UVB-induced photodamage to phycobilisomes of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942

The effect of UVB irradiation on the phycobilisomes (PBSs) of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 cells was studied. The sucrose density-gradient-isolated PBSs from in vivo UVB-treated (280–320 nm) cells showed a strong decrease in β-phycocyanin (βPC) and -phycocyanin (PC) polypeptides. In addition to a decrease in the linker polypeptides LCM 75 (linker connecting the core to the thylakoid membranes), LR 33 (linker in the rod structure), LRC 31.5 (linker connecting the rod to the core) and LRC 29. In vitro UVB treatment of gradient-isolated intact PBSs for 1 h had no effect on any of the constituent polypeptides, and only after 2 h was a degradation of LCM 75 and LR 33 and a decrease in βPC evident. Further investigation of phycobiliproteins (4 h of UVB irradiation) using polyclonal antibody directed against purified whole PBSs revealed that, in vivo, there was a gradual decline in the levels of LCM 75, LR 33, LRC 31.5, LRC 29, βPC and PC.     

Spectroscopic study of the light-harvesting protein C-phycocyanin associated with colorless linker peptides

C-Phycocyanin (PC) trimers associated with linker polypeptides were isolated from the phycobilisome (PBS) rods of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. LXY refers to a linker polypeptide (L) having an apparent mass of Y kDa, located at position X in the phycobilisome where X can be R (rod), C (core) or RC (rod-core junction). Measurements of the absorption, fluorescence and excitation anisotropy of PC trimer, PC.LR32.3 and PC.LRC28.5 complexes document the spectroscopic modulation of each linker polypeptide on the PC chromophores. The difference spectra between the PC trimer and the PC-linker complexes show that although the effect induced by the linker polypeptides is qualitatively similar in behavior, the extent of the modulation is greater in PC.LRC28.5. Measurements taken at 77 K show that a red-wavelength component of the PC trimer absorption-fluorescence spectra is the target of the linker's influence and that this component is altered to a greater extent by LRC28.5. In addition the 77 K absorbance of the PC trimer resolves band features that are consistent with an excitonic coupling interaction between neighboring alpha 84 and beta 84 chromophores. These band features are also evident in the absorbance of PC.LR32.3 but are absent in PC.LRC28.5 indicating that LRC28.5 may be perturbing the coupling interaction established in the PC trimer alpha 84-beta 84 chromophore pairs. Structurally, the linker polypeptide should disrupt the C3 symmetry in the central cavity of the associated phycobiliprotein and this asymmetric interaction should serve to guide the transfer of excitation energy along PBS rods toward the core elements.     

A new fluorescent particle prepared by chemical stabilized phycobilisome

Natural phycobilisomes(PBSs) were isolated and purified from a red macroalga,Polysiphonia urceolata,by multi-step of sucrose gradient centrifugation,and were chemically stabilized by small molecule cross-linker formaldehyde.The stabilized PBSs showed similar absorption and fluorescent properties at room temperature compared to natural PBSs and kept a steady F672/F580 value during more than 3 months of storage in 0.45 mol/L phosphate buffer(pH 6.8) or at low temperature at 77 K.The stabilized PBS migrated...     

A rod-linker-contained R-phycoerythrin complex from the intact phycobilisome of the marine red alga Polysiphonia urceolata

A linker-contained R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) complex was obtained by the Sephadex G-150 column chromatography from the Polysiphonia urceolata phycobilisome (PBS) that was dis-associated at 37 degrees C for 6 h in the dilute phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) with 5% (m/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The R-PE complex showed three absorption peaks at 498, 538 and 567 nm, and a fluorescence emission maximum at 578 nm. Polypeptide analysis of the complex by the 8-25% (m/v) gradient SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that it contained three red subunits, alpha(PE)(17.6),beta(PE)(19.2) and gamma(PE)(31.0), and a colorless 35.3 kDa rod-linker L(R)(35.3). Polypeptide proportion of the complex demonstrated that it was a hexamer in aggregate form gamma(PE)(31.6), (alpha(PE)(17.6),beta(PE)(19.2))(3)L(R)(35.3)(alpha(PE)(17.6),beta(PE)(19.2)(3)gamma(PE)(31.6) which is proposed to originate from a rod assembly of hexamer-linker-hexamer the substructure alpha(PE)(17.6),beta(PE)(19.2)(3) of which was decomposed off from the ends of the assembly during the PBS dissociation. The distinctive stability of the prepared hexamer is attributed to a large extent to the electrostatic interaction among its polypeptides, but not to the hydrophobic interaction.     

Highly efficient oligosaccharide synthesis on water-soluble polymeric primers by recombinant glycosyltransferases immobilised on solid supports

Recombinant beta-1,4-galactosyltranferase (beta 1,4-GalT) and alpha-2,6-sialytransferase (alpha 2,6-SiaT) immobilised covalently with activated Sepharose beads were employed for the practical synthesis of a trisaccharide derivative, Neu-5Ac alpha(2-->6)Gal beta(1-->4)GlcNAc beta-O-(CH2)6-NH2, on a water-soluble primer having GlcNAc residues through a alpha-chymotrypsin-sensitive linker.     

Structure and properties of dinuclear manganese(III) complexes with pentaanionic pentadentate ligands including alkoxo, amido, and phenoxo donors

Doubly bridged mu-alkoxo-mu-X (X = pyrazolato or acetato) dinuclear MnIII complexes of 2-hydroxy-N-{2-hydroxy-3-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]propyl}benzamide) (H5L1) and 2-hydroxy-N-{2-hydroxy-4-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]butyl}benzamide (H5L2), [Mn2(L)(pz)(MeOH)4].xMeOH (1, L = L1, x = 0.5; 2, L = L2, x = 0; Hpz = pyrazole) and [Mn2(L1)(OAc)(MeOH)4] (3), have been prepared, and their structure and magnetic properties have been studied. The X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 (C24.5H34Mn2N4O9.5, triclinic, P, a = 12.2050(7) A, b = 12.7360(8) A, c = 19.2780(10) A, alpha = 99.735(5) degrees , beta = 96.003(4) degrees , gamma = 101.221(5) degrees , V = 2867.6(3) A3, Z = 4), 2 (C25H34Mn2N4O9, triclinic, P, a = 9.4560(5) A, b = 11.0112(5) A, c = 13.8831(6) A, alpha = 90.821(4) degrees , beta = 92.597(4) degrees , gamma = 93.403(4) degrees , V = 1441.29(12) A3, Z = 2), and 3 (C23H32Mn2N2O11, triclinic, P, a = 10.511(5) A, b = 11.713(5) A, c = 13.135(5) A, alpha = 64.401(5) degrees , beta = 74.000(5) degrees , gamma = 66.774(5) degrees , V = 1329.3(10) A3, Z = 2) revealed that all complexes consist of dinuclear units which are further extended into 1D (1 and 3) and 2D (2) supramolecular networks via hydrogen-bonding interactions. Magnetic susceptibility data evidence antiferromagnetic interactions for all three complexes: J = -3.6 cm-1, D approximately 0 cm-1, g = 1.93 (1); J = -2.7 cm-1, D = 0.8 cm-1, g = 1.93 (2); J = -4.9 cm-1, D = 3.8 cm-1, g = 1.95 (3).     

RECONSTITUTION OF ALLOPHYCOCYANIN FROM Mastigocladus laminosus WITH ISOLATED LINKER POLYPEPTIDE

The core linker polypeptide L_c^8.9 was isolated from Mastigocladus laminosus and purified on a preparative scale. A method for the reconstitution of allophycocyanin (AP)—linker complexes from isolated polypeptides was developed. The complex (α^AP(β^AP)₃ L_c^8.9 was reconstituted and compared to (α^APβ^AP) and (α^APβ^AP)₃ by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, absorption, fluorescence emission and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Differences in the spectra of reconstituted and of directly isolated AP complexes are discussed.     

Five new triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum

Five new triterpenoid saponins, platycoside H [3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2beta,3beta,16alpha,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside], platycoside I [3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2beta,3beta,16alpha,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside], platycoside J [3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2beta,3beta,16alpha,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside], platycoside K [3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2beta,3beta,16alpha,23,24-pentahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid], and platycoside L [3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2beta,3beta,16alpha,23,24-pentahydroxyolean-12-en-28 oic acid], and three known triterpenoid saponins, platycoside F, platycoside B, and platycoside C, were isolated from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of their spectral data and chemical evidence.     

New triterpenoids from Corchorus trilocularis

Two new tetracyclic triterpenoid trilocularol A and trilocularol A 3-glucoside and one pentacyclic triterpenoid tirlocularoside A were isolated from Corchorus trilocularis L., their structure were elucidated as 3beta,6alpha,16alpha,20(S),27-pentahydroxydammar-24(Z)-ene (1), 3beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-6alpha,16alpha,20(S),27-tetrahydroxydammar-24(Z)-ene (2) and 2alpha,3beta,19alpha,30-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-24,28-dioic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3). respectively, on the basis of detailed spectroscopic studies.     

Rapid separation of acetophenone and its monohydroxy isomers by capillary electrophoresis

This work describes the development of a capillary electrophoresis(CE)method for the simultaneous separation of acetophenone(AP),2-hydroxyacetophenone(2-HAP),3-hydroxyacetophenone(3-HAP)and 4-hydroxyacetophenone(4-HAP)in synthetic mixtures using 10 mmol/L of sodium tetraborate buffer(pH 9.5).The aim of this work is to demonstrate the effectiveness of CE to separate AP and its monohydroxy isomers and to defne how the separations are affected by buffers,buffer pH,sample matrices and separation voltage.This method was successfully used for the trace level separation and determination of 2-HAP,3-HAP and 4-HAP in synthetic mixture and 4-HAP in spiked plasma samples.     

Subunit Characteristics of Pig Pancreas Ferritin Revealed by MALDI-TOF MS and RP-HPLC

Pig pancreas ferritin（PPF） was purified by ultra-centrifugation, ion-exchange chromatography, and native gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis（PAGENG）. Sodium dodecyl sulfate（SDS）-PAGE indicates that PPF consists of two subunit types, namely, H（21000） and L（19000） subunits, and its core shows an average element composition of 1698 Fe3＋ and 179 phosphate molecules within the hollow shell, giving a 9.5：1 ratio of Fe3＋ to phosphate. An off line approach combining reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography（RP-HPLC） with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry（MALDI-TOF MS） made the decomposition of PPF shell into H and L subunits for the analysis of mass spectrometry（MS）, giving molecular weights of both H（21014.4） and L（18319.9） subunits. Both subunit types were further identified by an approach combining peptide mass fingerprint（PMF） with database search. A ratio of 1H to 2L subunits in PPF was determined by SDS-PAGE, RP-HPLC, and MALDI-TOF MS, respectively. It is well known that the non-covalent interaction of L-L or H-L subunits is stronger than that of H-H subunits in PPF, which may be further used to explain the unclear physiological function between H and L subunits in PPF.     

Simple mimetics of a nuclear localization signal (NLS)

[reaction: see text] Molecular modeling was used to design mimetics of the HIV-1 matrix protein nuclear localization signal (NLS) in which a scaffold of two resorcinol units joined by a diamide linker presents 3-aminopropyl ethers in place of lysine side chains. Prospective mimetics with linkers of 6, 8, 10, or 12 atoms were synthesized and compared in a competition assay for binding to the nuclear import receptor subunit karyopherin alpha, showing the 10-atom linker to be best and shorter ones ineffective.     

Synthesis and characterization of new coordination polymers generated from bent bis(cyanophenyl)oxadiazole ligands and Ag(I) salts

Two new bent bis(cyanophenyl)oxadiazole ligands, 2,5-bis(4-cyanophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L7) and 2,5-bis(3-cyanophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L8), were synthesized. The coordination chemistry of these ligands with various Ag(I) salts has been investigated. Seven new coordination polymers, namely, {[Ag(L7)(H2O)]ClO4}n) (1) (triclinic, P1, a = 9.342(4) A, b = 9.889(4) A, c = 10.512(4) A, alpha = 68.978(6) degrees, beta = 78.217(6) degrees, gamma = 81.851(7) degrees, Z = 2), {[Ag(L7)]SO3CF3}n (2) (monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 7.559(2) A, b = 23.739(6) A, c = 10.426(3) A, beta = 108.071(4) degrees, Z = 4), {[Ag(L8)]BF4 x 0.5(C6H6) x H2O}n (3) (triclinic, P1, a = 7.498(3) A, b = 10.649(4) A, c = 13.673(5) A, alpha = 98.602(5) degrees, beta = 100.004(5) degrees, gamma =110.232(5) degrees, Z = 2), {[Ag(L8)SbF6] x H2O}n (4) (triclinic, P1, a = 8.2621(9) A, b = 10.6127(12) A, c = 13.3685(15) A, alpha = 98.012(2) degrees, beta = 106.259(2) degrees, gamma = 112.362(2) degrees, Z = 2), {[Ag2(L8)2(SO3CF3)] x H2O}n (5) (triclinic, P1, a = 10.713(4) A, b = 13.449(5) A, c = 15.423(5) A, alpha = 65.908(5) degrees, beta = 74.231(5) degrees, gamma = 83.255(5) degrees, Z = 2), {[Ag2(L8)(C6H6)(ClO4)] x ClO4}n (6) (monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 6.9681(17) A, b = 20.627(5) A, c = 17.437(4) A, beta = 95.880(4) degrees, Z = 4), and {[Ag2(L8)(H2PO4)2]}n (7) (triclinic, P1, a = 7.956(2) A, b = 9.938(3) A, c = 14.242(4) A, alpha = 106.191(4) degrees, beta = 97.322(4) degrees, gamma = 107.392(4) degrees, Z = 1), were obtained by the combination of L7 and L8 with Ag(I) salts in a benzene/methylene chloride mixed-solvent system and fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In addition, the luminescence and electrical conductance properties of compounds 1-6 and the host-guest chemistry of compound 3 were investigated.     

Searching for precursors to metal-metal bonded dipalladium species: a study of Pd2(4+) complexes

Reactions of Pd3(OAc)6 with lithium salts of mononegative bidentate N,N-ligands, L, of various types, such as formamidinates, benzamidinates, triazinates, and guanidinates, were investigated in a search for ways to obtain Pd2(4+) compounds that could serve as precursors to paddlewheel complexes with a metal-metal bond and a Pd2(5+) core. It was found that the reactions are complex and that either square planar mononuclear or dinuclear species may be formed depending on the reaction conditions or the method of isolation. For Pd2L4 compounds, alpha and beta isomers were sometimes obtainable. In the alpha isomer, all N,N-ligands serve as bridges, whereas in the beta isomer, two ligands bridge the Pd2(4+) unit and each of the other two chelate to a metal atom. Electrochemistry shows that the paddlewheel compounds Pd2(TolNC(H)NTol)4, Pd2(PhNC(Ph)NPh)4, and Pd2(PhNC(Ph)NPh)3(OAc) and the orthometalated complex cis-Pd2[eta2-C6H4NC(Ph)N(H)Ph]2(mu-OAc)2 have reversible oxidation waves between 0.70 and 0.92 V vs Ag/AgCl, which makes them good candidates for chemical oxidation.     

Organotin derivatives of alpha-[XIIIW9O33]9- (X = As,Sb) heteropolytungstates. Solution- and solid-state characterization of [[C6H5Sn)2O]2H(alpha-AsW9O33)2]9- and [(C6H5Sn)3Na3(alpha-SbW9O33)2]6-

The tris(phenyltin)-substituted tungstoantimonate(III) Cs6[(PhSn)3Na3(alpha-SbW9O33)2].20H2O (1) and the tetrakis-(phenyltin)-substituted tungstoarsenate(III) Na9[[(PhSn)2O]2H(alpha-AsW9O33)2].20H2O (2) have been prepared by reaction of phenyltin trichloride with Na9[alpha-SbW9O33].19.5H2O and Na9[alpha-AsW9O33].19.5H2O, respectively, in aqueous solution. The products were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, multinuclear NMR, and infrared spectroscopy. Crystals of 1 are monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 13.7952(1) A, b = 22.3133(2) A, c = 34.4493(2) A, beta = 90.933(1) degrees, and Z = 4. Anion 1 has nominal D3h symmetry and contains three PhSn3+ groups and three sodium ions sandwiched between [alpha-SbW9O33]9- units. Crystals of 2 are triclinic, space group P1, with a = 15.272(6) A, b = 15.303(6) A, c = 16.760(7) A, alpha = 93.59(3) degrees, beta = 106.187(19) degrees, gamma = 112.23(3) degrees, and Z = 1. Anion 2 has nominal C2h symmetry and contains four PhSn3+ groups sandwiched between two [alpha-AsW9O33]9- units.     

A new unusual delta11(12)-oleane triterpene and anti-complementary triterpenes from Prunella vulgaris spikes

Anti-complementary activity-guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of Prunella vulgaris spikes led to the isolation of a new, unusual delta11(12) triterpene, 3beta,13beta-dihydroxyolic-11-ene-28-oic acid (1), along with thirteen known triterpenes (2-14). The structure of the new compound was established by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. All the isolates were evaluated for their anti-complementary activity against the classical pathway (CP) and alternative pathway (AP). Eight triterpenes (1-8) showed anti-complementary activity against CP and AP, with CH50 and AP50 values of 0.15-0.37 mg/mL, and 0.29-0.53 mg/mL, respectively. Mechanism study using complement-depleted sera showed that oleanolic acid (2) acted selectively on C1q, C5, and C9 components, while 2alpha-hydroxy oleanolic acid (3) interacted with C1q, C3, C5 and C9, and 2alpha,3alpha-dihydroxyolic-12-ene-28-oic acid (4) blocked C1q, C2, C3, C5 and C9.     

PR_b-targeted PEGylated liposomes for prostate cancer therapy

In recent years, there has been considerable effort in designing improved delivery systems by including site-directed surface ligands to further enhance their selective targeting. The goal of this study is to engineer alpha5beta1-targeted stealth liposomes (nanoparticles covered with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)) that will bind to alpha5beta1-expressing LNCaP human prostate cancer cells and efficiently release the encapsulated load intracellularly. For this purpose, liposomes (with and without PEG2000) were functionalized with a fibronectin-mimetic peptide (PR_b) and delivered to LNCaPs. The amount of PEG2000 and other liposomal components were characterized by 1H NMR, and the amount of peptide by the bicinchoninic acid protein assay. Fibronectin is the natural ligand for alpha5beta1, and a promising design for a fibronectinmimetic peptide includes both the primary binding site (RGD) and the synergy site (PHSRN) connected by a linker and extended off a surface by a spacer. We have previously designed a peptide-amphiphile, PRb, that employed a hydrophobic tail, connected to the N-terminus of a peptide headgroup composed of a spacer, the synergy site sequence, a linker mimicking both the distance and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity present in the native protein fibronectin (thus presenting an overall "neutral" linker), and finally the primary binding sequence. We have examined different liposomal formulations, functionalized only with PR_b or with PR_b and PEG2000. For PR_b-targeted PEGylated liposomes, efficient cell binding was observed for peptide concentrations of 2 mol % and higher. When compared to GRGDSP-targeted stealth liposomes, PR_b functionalization was superior to that of GRGDSP as shown by increased LNCaP binding, internalization efficiency, as well as cytotoxicity after incubation of LNCaPs with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)-encapsulated liposomes. More importantly, PR_b is alpha5beta1-specific, whereas many integrins bind to small RGD peptides. Thus, the proposed PR_b-targeted delivery system has the potential to deliver a therapeutic payload to prostate cancer cells in an efficient and specific manner.     

光谱和电化学方法研究自组装纳米簇模拟过氧化物酶

利用细胞色素c与Nafion,通过自组装方式,构建了纳米簇模拟过氧化物酶;利用电子透射显微镜、圆二色谱仪、紫外可见光分光光度仪及电化学工作站等设备测量模拟酶结构变化、酶促动力学参数以及电化学特性;在50 mmol/L Na2HPO4-NaH2PO4缓冲溶液(pH 10.0)中,测得模拟酶米氏常数Km、催化速率及催化效率分别为2.5 μmol/L、0.069 s-1、0.028±0.005(μmol/L)-1s-1,其催化效率为天然辣根过氧化物酶的39％±5％,该模拟酶具有很好的稳定性和活性,能够替代辣根过氧化物酶.该模拟酶可以固定在功能化多壁纳米管与纳米金复合材料修饰玻碳电极上,在50 mmol/L Na2HPO4-NaH2PO4缓冲溶液(pH 7.0)中测得模拟酶与电极之间电子迁移速度常数k8为0.65 s-1.利用循环伏安法测量模拟酶催化浓度为0.02～10 nmol/L的H2O2,其阴极峰电流随H2O2浓度增加而增大,并且得出模拟酶催化H2O2检出限为0.05 nmol/L,电化学表观米氏常数Kmapp为2.3×10-10 mol/L.     

Genetic construction of truncated and chimeric metalloproteins derived from the alpha subunit of acetyl-CoA synthase from Clostridium thermoaceticum

In this study, a genetics-based method is used to truncate acetyl-coenzyme A synthase from Clostridium thermoaceticum (ACS), an alpha(2)beta(2) tetrameric 310 kDa bifunctional enzyme. ACS catalyzes the reversible reduction of CO(2) to CO and the synthesis of acetyl-CoA from CO (or CO(2) in the presence of low-potential reductants), CoA, and a methyl group bound to a corrinoid-iron sulfur protein (CoFeSP). ACS contains seven metal-sulfur clusters of four different types called A, B, C, and D. The B, C, and D clusters are located in the 72 kDa beta subunit, while the A-cluster, a Ni-X-Fe(4)S(4) cluster that serves as the active site for acetyl-CoA synthase activity, is located in the 82 kDa alpha subunit. The extent to which the essential properties of the cluster, including catalytic, redox, spectroscopic, and substrate-binding properties, were retained as ACS was progressively truncated was determined. Acetyl-CoA synthase catalytic activity remained when the entire beta subunit was removed, as long as CO, rather than CO(2) and a low-potential reductant, was used as a substrate. Truncating an approximately 30 kDa region from the N-terminus of the alpha subunit yielded a 49 kDa protein that lacked catalytic activity but exhibited A-cluster-like spectroscopic, redox, and CO-binding properties. Further truncation afforded a 23 kDa protein that lacked recognizable A-cluster properties except for UV-vis spectra typical of [Fe(4)S(4)](2+) clusters. Two chimeric proteins were constructed by fusing the gene encoding a ferredoxin from Chromatium vinosum to genes encoding the 49 and 82 kDa fragments of the alpha subunit. The chimeric proteins exhibited EPR signals that were not the simple sum of the signals from the separate proteins, suggesting magnetic interactions between clusters. This study highlights the potential for using genetics to simplify the study of complex multicentered metalloenzymes and to generate new complex metalloenzymes with interesting properties.     

Molecular modeling and mutagenesis reveals a tetradentate binding site for Zn2+ in GABA(A) alphabeta receptors and provides a structural basis for the modulating effect of the gamma subunit

Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA(A)-R) containing alpha1beta2gamma2 subunits are weakly inhibited by Zn2+, whereas receptors containing only the alpha1beta2 subunits are strongly inhibited. We built homology models of the ion pores of alpha1beta2 and alpha1beta2gamma2 GABA(A)-R using coordinates of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor as a template. Threading the GABA(A)-R beta2 sequence onto this template placed the 17' histidine and the 20' glutamate residues at adjacent locations in the mouth of the pore, such that a nearly ideal tetradentate site for Zn2+ was formed from two histidine and two glutamate residues between adjacent beta subunits in the alpha1beta2 GABA(A)-R. Following optimization with CHARMM, the distance between the alpha-carbons of the adjacent histidine residues was approximately 9.2 A, close to the ideal distance for a Zn2+ binding site. Loss of inhibition by Zn2+ in alpha1beta2gamma2 GABA(A)-R can be explained by the geometry of these residues in the arrangement alpha1beta2gamma2alpha1beta2, in which the nearest C-alpha-C-alpha distance between the histidine residues is 15.5 A, too far apart for an energetically optimal Zn2+ binding site. We then mutated the gamma subunit at the 17' and/or 20' positions. Zn2+ inhibition was not restored in alpha1beta2gamma2 (I282H) receptors. A novel finding is that the modeling shows the native 20' lysine in gamma2 can compete with Zn2+ for binding to the inserted 17' histidine. Sensitivity to Zn2+ was restored in the double mutant receptor, alpha1beta2gamma2 (I282H; K285E), in which the competition with lysine was removed and a more favorable Zn2+ binding site was formed.