The octarepeat domain of the prion protein binds Cu(II) with three distinct coordination modes at pH 7.4

The prion protein (PrP) binds Cu2+ in its N-terminal octarepeat domain. This unusual domain is comprised of four or more tandem repeats of the fundamental sequence PHGGGWGQ. Previous work from our laboratories demonstrates that at full copper occupancy, each HGGGW segment binds a single Cu2+. However, several recent studies suggest that low copper occupancy favors different coordination modes, possibly involving imidazoles from histidines in adjacent octapeptide segments. This is investigated here using a combination of X-band EPR, S-band EPR, and ESEEM, along with a library of modified peptides designed to favor different coordination interactions. At pH 7.4, three distinct coordination modes are identified. Each mode is fully characterized to reveal a series of copper-dependent octarepeat domain structures. Multiple His coordination is clearly identified at low copper stoichiometry. In addition, EPR detected copper-copper interactions at full occupancy suggest that the octarepeat domain partially collapses, perhaps stabilizing this specific binding mode and facilitating cooperative copper uptake. This work provides the first complete characterization of all dominant copper coordination modes at pH 7.4.     

Metallothionein Zn2+- and Cu2+-clusters from first-principles calculations

Detailed electronic structures of Zn(II) and Cu(II) clusters from metallothioneins (MT) have been obtained using density functional theory (DFT), in order to investigate how oxidative stress-caused Cu(II) intermediates affect Zn-binding to MT and cooperatively lead to Cu(I)MT. The inferred accuracy is ～0.02-0.03 ? for metal-thiolate bond lengths for the models that are the most realistic MT models so far studied by DFT. We find terminal Zn-S and Cu-S bond lengths of 2.35-2.38 ? and 2.30-2.34 ?, whereas bridging M-S bonds are 0.05-0.11 ? longer. This electronic effect is also reflected in changes in electron density on bridging sulfurs. Various imposed backbone constraints quantify the sensitivity of cluster electronic structure towards protein conformational changes. The large negative charge densities of the clusters are central to MT function, and the smaller β-clusters are more prone to modification. Oxidative stress-associated Cu(II) binding weakens the Zn-S bonds and is thus likely to impair the Zn(II) transfer function of MTs, providing a mechanism for cooperative Cu(II) binding leading to loss of Zn(II) and dysfunctional Cu(I)MT clusters.     

Fine tuning the structure of the Cu2+ complex with the prion protein chicken repeat by proline isomerization

The interaction between the single hexarepeat unit of chicken prion protein [ChPrP(54-59)] and Cu(II) was investigated by NMR, finding different coordination modes for the trans/trans and cis/trans isomers.     

Heteroscorpionate-based Co2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+ complexes: coordination behavior, aerobic oxidation, and hydrogen sulfide detection

The coordination behavior and reactivity of the phenol-substituted bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands, (3,5-(t)Bu(2)-2-phenol)bis(3,5-Me(2)-pyrazol-1-yl)methane (L1-H) and 2-phenol-bis(3,5-Me(2)-pyrazol-1-yl)methane (L2-H) have been investigated in the metal complexes (L1-H)CoCl(2) (1), (L1-H)ZnCl(2) (2), (L3)CuCl(2) (3), (L2)(2)Co(2)Cl(2) (4) (L2-H)ZnCl(2) (5), and (L2-H)CuCl(2)·H(2)O (6). The mononuclear tetrahedral cobalt complex 1 was isolated and fully characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction and (1)H NMR spectroscopy and relaxometry. The neutral L1-H is κ(2)-coordinated to the metal center whereas the not coordinated hydroxy-phenyl group is involved in extended intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Aerobic oxidation of L1-H was observed in the reaction of this ligand with CuCl(2) to yield the para-quinone derivative L3 (L3 = 2-(t)Bu-6-(bis(3,5-Me(2)-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione). Upon oxidation L3 resulted κ(2)-coordinated to the tetrahedral Cu(II) metal center, affording 3. The reaction of L2-H with CoCl(2)·6H(2)O produced the elimination of 1 equiv of hydrochloric acid and the formation of the binuclear complex 4 in which one cobalt is in an octahedral environment featuring two κ(3)-coordinated deprotonated ligands whereas the second cobalt center is detected in tetrahedral coordination geometry, bound to the octahedral cobalt via two phenoxo bridging moieties. Interestingly L2-H, (3-(t)Bu-2-phenol)bis(3,5-Me(2)-pyrazol-1-yl)methane (L4-H), or (5-(t)Bu-2-phenol)bis(3,5-Me(2)-pyrazol-1-yl)methane (L5-H) were not oxidized in the reaction with CuCl(2). The reaction of the ligand L2-H with ZnCl(2) and CuCl(2)·2H(2)O yielded the κ(2)-coordinated tetrahedral complex 5 and the square planar complex 6, respectively. The application of the cobalt complex 1 as molecular dosimeter for H(2)S was explored and compared to that of the zinc analogue 2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and NMR experiments to assess the possible mechanisms of H(2)S detection by both 1 and 2 are also described.     

Theoretical studies on the interaction of anionic collectors with Cu+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ ions

 The influence of collector structure on interaction with metal cations was modelled by computational ab initio methods. The interaction energies were calculated between metal ions (Cu⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺) and selected collector anions: ethyl xanthate, ethyl trithiocarbonate, dithiobutyric acid, ethyl dithiocarbamate, diethyl dithiocarbamate, diethylphosphinecarbodithioic acid and diethoxyphosphinecar bodithioic acid. The strongest interaction was found with diethyl dithiocarbamate. The results give qualitative information on the effect of the collector structure on the initial adsorption steps on sulphide mineral flotation. Received: 25 September / Accepted: 11 October 2001 / Published online: 22 March 2002     

Synthesis and H+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ coordination behavior of a bis(fluorophoric) bibrachial lariat aza-crown

The synthesis, protonation behavior, and Cu2+ and Zn2+ coordination chemistry of the novel bibrachial aza lariat ether (naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)[2-(20-[2-[(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)amino]ethyl]-3,6,9,17,20,23,29,30-octaazatricyclo[23.3.1.1*11,15*]triaconta-1(29),11(30),12,14,25,27-hexaen-6-yl)ethyl]amine (L) are discussed. The macrocycle, which has two aminoethyl naphthyl moieties symmetrically appended to a 2:2 azapyridinophane structure, displays, in the pH range 2-11, six protonation steps that correspond to the protonation of the secondary amino groups. Steady-state fluorescence measurements show emissions due to the monomer and to the excimer formed between the two naphthalene fragments of the macrocycle. The time-resolved fluorescence data, obtained by the time-correlated single photon counting technique, show that a significant percentage of excimer is preformed as ground-state dimers. The ligand L forms with the metal ions Cu2+ and Zn2+ mono- and dinuclear complexes in aqueous solution. The influence of metal coordination in the fluorescence emission of L is analyzed. The acid-base, coordination capabilities, and emissive behavior of L are compared with those presented by its synthetic precursor L1, which has a tripodal tris(2-aminoethyl)amine structure functionalized at one of its terminal amino groups with a naphthyl moiety.     

A 1,8-naphthyridine-based fluorescent chemodosimeter for the rapid detection of Zn2+ and Cu2+

A novel fluorescent chemodosimeter based on 1,8-naphthyridine exhibits high selectivity to Zn(2+) and Cu(2+). When 1-(7-acetamino-1,8-naphthyridyl)-2-(6-diacetaminopyridyl)ethene was mixed with CuCl2, hydrolysis of the acetamino group catalyzed by Cu(2+) complex was first observed. Resulting from coordination and hydrolysis catalyzed by the corresponding complex of Zn(2+) or Cu(2+), the highly effective fluorescent detection of Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) is realized with Zn(2+)-selective dual-emission and Cu(2+)-selective ON-OFF behavior.     

Comparative density functional theory study of the binding of ligands to Cu+ and Cu2+: Influence of the coordination and oxidation state

BP86, B3LYP and MP2 methods, generally used to study large systems containing transition metals, were compared for their ability to accuratly evaluate bond dissociation energies of copper complexes. Various [Cu-L]+ and [Cu-L]2+ complexes in which L are small ligands and the higher coordinated complexes, [Cu(NH3)(4)]+ and [Cu(NH3)4]2+ were studied. For monoligated complexes, the BDEs calculated by the three methods differed by 2 to 60 kcal/mol, the larger differences being obtained for [Cu-L]2+ complexes. The BDEs calculated using the B3LYP functional were in general close to the experimental values whereas the BDEs calculated using the BP86 functional were too high and the BDEs calculated using the MP2 were too low. If we rank the whole ligands according to their increased bond strength, the resulting orders obtained with the three methods are different for the [Cu-L]+ complexes, the B3LYP giving the same order as the experimental one. This result indicates that the BDEs of [Cu-L]+ complexes are better modeled using the B3LYP than using the BP86 and MP2 methods. For [Cu-L]2+, B3LYP also gave the most reliable results whereas BP86 gave too large BDEs and MP2 gave too small BDEs. However, symmetries of ground states can be different using DFT and post-Hartree-Fock methods. For [Cu-N2O]2+ the use of the B1LYP provides a better symmetry of the complex than the B3LYP, as has been recently shown in the literature for [Cu-H2O]2+. MP2 led to an incorrect bent structure for [Cu-N2]2+ in contrast to a linear structure obtained with the other methods, including CCSD(T). However, due to the lack of experimental data for [Cu-L]2+ complexes and to contrasted results for the methods, it is not possible to conclude definitely. For the high coordinated complexes [Cu(NH3)4]+ and [Cu(NH3)4]2+, the PBE calculation method was used in addition to the BP86, B3LYP and MP2. The BDE values were very close to each other when there is no change of the oxidation state during the reaction. On the basis of these calculations, the choice of the method was less crucial for high coordinated complexes [Cu(NH3)4]+ and [Cu(NH3)4]2+ so long as the oxidation state remained the same during the reaction. In contrast, when [Cu(NH3)4]2+ is reduced in [Cu(NH3)3]+ and NH3, the BDE calculated using the four methods were markedly different.     

An efficient sensor for Zn2+ and Cu2+ based on different binding modes

An efficient sensor for Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) was designed based on different binding modes. The sensor displays ratiometric signals for Zn(2+), due to the Zn(2+)-triggered amide tautomerization; while dual-mode selective behaviors for Cu(2+) result from the deprotonation of the amide tautomer.     

Highly sensitive and selective fluorescent sensor for Zn2+/Cu2+ and new approach for sensing Cu2+ by central metal displacement

An "off-on" Zn(2+) and "on-off" Cu(2+) fluorescent chemosensor C was designed and synthesized. The binding of C and Zn(2+)/Cu(2+) is chemically reversible by the addition of EDTA disodium solution; moreover, the fluorescence emission signal of ZnC decreased with the addition of Cu(2+), demonstrating that ZnC could detect Cu(2+)via metal displacement.     

光度检测-低压离子色谱法同时分析水溶液中铜、锌

用吡啶-(2-偶氮-4-)雷琐辛(PAR)作柱后衍生剂,在优化的衍生和色谱条件下,使用可见光检测一低压离子色谱法同时测定了水溶液中铜和锌。在低压阳离子色谱柱上,用酒石酸．柠檬酸作流动相,在520nm处检测,得到线性良好的工作曲线,铜和锌的检出限均为0．05μg／mL。利用该法分析了环境水样中的铜和锌,其标准加入回收率分别为99％～102％,97％～104％。     

Structural effects of Cu(II)-coordination in the octapeptide region of the human prion protein

The copper-binding ability of the prion protein is thought to be central to its function. The structural effects of copper coordination in the octapeptide region of the human prion protein have been investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Simulations were performed with the apo state, in order to investigate the behavior of the region without copper ions, as well as with the octapeptide region in the presence of copper ions. While the structure of the apo state is greatly influenced by the interaction between the rings in the histidine, tryptophan and proline residues, the region shows evidence of highly ordered coordination sites in the presence of copper ions. The position of the tryptophan indole ring is stabilized by cation-pi interactions. Two stable orientations of the indole ring with respect to the equatorial coordination plane of copper were observed, which showed that the indole ring can reside on both sides of the coordination plane. The interaction with the indole ring was found to occur without a mediating axial water molecule.     

A Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescence Chemosensor for Cu2+ and Zn2+ Based on Solvent Effect

A novel fluorescence chemosensor 1 based on (R)‐binaphthyl‐salen can exhibit highly sensitive and selective recognition responses toward Cu²⁺ by "turn‐off" fluorescence quench type in THF/H₂O, and Zn²⁺ by "turn‐on" fluorescence enhancement type in CHCl₃/CH₃CN, respectively, suggesting that solvents can dramatically affect the responsive properties of salen‐based chemosensor. In addition, Cu²⁺ can lead to the most pronounced changes of CD spectra without the influence of solvents, which indicates this kind chemosensor can also be used as a sole Cu²⁺ probe based on CD spectra.     

Complexation and thermodynamic studies of oxathiadibenzocrown ethers with Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ ions

A thermodynamic study of the complexation of Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions with 1 and 2 in acetonitrile has been carried out. The study was conducted in the temperature range 283–308 K using a conductometric technique. The observed molar conductivity, Λ, was found to decrease significantly for mole ratios [L]_t/[M]_t less than unity in all cases. A model involving 1:1 stoichiometry has been used to analyze the conductivity data. The stability constant, K, for each 1:1 complex was determined from the conductivity data by using a nonlinear least-squares curve fitting procedure. The results show that compound 1 has no peak selectivity for any of the metal cations, while compound 2 selectively associates with Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺. Complexes of 1 have the following stability order Pb²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Cd²⁺  and Pb²⁺ > Cu²⁺ for the complexes of 2. The ?H° and ?S° values for the complexation process were obtained from the slope and intercept of the Van’t Hoff plots respectively. All ?G° values were negative and were determined from the Gibbs–Helmholtz equation and the significance of these values is discussed.     

The inorganic perspective of nerve growth factor: interactions of Cu2+ and Zn2+ with the N-terminus fragment of nerve growth factor encompassing the recognition domain of the TrkA receptor

There is a significant overlap between brain areas with Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) pathological dys-homeostasis and those in which the nerve growth factor (NGF) performs its biological role. The protein NGF is necessary for the development and maintenance of the sympathetic and sensory nervous systems. Its flexible N-terminal region has been shown to be a critical domain for TrkA receptor binding and activation. Computational analyses show that Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) form pentacoordinate complexes involving both the His4 and His8 residues of the N-terminal domain of one monomeric unit and the His84 and Asp105 residues of the other monomeric unit of the NGF active dimer. To date, neither experimental data on the coordination features have been reported, nor has one of the hypotheses according to which Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) may have different binding environments or the Ser1 α-amino group could be involved in coordination been supported. The peptide fragment, encompassing the 1-14 sequence of the human NGF amino-terminal domain (NGF(1-14)), blocked at the C terminus, was synthesised and its Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) complexes characterized by means of potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV/Vis, CD, NMR, and EPR) techniques. The N-terminus-acetylated form of NGF(1-14) was also investigated to evaluate the involvement of the Ser1 α-amino group in metal-ion coordination. Our results demonstrate that the amino group is the first anchoring site for Cu(2+) and is involved in Zn(2+) coordination at physiological pH. Finally, a synergic proliferative activity of both NGF(1-14) and the whole protein on SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cell line was found after treatment in the presence of Cu(2+). This effect was not observed after treatment with the N-acetylated peptide fragment, demonstrating a functional involvement of the N-terminal amino group in metal binding and peptide activity.     

Zn2+,Cu2+及Ni2+对二甲双胍的配合作用及降血糖活性研究

二甲双胍盐酸盐、硝酸盐及与Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺三种金属离子配合物的结构特点、电荷分布和二甲双胍配合物对四氧嘧啶糖尿病小鼠血糖影响的研究表明:Zn²⁺配合物表现为较为少见的单齿配位,而Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺配合物表现为双齿配位.进一步电荷分布计算发现,与端基N原子相比,二甲双胍的桥基N原子具有较高的负电荷.三种金属离子配合物对四氧嘧啶糖尿病小鼠血糖的影响研究显示,桥基N配位掩蔽后,二甲双胍的降血糖功能丧失.说明桥基N对二甲双胍的降血糖作用具有重要意义.