Ring-expanded bicyclic β-lactams: a structure-chiroptical properties relationship investigation by experiment and calculations

In the present work, the validity of the helicity rule relating the absolute configuration of the bridgehead carbon atom in bicyclic β-lactams to the sign of the 220 nm band observed in their electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra is examined for ring-expanded cephalosporin analogues. To this end, a series of model compounds with a seven-membered ring condensed with the β-lactam unit was synthesized. A key step of their synthesis was either the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) or the free radical cyclization leading to the seven-membered ring with an S, O, or C atom at the 6 position in the bicyclic skeleton. To investigate the scope and limitations of the simple, empirically established helicity rule, a combination of ECD spectroscopy, variable-temperature ECD measurements, X-ray analysis, and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations was used. A comparison of the experimental ECD spectra with the spectra simulated by TD-DFT calculations gives a reasonable interpretation of the Cotton effects observed in the 240-215 nm spectral range. The results suggest that the helicity rule does not apply to the investigated compounds because of the planarity of their amide chromophore. Thus, these compounds do not constitute an exception to the rule that was established for bi- and polycyclic β-lactams with the nonplanar amide chromophore only.     

Toluene Dioxygenase‐Catalyzed Synthesis of cis‐Dihydrodiol Metabolites from 2‐Substituted Naphthalene Substrates: Assignments of Absolute Configurations and Conformations from Circular Dichroism and Optical Rotation Measurements

cis‐Dihydrodiol metabolites have been isolated from naphthalene and six 2‐substituted naphthalene substrates. Their structures and absolute configurations have been determined by a combination of calculated (TDDFT) and experimentally based circular dichroism (CD) and optical rotation (OR) methods. The “inverse” styrene helicity rule is shown to be incorrect for the interpretation of the CD spectra of cis‐dihydrodiols. A striking conclusion is that CD spectra correlate directly with the helicity of the styrene chromophore: that is, the sign of the long‐wavelength Cotton effect is identical with the sign of styrene torsion angle, whereas the OR sign is dependent on the absolute configuration of the allylic carbon atom. The results demonstrate that a predictive model previously used for the determination of preferred regio‐ and stereoselectivity associated with TDO‐catalyzed cis‐dihydroxylation of substituted benzene substrates can now be successfully extended to substituted naphthalene substrates.     

Theoretical modeling of peptide α-helical circular dichroism in aqueous solution

Reliable modeling of protein and peptide circular dichroism (CD) spectra in the far UV presents a challenge for current theoretical approaches. In this study, the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), configuration interaction with single excitation (CIS), and transition dipole coupling (TDC) were used to assess the most important factors contributing to the CD spectra of the α-helical secondary structure. The dependence on the peptide chain length and also the role of the flexibility and solvent environment were investigated with a model oligopeptide Ac-(Ala)(N)-NH-Me, (N = 1, ..., 18). Both the TDDFT and TDC-like methods suggest that the CD curve typical for the α-helix arises gradually, but its basic characteristic is discernible already for peptides with 4-5 amino acid residues. The calculated dependence was in a qualitative agreement with experimental spectra of short α-helices stabilized by the histidine-metal binding. The TDDFT computations of the CD were found to be unusually sensitive to the basis set and solvent model. Explicit hydration and temperature fluctuations of the peptide geometry, simulated with the aid of molecular dynamics (MD), significantly influenced the CD and absorption spectral shapes. An extensive averaging over MD configurations is thus required to obtain a converged spectral profile in cluster simulations. On the other hand, both the TDDFT and TDC models indicate only a minor influence of the alanine side chains. The CIS and TDC calculations also point toward a relatively small effect of the helix-helix interaction on the CD spectral profiles. For a model system of two helices, the CIS method predicted larger changes in the spectra than TDC. This suggests other than interactions between peptide chains, such as mutual polarization, can have a minor, but measurable, effect on the CD spectrum.     

Absolute configuration reassignment of two chromanes from Peperomia obtusifolia (Piperaceae) using VCD and DFT calculations

Previous analysis of the ECD spectra of two prenylated benzopyrans isolated from Peperomia obtusifolia, by means of the helicity rule for the chromane chromophore, resulted in the incorrect assignment of their absolute configuration, (S) instead of (R) for a deduced P-helicity of the chromane ring for the (+)-enantiomers. This was discovered by the application of DFT calculations and VCD spectroscopy. Experimental and calculated (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) VCD and IR spectra were compared, and a definitive absolute configuration of (+)-1 and (+)-2 is reassigned directly in solution as (R). The assumption of equatorial positioning of bulky groups, shown here to be invalid for the title molecules, is the underlying cause of the previous incorrect assignment of absolute configuration. Moreover, TDDFT (B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)) calculations of ECD spectra have shown that both P- and M-helicity of the heterocyclic ring, for a given absolute configuration, lead to the same sign for the ¹L_b ECD band, thus bringing into question the validity of the empirical ECD helicity rule for chromane molecules.     

Helical content of a β(3)-octapeptide in methanol: molecular dynamics simulations explain a seeming discrepancy between conclusions derived from CD and NMR data

Connecting experimental observables with the underlying conformational ensemble is a long-standing problem in the structure determination of biomolecules. The simulations described in this article attempt to resolve a seeming discrepancy between the conformational features derived from measured NOE intensities, (3)J-coupling constants, and circular dichroism (CD) spectra for two β-peptides differing in a linker between two side-chains. Although both peptides are very similar in terms of the r(-6) averaged distances between atom pairs involved in the observed NOEs, the molecular dynamics trajectories suggest why the CD spectra show a greater 3(14)-helical propensity for the linked, cyclic peptide than for the linear one, whereas slightly more NMR NOE peaks are observed and assigned for the latter. The nine 100 ns unrestrained simulations show better agreement with the observed experimental data than the single conformations derived from the published NMR structures by additional energy minimization with the GROMOS force field. They show why the seemingly contradictory quantities obtained by NMR and CD spectroscopy can arise from a single conformational ensemble.     

Microsolvation effects on the excited-state dynamics of protonated tryptophan

To better understand the complex photophysics of the amino acid tryptophan, which is widely used as a probe of protein structure and dynamics, we have measured electronic spectra of protonated, gas-phase tryptophan solvated with a controlled number of water molecules and cooled to approximately 10 K. We observe that, even at this temperature, the bare molecule exhibits a broad electronic spectrum, implying ultrafast, nonradiative decay of the excited state. Surprisingly, the addition of two water molecules sufficiently lengthens the excited-state lifetime that we obtain a fully vibrationally resolved electronic spectrum. Quantum chemical calculations at the RI-CC2/aug-cc-pVDZ level, together with TDDFT/pw based first-principles MD simulations of the excited-state dynamics, clearly demonstrate how interactions with water destabilize the photodissociative states and increase the excited-state lifetime.     

Optical properties of gas-phase tryptophan-silver cations: charge transfer from the indole ring to the silver atom.

We present a joint experimental and theoretical investigation of the electronic excitation spectra of the tryptophan-silver complex. The photodissociation spectrum of gas-phase [Trp-Ag]+ was measured from 215 to 330 nm using a quadrupole ion trap coupled to an optical parametric-oscillator laser. The calculated time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) absorption spectra for different prototypes of structures are presented. Low-energy transitions that are experimentally observed are only calculated for the charge-solvation (CS) structures. These transitions are a signature of the metal-pi interaction in [Trp-Ag]+. The recorded spectrum is compared to a Boltzmann average of the absorption spectrum obtained from direct molecular dynamics (MD) simulations involving simultaneous transitions to excited states based on semiempirical configuration interaction (CI) calculations. The results demonstrate that charge transfer can be photoinduced from the indole ring to the silver atom.     

MD‐based CD calculations for the assignment of the absolute axial configuration of the naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid dioncophylline A

The circular dichroism (CD) of the biaryl alkaloid dioncophylline A ( 2 ) was investigated by CD calculations; the structures were generated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the force field CVFF. From these structures the CD spectra were calculated with the semiempirical method CNDO/2S. Summing up the single CD spectra yielded the final spectrum. In contrast to our earlier method based on the Boltzmann weighting, the MD‐assisted approach permitted to assign the flexible biaryl axis of dioncophylline A ( 2 ), which is found to be P. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1273–1278, 2001     

Dynamics and structure of a flexible columnar liquid crystal based on tetrabenzocyclododecatetraene

The dynamical and conformational behaviour of a flexible tetrabenzocyclododecatetraene derivative exhibiting a columnar mesophase has been studied by a combination of deuteron solid state NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. As shown by two-dimensional (2D) exchange NMR, the mesophase is characterized by slow axial reorientations (∼10^-3s) of single molecular units where the phenylene rings exhibit a well-defined quasi-fourfold potential, while the 2D spectra of the core methylene sites are sensitive to the molecular conformation and reorientation mechanism. Motional narrowing of one-dimensional (1D) spectra reveals additional fast librations due to the internal flexibility of the mesogenic moiety. The various reorientation pathways comprising interconversions and pseudo-rotations between different energetically stable conformations are elucidated on a microscopic level by molecular dynamics simulations. The mesophase dynamics is ascribed to a complex axial motion involving rotational jumps combined with a pseudo-rotation between two symmetry related sofa forms. This is confirmed quantitatively by comparing the experimental 2D NMR spectra of the core methylene sites and the simulations which are based on the molecular geometries obtained by MD simulations. The lineshapes of one- and two-dimensional spectra of magnetically aligned samples specific to the orientation behaviour of the sofa conformer are discussed.     

Determination of absolute configuration using density functional theory calculations of optical rotation and electronic circular dichroism: chiral alkenes

In principle, the absolute configuration (AC) of a chiral molecule can be deduced from its optical rotation (OR) and/or its electronic circular dichroism (ECD). In practice, this requires reliable methodologies for predicting OR and ECD. The recent application of ab initio time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to the calculation of transparent spectral region OR and ECD has greatly enhanced the reliability with which these phenomena can be predicted. TDDFT calculations of OR and ECD are being increasingly utilized in determining ACs. Nevertheless, such calculations are not perfect, and as a result, ACs determined are not 100% reliable. In this paper, we examine the reliability of the TDDFT methods in the case of chiral alkenes. Sodium d line specific rotations, [alpha]D, are predicted for 26 conformationally rigid alkenes of known AC, ranging in size from 5 to 20 C atoms, and with [alpha]D values in the range of 0-500. The mean absolute deviation of predicted [alpha]D values from experimental values is 28.7. With one exception, beta-pinene, the signs of [alpha]D are correctly predicted. Errors in calculated [alpha]D values are approximately random. Our results define a "zone of indeterminacy" within which calculated [alpha]D values cannot be used to determine ACs with >95% confidence. TDDFT ECD spectra are predicted for eight of the alkenes and compared to experimental spectra. Agreement ranges from modestly good to poor, leading to the conclusion that TDDFT calculations of ECD spectra are not yet of sufficient accuracy to routinely provide highly reliable ACs. TDDFT OR calculations for two conformationally flexible alkenes, 3-tert-butylcyclohexene and trans-4-carene, are also reported. For the former, predicted rotations are incorrect in sign over the range 589-365 nm. It is possible that the AC of this molecule has been incorrectly assigned.     

Effects of guanidinium ions on the conformational structure of glucose oxidase studied by electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations: towards developing a chemical-induced protein conformation assay

Understanding conformation transitions of proteins in the presence of a chemical denaturant is a topic of great interest because the rich information contained in chemical unfolding is of fundamental importance for proteomic and pharmaceutical research. In this work, the conformational structure changes of glucose oxidase (GOx) induced by guanidinium ions (Gdm(+)) were studied in detail by a combination of electrochemical methods, various spectroscopic techniques including ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the purpose of revealing the mechanism of chemical unfolding of proteins. The results indicated that GOx underwent substantial conformational changes both at the secondary and tertiary structure levels after interacting with Gdm(+) ions. The interaction of GOx with the chemical denaturant resulted in a disturbance of the structure of the flavin prosthetic group (FAD moiety) that induced the moiety to become less exposed to solvent than that in the native protein molecule. The calculation from quantitative second-derivative infrared and CD spectra showed that Gdm(+) ions induced the conversion of α-helix to β-sheet structures. MD simulations and DFT calculations revealed that Gdm(+) ions could enter the active pocket of the GOx molecule and interact with the FAD group, leading to a significant alteration in the structural characteristics and hydrogen bond networks formed between FAD and the surrounding amino acid residues. These alterations in the conformational structure of GOx resulted in a significant decrease in the catalytic activity of the enzyme to glucose oxidation. The study essentially provides an effective way for investigating the mechanism of chemical denaturant-induced protein unfolding, and this approach can be used for assessing the effect of drug molecules on proteins.     

Simulation of infrared spectra for beta-hairpin peptides stabilized by an Aib-Gly turn sequence: correlation between conformational fluctuation and vibrational coupling

Vibrational spectra of a 12-residue beta-hairpin peptide, RYVEVBGKKILQ (HBG), stabilized by an Aib-Gly turn sequence (B = Aib) were investigated theoretically using a combination of molecular dynamics (MD) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Selected conformations of HBG were extracted from a classical MD trajectory and used for spectral simulations. DFT calculations, based on the Cartesian coordinate spectral property transfer protocol, were carried out for peptide structures in which all residues are replaced with Ala, except for the Aib and Gly residues, but the backbone (phi, psi, omega) structure of the original configuration is retained. The simulations provide a basis for interpretation of the HBG amide I infrared spectra in terms of structural variables such as detailed secondary structure and thermal conformational fluctuation as well as vibrational coupling as indicated by spectra of 13C isotope-labeled variants. The characteristic amide I band shape of such small beta-hairpin peptides appears to arise from the structure of the short antiparallel beta-sheet strands. The role of structural parameter fluctuation in vibrational coupling is evaluated by comparison of DFT-derived amide coupling constants for selected configurations and from transition dipole coupling calculations of coupling parameters between (13)C isotopically labeled residues for a MD-derived ensemble of configurations. Calculated results were compared with the experimentally obtained spectra for several (13)C isotope-labeled peptides of this sequence.     

First-principles simulation of amide and aromatic side chain ultraviolet spectroscopy of a cyclic dipeptide

By combining time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we calculate the ultraviolet absorption and circular dichroism (CD) of a cyclic dipeptide, cyclo(L-Pro-D-Tyr), in the 185-300 nm region. The absorption is dominated by the phenol chromophore of tyrosine. The CD spectrum shows both phenol and amide units transitions. A crude coherent two-dimensional ultraviolet spectrum (2DUV) calculated by neglecting the two-excitation states shows a cross-peak between two transitions of the phenol in the tyrosine side chain. Additional cross-peaks between the side chain and the backbone are observed when using a chirality-induced pulse polarization configuration.     

Determination of the absolute configuration of [3(2)](1,4)barrelenophanedicarbonitrile using concerted time-dependent density functional theory calculations of optical rotation and electronic circular dichroism

The technique of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) has very recently been applied to the calculation of both transparent spectral region optical rotations and electronic circular dichroism (CD). Here, we report the concerted application of the new methodologies to the determination of the absolute configuration (AC) of [3(2)](1,4)barrelenophanedicarbonitrile, 1, the first optically active barrelenophane. 1 is conformationally flexible: the two three-carbon bridges of 1 can each exhibit two conformations, leading to three inequivalent conformations of 1: a, b, and c. Conformational structures and energies are predicted using DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G level. Comparison of the calculated structures to structures obtained via X-ray crystallography of (+)-1 shows that (remarkably) all three conformations a-c are simultaneously present in crystalline (+)-1. The sodium D line specific rotations, [alpha](D), and CD spectra of a-c are calculated using TDDFT at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level. Comparison of the conformationally averaged specific rotation and CD spectrum to the experimental data of Matsuda-Sentou and Shinmyozu leads to the AC 9S,12S(+)/9R,12R(-). The same AC is obtained both from [alpha](D) and from the CD, strongly supporting its reliability.     

A tale of two ions: the conformational landscapes of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide and N,N-dialkylpyrrolidinium

The conformational landscapes of two commonly used ionic liquid ions, the anion bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (Ntf2) and the cations N-propyl- and N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium, were investigated using data obtained from Raman spectroscopy, molecular dynamics, and ab initio techniques. In the case of Ntf2, the plotting of three-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PES) and the corresponding molecular dynamics (MD) simulations confirmed the existence of two stable isomers (each existing as a pair of enantiomers) and evidenced the nature of the anion as a flexible, albeit hindered, molecule capable of interconversion between conformers in the liquid state, a result confirmed by the Raman data. In the case of the N,N-dialkylpyrrolidinium cations, the PES show a much more limited conformational behavior of the pyrrolidinium ring (pseudorotation). Nevertheless, such pseudorotation produces two stable isomers with the propyl and butyl side chains in completely different positions (axial-envelope and equatorial-envelope conformations). This result was also confirmed by Raman spectra analyses and MD simulations in the liquid phase. The implications of the conformational behavior of the two types of ions are discussed in terms of the solvation properties of the corresponding ionic liquids.     

Investigations into conformational transitions and solvation structure of a 7-piperidino-5,9-methanobenzo[8] annulene in water

Solvation shell structure of a 7-piperidino-5,9-methanobenzo[8] annulene (PMA) in water has been investigated in ambient conditions using both molecular dynamics (MD) and Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) calculations. From the MD calculations, we find that this molecule exists in three major conformational states out of which two are in twist-boat forms and one in chair form. Due to the limited time scale accessible in CPMD simulations, we have studied all the three conformational states separately using CPMD. The molecular geometry, electronic charge distribution and solvation structure for all three forms are investigated. The stability order of the chair and twist-boat conformations in water solvent has been reversed when compared to the gaseous phase results and in the case of polar aprotic solvents (J. Org. Chem., 1999, 61, 5979). From the radial distribution function, we find that the solvent density around the chair form is significantly lower, which has to be directly related to the smaller solvent accessible area for this conformation and this is in complete agreement with earlier reports. Among the findings are that the solvation shell structure around the nitrogen atom in the chair form of PMA is considerably different from the open conformational forms or the twist-boat forms. The dipole moment for the closed form is found to be significantly larger when compared to the twist-boat forms.     

Study of conformational properties of a biologically active peptide of fibronectin by circular dichroism, NMR and molecular dynamics simulation

Circular dichroism (CD), and NMR spectra have been recorded and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed in water and water-trifluoroethanol (TFE) mixed solvent for a synthetic biologically active 13-amino-acid fragment of human fibronectin and two related peptides. The CD results are interpreted on the basis of statistical analyses of MD trajectories and of ensuing calculations of CD spectra based on Schellman's matrix method. It is observed that the peptide conformation is quite variable in water and loses its mobility with the addition of TFE. (1)H-NOE data were found to be consistent with the most abundant calculated conformation.     

Cyan fluorescent protein: molecular dynamics, simulations, and electronic absorption spectrum

The dynamics and electronic absorption spectrum of enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP), a mutant of green fluorescent protein (GFP), have been studied by means of a 1 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The two X-ray conformations A' and B' of ECFP were considered. The chromophore was assumed to be neutral, and all titratable residues were taken in their standard protonation state at neutral pH. The protein was embedded in a box of water molecules (and counterions). The first result is that the two conformations A' and B' are found to be stable all along the simulation. Then, an analysis of the hydrogen-bond networks shows strong differences between the two conformations in the surroundings of the nitrogen atom of the indolic part of the chromophore. This is partly due to the imperfection in the beta barrel near the His148 residue, which allows the access of one solvent molecule inside the protein in conformation A'. Finally, quantum mechanical calculations of the electronic transition energies of the chromophore in the charge cloud of the protein and solvent water molecules were performed using the TDDFT method on 160 snapshots extracted every 5 ps of the MD trajectories. It is found that conformations A' and B' exhibit very similar spectra despite different H-bond networks involving the chromophore. This similarity is related to the weak charge transfer involved in the electronic transition and the weak electrostatic field created by ECFP near the chromophore, within the hypotheses made in the present simulation.     

Interpreting protein structural dynamics from NMR chemical shifts

In this investigation, semiempirical NMR chemical shift prediction methods are used to evaluate the dynamically averaged values of backbone chemical shifts obtained from unbiased molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of proteins. MD-averaged chemical shift predictions generally improve agreement with experimental values when compared to predictions made from static X-ray structures. Improved chemical shift predictions result from population-weighted sampling of multiple conformational states and from sampling smaller fluctuations within conformational basins. Improved chemical shift predictions also result from discrete changes to conformations observed in X-ray structures, which may result from crystal contacts, and are not always reflective of conformational dynamics in solution. Chemical shifts are sensitive reporters of fluctuations in backbone and side chain torsional angles, and averaged (1)H chemical shifts are particularly sensitive reporters of fluctuations in aromatic ring positions and geometries of hydrogen bonds. In addition, poor predictions of MD-averaged chemical shifts can identify spurious conformations and motions observed in MD simulations that may result from force field deficiencies or insufficient sampling and can also suggest subsets of conformational space that are more consistent with experimental data. These results suggest that the analysis of dynamically averaged NMR chemical shifts from MD simulations can serve as a powerful approach for characterizing protein motions in atomistic detail.     

Diastereomer configurations from joint experimental-computational analysis

The potential of the approach combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, relaxed grid search (RGS), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations for the determination of diastereomer configurations is demonstrated using four diastereomers of a trisubstituted epoxide. Since the change in configuration of the chiral center is expected to change the distribution of conformer populations (including those of side-chain rotamers), changes in NMR parameters [chemical shifts, J couplings, and nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs)] are expected. The method therefore relies on (1) identification of possible conformations in each diastereomer using relaxed grid search analysis and MD simulations; (2) geometry optimizations of conformers selected from step (1), followed by calculations of their relative energies (populations) using QM methods; (3) calculations of averaged NMR parameters using QM methods; (4) matching calculated and experimental values of NMR parameters of diastereomers. The diastereomer configurations are considered resolved, if three NMR parameters different in nature, chemical shifts, J couplings, and NOEs, are in agreement. A further advantage of this method is that full structural and dynamics characterization of each of the diastereomers is achieved based on the joint analysis of experimental and computational data.