Hydration energies of deprotonated amino acids from gas phase equilibria measurements

Singly hydrated clusters of deprotonated amino acids were studied using an electrospray high-pressure mass spectrometer equipped with a pulsed ion-beam reaction chamber. Thermochemical data, DeltaH(o), DeltaS(o), and DeltaG(o), for the hydration reaction [AA - H](-) + H(2)O = [AA - H](-).(H(2)O) were obtained from gas-phase equilibria determinations for AA = Gly, Ala, Val, Pro, Phe, Lys, Met, Trp, Gln, Arg, and Asp. The hydration free-energy changes are found to depend significantly on the side-chain substituents. The water binding energy in [AA - H](-).(H(2)O) increases with the gas-phase acidity of AA. The anionic hydrogen bond strengths in [AA - H](-).(H(2)O) are compared with those of the cationic bonds in the corresponding AAH(+).(H(2)O) systems.     

Dissociation energies of X-H bonds in amino acids

In biochemistry, free radicals are versatile species which can perform diverse functions including: signaling, synthesis, and destructive modification. It is of interest to understand how radicals behave within all biomolecules and specifically within peptides and proteins. The 20 standard amino acids contain a wide range of chemical structures, which give proteins their complexity and ultimately their functionality. Many factors influence how radicals interact with these complex molecules, including the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for homolytically cleaving any X-H bonds. The BDEs provide a simple measure for comparing the thermodynamic favorability of abstracting hydrogen atoms from various sites within a protein. BDEs for abstractable hydrogen atoms have been calculated for each amino acid, the peptide backbone, and peptide termini in order to compile a roadmap of the relative thermodynamics which influence protein radical chemistry. With this information it is possible to gain insight into what contributions both kinetics and thermodynamics will make to various radical mediated reaction pathways.     

Hydration of copper(II) amino acids complexes

Hydration of the copper(II) bis‐complexes with glycine, serine, lysine, and aspartic acid was studied by DFT and MD simulation methods. The distances between copper(II) and water molecules in the 1st and 2nd coordination shells, the average number of water molecules and their mean residence times in the hydration shells were calculated. Good agreement was observed between the values obtained and those found by DFT and NMR relaxation methods. Influence of the functional groups of the ligands and the cis–trans isomerism of the complexes on the structural and dynamical parameters of the hydration shells was displayed and explained. Analysis of the MD trajectories reveals the competition for a copper(II) axial position between water molecules or water molecules and the functional chain groups of the ligands and confirms the suggestion on the pentacoordination of copper(II) in such complexes. MD simulations show that only one axial position of Cu(II) is basically occupied at each time step while in average the coordination number more than 5 is observed. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hydration of potassiated amino acids in the gas phase

The thermochemistry of stepwise hydration of several potassiated amino acids was studied by measuring the gas-phase equilibria, AAK(+)(H(2)O)(n-1) + H(2)O = AAK(+)(H(2)O)(n) (AA = Gly, AL, Val, Met, Pro, and Phe), using a high-pressure mass spectrometer. The AAK(+) ions were obtained by electrospray and the equilibrium constants K(n-1,n) were measured in a pulsed reaction chamber at 10 mbar bath gas, N(2), containing a known partial pressure of water vapor. Determination of the equilibrium constants at different temperatures was used to obtain the DeltaH(n)(o), DeltaS(n)(o), and DeltaG(n)(o) values. The results indicate that the water binding energy in AAK(+)(H(2)O) decreases as the K(+) affinity to AA increases. This trend in binding energies is explained in terms of changes in the side-chain substituent, which delocalize the positive charge from K(+) to AA in AAK(+) complexes, varying the AAK(+)-H(2)O electrostatic interaction.     

Adiabatic ionization energies from charge transfer equilibrium constants; experimental determinations of entropy changes for charge transfer equilibria

Equilibrium constants have been measured as a function of temperature for the charge transfer equilibria in mixtures of NO with aromatic compounds, and mixtures of aromatic compounds. The experimentally determined entropy changes are in good agreement with entropy changes calculated from statistical mechanical considerations provided an intermolecular component is included. The enthalpy changes for the charge transfer reactions correspond to the differences in the adiabatic ionization potentials of the compounds.     

Vibrational signature of charge solvation vs salt bridge isomers of sodiated amino acids in the gas phase

The vibrational spectra of the gaseous sodium complexes of glycine (Gly-Na(+)) and proline (Pro-Na(+)) have been recorded in the spectral range 1150-2000 cm(-1). The complexes were formed by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization, introduced in the cell of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer, and their infrared spectra were recorded using photons of variable energy emitted by a free electron laser. Photon absorption was probed by the diminished intensity of the parent ion, due to its infrared-induced dissociation into bare sodium cation and the free amino acid and the appearance of Na(+). The observed absorption bands are assigned using ab initio computations of the IR spectra of the lowest energy isomers in each case. They provide the first experimental evidence that the salt bridge isomer is formed in the case of Pro-Na(+). In contrast, charge solvation by chelation of Na(+) between nitrogen and the carbonyl oxygen seems to be most favorable for Gly-Na(+), but a mixture of isomers cannot be ruled out in this case.     

Estimating relative free energies from a single ensemble: Hydration free energies

The ability to determine the free energy of solvation for a number of small organic molecules with varying sizes and properties from the coordinate trajectory of a single simulation of a given reference state was investigated. The relative free energies were estimated from a single step perturbation using the perturbation formula. The reference state consisted of a cavity surrounded by solvent. To enhance sampling a soft-core interaction was used for the cavity. The effect of the size of the cavity, the effective core height, and the length of simulation on the ability to reproduce results obtained from thermodynamic integration calculations was considered. The results using a single step perturbation from an appropriately chosen initial state were comparable to results from thermodynamic integration calculations for a wide range of compounds. Using a large number of compounds the computational efficiency was potentially increased by 2–3 orders of magnitude over traditional free energy approaches. Factors determining the efficiency of the approach are discussed. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 1604–1617, 1999     

The gas-phase H/D exchange mechanism of protonated amino acids

A mass spectrometry and Density Functional Theory study of gas-phase H/D exchange in protonated Ala, Cys, Ile, Leu, Met, and Val is reported. Site-specific rate constants were determined and results identify the alpha-amino group as the protonation site. Lack of exchange on the Cys thiol group is explained by the absence of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding within the reaction complex. In aliphatic amino acids the presence of a methyl group at the beta-C atom was found to lower the site-specific H/D exchange rate for amino hydrogens. Study of the exchange mechanism showed that isotopic exchange occurs in two independent reactions: in one, only the carboxylic hydrogen is exchanged and in the other, both carboxylic and amino group hydrogens exchange. The proposed reaction mechanisms, calculated structures of various species, and a number of structural findings are consistent with experimental data.     

Hydration of gas-phase ions formed by electrospray ionization

The hydration of gas-phase ions produced by electrospray ionization was investigated. Evidence that the hydrated ions are formed by two mechanisms is presented. First, solvent condensation during the expansion inside the electrospray source clearly occurs. Second, some solvent evaporation from more extensively solvated ions or droplets is apparent. To the extent that these highly solvated ions have solution-phase structures, then the final isolated gas-phase structure of the ion will be determined by the solvent evaporation process. This process was investigated for hydrated gramicidin S in a Fourier-transform mass spectrometer. Unimolecular dissociation rate constants of isolated gramicidin S ions with between 2 and 14 associated water molecules were measured. These rate constants increased from 16 to 230 s-1 with increasing hydration, with smaller values corresponding to magic numbers.     

Selective transport of amino acids into the gas phase: driving forces for amino acid solubilization in gas-phase reverse micelles

We report a study on encapsulation of various amino acids into gas-phase sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (NaAOT) reverse micelles, using electrospray ionization guided-ion-beam tandem mass spectrometry. Collision-induced dissociation of mass-selected reverse micellar ions with Xe was performed to probe structures of gas-phase micellar assemblies, identify solute-surfactant interactions, and determine preferential incorporation sites of amino acids. Integration into gas-phase reverse micelles depends upon amino acid hydrophobicity and charge state. For examples, glycine and protonated amino acids (such as protonated tryptophan) are encapsulated within the micellar core via electrostatic interactions; while neutral tryptophan is adsorbed in the surfactant layer. As verified using model polar hydrophobic compounds, the hydrophobic effect and solute-interface hydrogen-bonding do not provide sufficient driving force needed for interfacial solubilization of neutral tryptophan. Neutral tryptophan, with a zwitterionic structure, is intercalated at the micellar interface between surfactant molecules through complementary effects of electrostatic interactions between tryptophan backbone and AOT polar heads, and hydrophobic interactions between tryptophan side chain and AOT alkyl tails. Protonation of tryptophan could significantly improve its incorporation capacity into gas-phase reverse micelles, and displace its incorporation site from the micellar interfacial zone to the core; protonation of glycine, on the other hand, has little effect on its encapsulation capacity. Another interesting observation is that amino acids of different isoelectric points could be selectively encapsulated into, and transported by, reverse micelles from solution to the gas phase, based upon their competition for protonation and subsequent encapsulation within the micellar core.     

Arylhydroxyacetic acids and amino acids derived from ethinylphenols

Conclusions A method of synthesis of arylhydroxyacetic acids and ammo acids derived from ethinylphenols has been developed in view of possible physiological activity of these compounds.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1170–1172, May, 1970.     

Enthalpy of the gas-phase CO2 + Mg reaction from ab initio total energies

Various highly accurate ab initio composite methods of Gaussian-n (G1, G2, G3), their variations (G2(MP2), G3(MP2), G3//B3LYP, G3(MP2)//B3LYP), and complete basis set (CBS-Q, CBS-Q//B3LYP) series of models were applied to compute reaction enthalpies of the ground-state reaction of CO2 with Mg. All model chemistries predict highly endothermic reactions, with DeltaH(298) = 63.6-69.7 kcal x mol(-1). The difference between the calculated reaction enthalpies and the experimental value, evaluated with recommended experimental standard enthalpies of formation for products and reactants, is more than 20 kcal x mol(-1) for all methods. This difference originates in the incorrect experimental enthalpy of formation of gaseous MgO given in thermochemical databases. When the theoretical formation enthalpy for MgO calculated by a particular method is used, the deviation is reduced to 1.3 kcal x mol(-1). The performance of the methodologies used to calculate the heat of this particular reaction and the enthalpy of formation of MgO are discussed.     

Free energies and phase equilibria of chain molecules

In this Article, a review is presented of recent developments in Monte Carlo simulations of chain molecules. The Rosenbluth chain insertion technique is used to calculate the free energy of the chain molecules. Furthermore, this insertion method is used to generate biased Monte Carlo moves. It is shown that this bias can be removed by adjusting the acceptance rules such that configurations are generated with their correct Boltzmann weight. This configurational-bias Monte Carlo method can be combined with the Gibbs-ensemble technique which results in an efficient method to simulate phase equilibria of chain molecules.     

Prevalent intrinsic emission from nonaromatic amino acids and poly(amino acids)

Nonaromatic amino acids are generally believed to be nonemissive, owing to their lack of apparently remarkable conjugation within individual molecules. Here we report the intrinsic visible emission of nonaromatic amino acids and poly(amino acids) in concentrated solutions and solid powders. This unique and widespread luminescent characteristic can be well rationalized by the clustering-triggered emission(CTE) mechanism, namely the clustering of nonconventional chromophores(i.e. amino, carbonyl,and hydroxyl) and subsequent electron cloud overlap with simultaneous conformation rigidification. Such CTE mechanism is further supported by the single crystal structure analysis, from which 3 D through space electronic communications are uncovered.Besides prompt fluorescence, room temperature phosphorescence(RTP) is also detected from the solids. Moreover, persistent RTP is observed in the powders of exampled poly(amino acids) of ε-poly-L-lysine(.-PLL) after ceasing UV irradiation. These results not only illustrate the feasibility of employing the building blocks of nonaromatic amino acids in the exploration of new luminescent biomolecules, but also provide significant implications for the emissions of peptides and proteins at aggregated or crystalline states. Meanwhile, they may also shed lights on further understanding of autofluorescence from biological systems.     

Hydration of gas-phase ytterbium ion complexes studied by experiment and theory

Hydration of ytterbium (III) halide/hydroxide ions produced by electrospray ionization was studied in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer and by density functional theory (DFT). Gas-phase YbX₂ ⁺ and YbX(OH)⁺ (X?=?OH, Cl, Br, or I) were found to coordinate from one to four water molecules, depending on the ion residence time in the trap. From the time dependence of the hydration steps, relative reaction rates were obtained. It was determined that the second hydration was faster than both the first and third hydrations, and the fourth hydration was the slowest; this ordering reflects a combination of insufficient degrees of freedom for cooling the hot monohydrate ion and decreasing binding energies with increasing hydration number. Hydration energetics and hydrate structures were computed using two approaches of DFT. The relativistic scalar ZORA approach was used with the PBE functional and all-electron TZ2P basis sets; the B3LYP functional was used with the Stuttgart relativistic small-core ANO/ECP basis sets. The parallel experimental and computational results illuminate fundamental aspects of hydration of f-element ion complexes. The experimental observations??kinetics and extent of hydration??are discussed in relationship to the computed structures and energetics of the hydrates. The absence of pentahydrates is in accord with the DFT results, which indicate that the lowest energy structures have the fifth water molecule in the second shell.     

Gemini surfactants from natural amino acids

In this review, we report the most important contributions in the structure, synthesis, physicochemical (surface adsorption, aggregation and phase behaviour) and biological properties (toxicity, antimicrobial activity and biodegradation) of Gemini natural amino acid-based surfactants, and some potential applications, with an emphasis on the use of these surfactants as non-viral delivery system agents. Gemini surfactants derived from basic (Arg, Lys), neutral (Ser, Ala, Sar), acid (Asp) and sulphur containing amino acids (Cys) as polar head groups, and Geminis with amino acids/peptides in the spacer chain are reviewed.     

Quantized hydration energies of ions and structure of hydration shell from the experimental gas-phase data

With previous data on alkali metal and halide ions included [Rais, J.; Okada, T. Anal. Sci. 2006, 22, 533], we analyzed rather broad data on ionic hydration from the point of view of gaseous cluster energetics. We have now added alkaline earth cations, Zn(2+), H(+), OH(-), Cu(+), Ag(+), Bi(+), Pb(+), and alkylammonium cations. The present analysis revealed the octa-coordinated nature of alkaline earth cations, which is not fully pronounced for Be(2+) and Zn(2+), existence of Eigen protonium complex, which is trigonally hydrated, and particular property of the first OH-, H(2)O cluster. Whereas these findings are generally in accordance with theoretical model calculation studies, we have foreseen in addition tetrahedral hydration for halide anions and Rb(+) and Cs(+), as well as for alkylammonium ions. The obtained picture of the quantized solvation of ions is mirrored in the ionization potentials of outer electrons of pertinent atoms. This is a second independent phenomenon, and together, they invoked a common pattern formation ("Aufbau") obeying tetra- and octa-coordinated principles.