Selective binding of monovalent cations to the stacking G-quartet structure formed by guanosine 5'-monophosphate: a solid-state NMR study

We report a solid-state multinuclear ((23)Na, (15)N, (13)C, and (31)P) NMR study on the relative affinity of monovalent cations for a stacking G-quartet structure formed by guanosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) self-association at pH 8. Two major types of cations are bound to the 5'-GMP structure: one at the surface and the other within the channel cavity between two G-quartets. The channel cation is coordinated to eight carbonyl oxygen atoms from the guanine bases, whereas the surface cation is close to the phosphate group and likely to be only partially hydrated. On the basis of solid-state (23)Na NMR results from a series of ion titration experiments, we have obtained quantitative thermodynamic parameters concerning the relative cation binding affinity for each of the two major binding sites. For the channel cavity site, the values of the free energy difference (Delta G degrees at 25 degrees C) for ion competition between M(+) and Na(+) ions are K(+) (-1.9 kcal mol(-1)), NH(4)(+) (-1.8 kcal mol(-1)), Rb(+) (-0.3 kcal mol(-1)), and Cs(+) (1.8 kcal mol(-1)). For the surface site, the values Delta G degrees are K(+) (2.5 kcal mol(-1)), NH(4)(+) (-1.3 kcal mol(-1)), Rb(+) (1.1 kcal mol(-1)), and Cs(+) (0.9 kcal mol(-1)). Solid-state NMR data suggest that the affinity of monovalent cations for the 5'-GMP structure follows the order NH(4)(+) > Na(+) > Cs(+) > Rb(+) > K(+) at the surface site and K(+) > NH(4)(+) > Rb(+) > Na(+) > Cs(+) > Li(+) at the channel cavity site. We have found that the cation-induced stability of a 5'-GMP structure is determined only by the affinity of monovalent cations for the channel site and that the binding of monovalent cations to phosphate groups plays no role in 5'-GMP self-ordered structure. We have demonstrated that solid-state (23)Na and (15)N NMR can be used simultaneously to provide mutually complementary information about competitive binding between Na(+) and NH(4)(+) ions.     

Insights on the mechanism of amine oxidation catalyzed by D-arginine dehydrogenase through pH and kinetic isotope effects

The mechanism of amine oxidation catalyzed by D-arginine dehydrogenase (DADH) has been investigated using steady-state and rapid reaction kinetics, with pH, substrate and solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effects (KIE) as mechanistic probes, and computational studies. Previous results showed that 85-90% of the flavin reduction reaction occurs in the mixing time of the stopped-flow spectrophotometer when arginine is the substrate, precluding a mechanistic investigation. Consequently, leucine, with slower kinetics, has been used here as the flavin-reducing substrate. Free energy calculations and the pH profile of the K(d) are consistent with the enzyme preferentially binding the zwitterionic form of the substrate. Isomerization of the Michaelis complex, yielding an enzyme-substrate complex competent for flavin reduction, is established due to an inverse hyperbolic dependence of k(cat)/K(m) on solvent viscosity. Amine deprotonation triggers the oxidation reaction, with cleavage of the substrate NH and CH bonds occurring in an asynchronous fashion, as suggested by the multiple deuterium KIE on the rate constant for flavin reduction (k(red)). A pK(a) of 9.6 signifies the ionization of a group that facilitates flavin reduction in the unprotonated form. The previously reported high-resolution crystal structures of the iminoarginine and iminohistidine complexes of DADH allow us to propose that Tyr(53), on a mobile loop covering the active site, may participate in substrate binding and facilitate flavin reduction.     

Treatment of ion exchange membranes to decrease divalent ion permeability

In the electrodialysis process for concentrating sea water, the addition of a small amount of the polycationic reagent Nonisold into the sea water feed results in a reduction of divalent cation permeability relative to that of monovalent cations. This is due to the formation of a reagent layer on the surface of the cation-exchange membrane. Divalent cations require greater energy to pass over the potential barrier at the reagent layer than do monovalent cations. The relationship between the height of the potential barrier and the ratio of ionic fluxes or the permselectivity coefficient is deduced on the basis of a kinetic-controlled mechanism of uptake of ions from the solution, and the height of the potential barrier is estimated from the experimental results. The difference between the potential barrier for divalent cations and that for monovalent cations may reach up to about 10 kJ/mol.     

The non-selective voltage-activated cation channel in the human red blood cell membrane: reconciliation between two conflicting reports and further characterisation

Using the patch-clamp technique, the non-selective, voltage-activated cation channel in the human red blood cell (RBC) membrane was further characterised. Activity of the cation channel could be demonstrated at a range of salt concentrations with the current-voltage characteristics for monovalent cations going from linear to superlinear functions, depending on the cation concentration in the range of 100-500 mM. The non-selective voltage-activated cation channel was demonstrated to be permeable to the divalent cations Ca2+ and Ba2+, and even Mg2+. The current-voltage relations for the divalent cations were superlinear even at 75 mM salt concentration, but indicated outward rectification in contrast to the I-V curve for monovalent cations. The degree of activation at a given membrane potential depended strongly on the prehistory of the channel. The gating exhibited hysteretic-like behaviour, since the quasi steady-state deactivation and activation curves were displaced by approximately 25 mV. This result fully explains apparent discrepancies between V0.5-values previously obtained by slightly different experimental protocols. The possible physiological/pathophysiological role of the channel is discussed in the context of the demonstrated permeability for divalent cations.     

Binding of inorganic cations by p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene monitored through competitive fluorophore displacement in aqueous solution

A new working principle for detecting inorganic cation binding by water-soluble calix[4]arenes involves the displacement of a fluorescent azoalkane as guest. Fluorescence regeneration is observed for various metal ions, and binding of monovalent cations (alkali and ammonium) to p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene is detected and quantified for the first time.     

Molecular-dynamics simulations of alkaline-earth metal cations in water by atom-bond electronegativity equalization method fused into molecular mechanics

Intermolecular potential for alkaline-earth metal (Be(2+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+)) cations in water has been derived using the atom-bond electronegativity equalization method fused into molecular mechanics (ABEEM/MM), and it is consistent with what was previously applied to the hydration study of the monovalent cations. Parameters for the effective interaction between a cation and a water molecule were determined, reproducing the ab initio results. The static, dynamic, and thermodynamic properties of Be(2+)(aq), Mg(2+)(aq), and Ca(2+)(aq) were studied using these potential parameters. Be(2+) requires a more complicated form of the potential function than Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) in order to obtain better fits. Strong influences of the twofold charged cations on the structures of the hydration shells and some other properties of aqueous ionic solutions are discussed and compared with the results of a previous study of monovalent cations in water. At the same time, comparative study of the hydration properties of each cation is also discussed. This work demonstrates that ABEEM/MM provides a useful tool in the exploration of the hydration of double-charged cations in water.     

Effects of cations on the hydrogen bond network of liquid water: new results from X-ray absorption spectroscopy of liquid microjets

Oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of aqueous chloride solutions have been measured for Li(+), Na(+), K(+), NH(4)(+), C(NH(2))(3)(+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+) at 2 and 4 M cation concentrations. Marked changes in the liquid water XAS are observed upon addition of the various monovalent cation chlorides that are nearly independent of the identity of the cation. This indicates that interactions with the dissolved monovalent cations do not significantly perturb the unoccupied molecular orbitals of water molecules in the vicinity of the cations and that water-chloride interactions are primarily responsible for the observed spectral changes. In contrast, the addition of the divalent cations engenders changes unique from the case of the monovalent cations, as well as from each other. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the ion-specific spectral variations arise primarily from direct electronic perturbation of the unoccupied orbitals due to the presence of the ions, probably as a result of differences in charge transfer from the water molecules onto the divalent cations.     

Ferrous binding to the multicopper oxidases Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fet3p and human ceruloplasmin: contributions to ferroxidase activity

The multicopper oxidases are a family of enzymes that couple the reduction of O(2) to H(2)O with the oxidation of a range of substrates. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fet3p and human ceruloplasmin (hCp) are members of this family that exhibit ferroxidase activity. Their high specificity for Fe(II) has been attributed to the existence of a binding site for iron. In this study, mutations at the E185 and Y354 residues, which are putative ligands for iron in Fet3p, have been generated and characterized. The effects of these mutations on the electronic structure of the T1 Cu site have been assessed, and the reactivities of this site toward 1,4-hydroquinone (a weak binding substrate) and Fe(II) have been evaluated and interpreted in terms of the semiclassical Marcus theory for electron transfer. The electronic and geometric structure of the Fe(II) substrate bound to Fet3p and hCp has been studied for the first time, using variable-temperature variable field magnetic circular dichroism (VTVH MCD) spectroscopy. The iron binding sites in Fet3p and hCp appear to be very similar in nature, and their contributions to the ferroxidase activity of these proteins have been analyzed. It is found that these iron binding sites play a major role in tuning the reduction potential of iron to provide a large driving force for the ferroxidase reaction, while still supporting the delivery of the Fe(III) product to the acceptor protein. Finally, the analysis of possible electron-transfer (ET) pathways from the protein-bound Fe(II) to the T1 Cu site indicates that the E185 residue not only plays a role in iron binding, but also provides the dominant ET pathway to the T1 Cu site.     

Ion binding to a membrane with surface charge layers

A model for the potential distribution across a charged biological membrane proposed previously by us [Biophys. J., 47 (1985) 673] is extended to a case which includes the effects of binding of monovalent cations. We assume that the membrane has a surface charge layer of thickness d which is permeable to electrolyte ions and in which the membrane-fixed charged groups are distributed at a uniform density N. We also assume that each charged group can bind one monovalent cation with an equilibrium constant K. In the limit of d → 0, keeping the product Nd constant, our model gives the most commonly used model in which ion binding is considered to occur only at the membrane surface (of zero thickness). It is shown that the amount of bound cations as well as the potential distribution are found to depend strongly on d. For example, in 0.1 M 1-1 electrolyte with K = 0.8 M⁻¹, the reduction in magnitude of the surface potential at the outer surface of the surface charge layer of 10 Å thickness is about 40 ∼ 60% of that for the membrane having the surface charge layer of zero thickness, and the deviation of the amount of bound cations for the membrane of d = 10 Å from that predicted for d = 0 is 30–40%, indicating that the conventional model assuming d = 0 leads to a serious overestimation of the surface potential as well as the amount of bound cations onto the membrane.     

A solid-state 23Na NMR study of monovalent cation binding to double-stranded DNA at low relative humidity

We report a solid-state (23)Na NMR study of monovalent cation (Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+) and NH(4) (+)) binding to double-stranded calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) at low relative humidity, ca 0-10%. Results from (23)Na--(31)P rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) NMR experiments firmly establish that, at low relative humidity, monovalent cations are directly bound to the phosphate group of CT DNA and are partially dehydrated. On the basis of solid-state (23)Na NMR titration experiments, we obtain quantitative thermodynamic parameters concerning the cation-binding affinity for the phosphate group of CT DNA. The free energy difference (DeltaG degrees ) between M(+) and Na(+) ions is as follows: Li(+) (-1.0 kcal mol(-1)), K(+) (7.2 kcal mol(-1)), NH(4) (+) (1.0 kcal mol(-1)), Rb(+) (4.5 kcal mol(-1)) and Cs(+) (1.5 kcal mol(-1)). These results suggest that, at low relative humidity, the binding affinity of monovalent cations for the phosphate group of CT DNA follows the order: Li(+) > Na(+) > NH(4) (+) > Cs(+) > Rb(+) > K(+). This sequence is drastically different from that observed for CT DNA in solution. This discrepancy is attributed to the different modes of cation binding in dry and wet states of DNA. In the wet state of DNA, cations are fully hydrated. Our results suggest that the free energy balance between direct cation-phosphate contact and dehydration interactions is important. The reported experimental results on relative ion-binding affinity for the DNA backbone may be used for testing theoretical treatment of cation-phosphate interactions in DNA.     

Electron transfer and singlet oxygen mechanisms in the photooxygenation of dibutyl sulfide and thioanisole in MeCN sensitized by N-methylquinolinium tetrafluoborate and 9,10-dicyanoanthracene. The probable involvement of a thiadioxirane intermediate in electron transfer photooxygenations

Photooxygenations of PhSMe and Bu2S sensitized by N-methylquinolinium (NMQ+) and 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) in O2-saturated MeCN have been investigated by laser and steady-state photolysis. Laser photolysis experiments showed that excited NMQ+ promotes the efficient formation of sulfide radical cations with both substrates either in the presence or in absence of a cosensitizer (toluene). In contrast, excited DCA promotes the formation of radical ions with PhSMe, but not with Bu2S. To observe radical ions with the latter substrate, the presence of a cosensitizer (biphenyl) was necessary. With Bu2S, only the dimeric form of the radical cation, (Bu2S)2+*, was observed, while the absorptions of both PhSMe+* and (PhSMe)2+* were present in the PhSMe time-resolved spectra. The decay of the radical cations followed second-order kinetics, which in the presence of O2, was attributed to the reaction of the radical cation (presumably in the monomeric form) with O2-* generated in the reaction between NMQ* or DCA-* and O2. The fluorescence quenching of both NMQ+ and DCA was also investigated, and it was found that the fluorescence of the two sensitizers is efficiently quenched by both sulfides (rates controlled by diffusion) as well by O2 (kq = 5.9 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) with NMQ+ and 6.8 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) with DCA). It was also found that quenching of 1NMQ* by O2 led to the production of 1O2 in significant yield (PhiDelta = 0.86 in O2-saturated solutions) as already observed for 1DCA*. The steady-state photolysis experiments showed that the NMQ+- and DCA-sensitized photooxygenation of PhSMe afford exclusively the corresponding sulfoxide. A different situation holds for Bu2S: with NMQ+, the formation of Bu2SO was accompanied by that of small amounts of Bu2S2; with DCA, the formation of Bu2SO2 was also observed. It was conclusively shown that with both sensitizers, the photooxygenations of PhSMe occur by an electron transfer (ET) mechanism, as no sulfoxidation was observed in the presence of benzoquinone (BQ), which is a trap for O2-*, NMQ*, and DCA-*. BQ also suppressed the NMQ+-sensitized photooxygenation of Bu2S, but not that sensitized by DCA, indicating that the former is an ET process, whereas the second proceeds via singlet oxygen. In agreement with the latter conclusion, it was also found that the relative rate of the DCA-induced photooxygenation of Bu2S decreases by increasing the initial concentration of the substrate and is slowed by DABCO (an efficient singlet oxygen quencher). To shed light on the actual role of a persulfoxide intermediate also in ET photooxygenations, experiments in the presence of Ph2SO (a trap for the persulfoxide) were carried out. Cooxidation of Ph2SO to form Ph2SO2 was, however, observed only in the DCA-induced photooxygenation of Bu2S, in line with the singlet oxygen mechanism suggested for this reaction. No detectable amounts of Ph2SO2 were formed in the ET photooxygenations of PhSMe with both DCA and NMQ+ and of Bu2S with NMQ+. This finding, coupled with the observation that 1O2 and ET photooxygenations lead to different product distributions, makes it unlikely that, as currently believed, the two processes involve the same intermediate, i.e., a nucleophilic persulfoxide. Furthermore, the cooxidation of Ph2SO observed in the DCA-induced photooxygenation of Bu2S was drastically reduced when the reaction was performed in the presence of 0.5 M biphenyl as a cosensitizer, that is, under conditions where an (indirect) ET mechanism should operate. This observation confirms that a persulfoxide is formed in singlet oxygen but not in ET photosulfoxidations. The latter conclusion was further supported by the observation that also the intermediate formed in the reaction of thianthrene radical cation with KO2, a reaction which mimics step d (Scheme 2) in the ET mechanism of photooxygenation, is an electrophilic species, being able to oxidize Ph2S but not Ph2SO. It is thus proposed that the intermediate involved in ET sulfoxidations is a thiadioxirane, whose properties (it is an electrophilic species) seem more in line with the observed chemistry. Theoretical calculations concerning the reaction of a sulfide radical cation with O2-* provide a rationale for this proposal.     

Formability and properties of self-standing clay film by montmorillonite with different interlayer cations

Influences of exchangeable interlayer cations were investigated on self-standing film formability, film morphology, and properties of the clay films such as flexibility and gas barrier property. Ion-exchanged montmorillonite samples were prepared by a cation exchange from naturally bearing cation, mostly Na⁺, to Li⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, and Fe^{2+, 3+}. Self-standing films were prepared from aqueous colloidal dispersions of these montmorillonite samples with no additives. The montmorillonite samples with monovalent or divalent cation formed flat self-standing films while the Al-montmorillonite sample produced a distorted film. The Fe-montmorillonite sample formed many separated reddish-brown rod-shaped pieces. Clay film microstructures were different with interlayer cations. The films with monovalent interlayer cations were constructed by the stacking of units with delicately waved thin clay sheets in the whole film, but other films show different morphologies between the upper side and lower side; the upper side is laminated with thin sheets; the lower side is laminated with large thick sheets.The self-standing films’ flexibility and gas barrier property differed according to the interlayer cations. These properties were good in cases of samples with monovalent cations. The innumerable short wave and sheet thinness are considered to foster good flexibility and gas barrier properties. The differences in film formability and properties of the films are attributable to different swellability among samples with different interlayer cations. The montmorillonite samples with monovalent cations swell sufficiently by water, but those with polyvalent cations swell poorly. In the latter case, clay crystals aggregate in water, then the aggregate grows into large particles, creating a film with large particles.     

Effect of NaCl and KCl on phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine lipid membranes: insight from atomic-scale simulations for understanding salt-induced effects in the plasma membrane

To gain a better understanding of how monovalent salt under physiological conditions affects plasma membranes, we have performed 200 ns atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipid bilayers. These two systems provide representative models for the outer and inner leaflets of the plasma membrane, respectively. The implications of cation-lipid interactions in these lipid systems have been considered in two different aqueous salt solutions, namely NaCl and KCl, and the sensitivity of the results on the details of interactions used for ions is determined by repeating the simulations with two distinctly different force fields. We demonstrate that the main effect of monovalent salt on a phospholipid membrane is determined by cations binding to the carbonyl region of a membrane, while chloride anions mostly stay in the water phase. It turns out that the strength and character of the cation-lipid interactions are quite different for different types of lipids and cations. PC membranes and Na+ ions demonstrate strongest interactions, leading to notable membrane compression. This finding was confirmed by both force fields (Gromacs and Charmm) employed for the ions. The binding of potassium ions to PC membranes (and the overall effect of KCl), in turn, was found to be much weaker mainly due to the larger size of a K+ ion compared to Na+. Furthermore, the effect of KCl on PC membranes was found to be force-field sensitive: The binding of a potassium ion was not observed at all in simulations performed with the Gromacs force-field, which seems to exaggerate the size of a K+ ion. As far as PE lipid bilayers are concerned, they are found to be influenced by monovalent salt to a significantly lesser extent compared to PC bilayers, which is a direct consequence of the ability of PE lipids to form both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds and hence to adopt a more densely packed bilayer structure. Whereas for NaCl we observed weak binding of Na+ cations to the PE lipid-water interface, in the case of KCl we witnessed almost complete lack of cation binding. Overall, our findings indicate that monovalent salt ions affect lipids in the inner and outer leaflets of plasma cell membranes in substantially different ways.     

Ion‐Pair Recognition by a Heteroditopic Triazole‐Containing Receptor

A new heteroditopic calix[4]diquinone triazole containing receptor capable of recognising both cations and anions through Lewis base and C? H hydrogen‐bonding modes, respectively, of the triazole motif has been prepared. This ion‐pair receptor cooperatively binds halide/monovalent‐cation combinations in an aqueous mixture, with selectivity trends being established by ¹H NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Cation binding by the calix[4]diquinone oxygen and triazole nitrogen donors enhances the strength of the halide complexation at the isophthalamide recognition site of the receptor. Conversely, anions bound in the receptor’s isophthalamide cavity enhance cation recognition. ¹H NMR investigations in solution suggest that the receptor’s triazole motifs are capable of coordinating simultaneously to both cation and anion guest species. Solid‐state X‐ray crystallographic structural analysis of a variety of receptor ion‐pair adducts further demonstrates the dual cation–anion binding role of the triazole group.     

聚马来酸包夹硅胶基质单柱弱阳离子色谱柱填料

用马来酸包夹硅胶基质制备出一种新型弱阳离子色谱柱填料，该填料具有良好的色谱性能，可以较好地分离碱金属离子、碱土金属离子及一价胺离子。另外该填料可同时分离一价、二价金属阳离子。本文还考察了流动相的ｐＨ值和浓度对溶质保留的影响。     

A model for cation adsorption to clays and membranes

A cation adsorption model is presented and its recent applications are discussed. The model combines electrostatic equations with specific binding, and considers neutral and positively charged complexes between the negative surface sites and organic cations in a closed system. Extensions in the model account for dye aggregation in solution, and for the formation of solution complexes of inorganic cations, such as [M⁺⁺ Cl^–]⁺. The amounts of 45Ca²⁺ adsorbed to vesicles extracted from the plasma membranes of melon root cells could be adequately simulated and predicted. The binding coefficients determined for Ca²⁺, Na⁺, and Mg²⁺ are in the range of values previously deduced for binding to phospholipid components. Model calculations were applied to the test of hypotheses on the effect of salt stress on the growth of roots. The adsorption of monovalent organic cations to montmorillonite is characterized by binding coefficients that are at least six orders of magnitude larger than those of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Cd²⁺, or those of CdCl⁺ or CaCl⁺. Monovalent organic cations were found to adsorb 140–200% of the cation exchange capacity of the clay and to cause charge reversal. Deductions from adsorption results of acriflavin are consistent with those drawn from the application of other experimental methods. Preliminary results on the adsorption of divalent organic cations are presented. Agro-environmental applications of organo-clays are discussed.     

单柱离子色谱法测定一价阳离子的流动相研究

对单柱离子色谱法测定一价阳离子的流动相进行了系统研究，阐述了一价阳离子的保留行为和电导检测行为与流动相之间的关系，分别对无机酸（硝酸）、有机酸（柠檬酸）和芳香碱（苯胺）为流动相测定一价阳离子进行了讨论，其中有机酸和无机酸是较为适宜的流动相。     

Locating counterions in guanosine quadruplexes: a contrast-variation neutron diffraction experiment in condensed hexagonal phase

Guanosine, one of the primary components of nucleic acids, self-associates in water to form G-quadruplexes, four-stranded helicoidal aggregates, made by stacked planar tetramers, consisting of four planar guanine molecules. Essential for the stability of these supramolecular aggregates is the presence of monovalent cations. As G-quadruplexes show a lyotropic polymorphism, neutron diffraction, in combination with the H2O/D2O contrast variation technique, has been applied to study the cation structural features of quadruplexes in hexagonal phase at different hydrations and counterion concentrations. The guanosine 5'-monophosphate, dipotassium salt, was considered and G-quadruplexes in hexagonal phase were prepared in the different experimental conditions (contrast, hydration and KCl solution concentration) by using the osmotic stress technique. The calculated scattering length density distribution maps show that counterions fill the helix inner cavity and that atmospheric cations are bound to a second site, close to the external phosphate groups. The site occupancy turned out to be very high: we found on the inner site 0.87 K ions per tetramer in G-quadruplexes prepared in pure water and 0.97 K ions per tetramer in G-quadruplexes prepared in KCl 0.5 M, while in all cases 6 ions per unit cell were detected to occupy the outer sites, partially neutralizing the two formal negative charges per phosphate group. The very large K ions concentration difference between the binding sites and the bulk solution demonstrates that counterions are structurally involved in the formation and in the stabilization of the helices.     

Tunneling and classical paths for proton transfer in an enzyme reaction dominated by tunneling: oxidation of tryptamine by aromatic amine dehydrogenase

Proton tunneling dominates the oxidative deamination of tryptamine catalyzed by the enzyme aromatic amine dehydrogenase. For reaction with the fast substrate tryptamine, a H/D kinetic isotope effect (KIE) of 55 +/- 6 has been reported-one of the largest observed in an enzyme reaction. We present here a computational analysis of this proton-transfer reaction, applying combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods (PM3-SRP//PM3/CHARMM22). In particular, we extend our previous computational study (Masgrau et al. Science 2006, 312, 237) by using improved energy corrections, high-level QM/MM methods, and an ensemble of paths to estimate the tunneling contributions. We have carried out QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations and variational transition state theory calculations with small-curvature tunneling corrections. The results provide detailed insight into the processes involved in the reaction. Transfer to the O2 oxygen of the catalytic base, Asp128beta, is found to be the favored reaction both thermodynamically and kinetically, even though O1 is closer in the reactant complex. Comparison of quantum and classical models of proton transfer allows estimation of the contribution of hydrogen tunneling in lowering the barrier to reaction in the enzyme. A reduction of the activation free energy due to tunneling of 3.1 kcal mol-1 is found, which represents a rate enhancement due to tunneling by 2 orders of magnitude. The calculated KIE of 30 is significantly elevated over the semiclassical limit, in agreement with the experimental observations; a semiclassical value of 6 is obtained when tunneling is omitted. A polarization of the C-H bond to be broken is observed due to the close proximity of the catalytic aspartate and the (formally) positively charged imine nitrogen. A comparison is also made with the related quinoprotein methylamine dehydrogenase (MADH)-the much lower KIE of 11 that we obtain for the MADH/methylamine system is found to arise from a more endothermic potential energy surface for the MADH reaction.     

Aqueous solutions of divalent chlorides: ions hydration shell and water structure

By combining neutron diffraction and Monte Carlo simulations, we have determined the microscopic structure of the hydration ions shell in aqueous solutions of MgCl(2) and CaCl(2), along with the radial distribution functions of the solvent. In particular the hydration shell of the cations, show cation specific symmetry, due to the strong and directional interaction of ions and water oxygens. The ions and their hydration shells likely form molecular moieties and bring clear signatures in the water-water radial distribution functions. Apart from these signatures, the influence of divalent salts on the microscopic structure of water is similar to that of previously investigated monovalent solutes, and it is visible as a shift of the second peak of the oxygen-oxygen radial distribution function, caused by distortion of the hydrogen bond network of water.