Cu(B)(II)-O(2)(.-) followed by electron transfer (ET) from Cu(A) to form Cu(B)(I)-O(2)(.-). The computed potential energy profiles for the H-abstraction reaction for Cu(B)(II)-O(2)(.-), Cu(B)(I)-O(2)(.-), and [Cu(B)(II)-OOH](+) species indicate that none of these species can be responsible for abstraction. However, the latter species can spontaneously form [Cu(B)O](+2) (which consists of a two-unpaired-electrons [Cu(B)O](+) moiety ferromagnetically coupled with a radical cation located over the three Cu(B) ligands, in the quartet spin ground state) by abstracting a proton from the surrounding solvent. Both this monooxygenated species and the one obtained by reduction with ascorbate, [Cu(B)O](+), were found to be capable of carrying out the H-abstraction; however, whereas the former abstracts the hydrogen atom concertedly with almost no activation energy, the later forms an intermediate that continues the reaction by a rebinding step. We propose that the active species in H-abstraction in PHM is probably [Cu(B)O](+2) because it is formed exothermically and can concertedly abstract the substrate HA atom with the lower overall activation energy. Interestingly, this species resembles the active oxidant in cytochrome P450 enzymes, Compound I, suggesting that both PHM and cytochrome P450 enzymes may carry out substrate hydroxylation by using a similar mechanism.