Synthesis and ligand binding properties of triptycene-linked porphyrin arrays

Multiporphyrin arrays are a complex class of molecules with numerous potential applications in energy transfer, photomedicine, and light harvesting. We have developed a facile/versatile route to a class of triptycene-linked porphyrin arrays via both Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling methods, which makes use of the rigid three-pronged orientation of triptycene to construct trimeric porphyrin arrays linked either in the meso or β-position with various linker groups. In order to understand the properties of these potential antenna systems and probe their potential applications, the coordination behavior of zinc(II) derivatives with mono- and bidentate N-donor ligands was investigated. Depending on ligand concentration, both one- and two-point binding was observed with a bidentate ligand. Also/in addition, different cavity sizes, obtained by the use of different linker groups, resulted in differences in the binding properties of each trimeric system.     

Investigation of the copper binding site and the role of histidine as a ligand in riboflavin binding protein

Riboflavin Binding Protein (RBP) binds copper in a 1:1 molar ratio, forming a distinct well-ordered type II site. The nature of this site has been examined using X-ray absorption and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies, revealing a four coordinate oxygen/nitrogen rich environment. On the basis of analysis of the Cambridge Structural Database, the average protein bound copper-ligand bond length of 1.96 A, obtained by extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), is consistent with four coordinate Cu(I) and Cu(II) models that utilize mixed oxygen and nitrogen ligand distributions. These data suggest a Cu-O 3N coordination state for copper bound to RBP. While pulsed EPR studies including hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy and electron nuclear double resonance show clear spectroscopic evidence for a histidine bound to the copper, inclusion of a histidine in the EXAFS simulation did not lead to any significant improvement in the fit.     

Evaluation of non-specific binding suppression schemes for neutravidin and alkaline phosphatase at the surface of reticulated vitreous carbon electrodes

Non-specific binding (NSB) of high-molecular-weight proteins onto electrode surfaces can complicate the application of electroanalytical techniques to clinical and environmental research, particularly in biosensor applications. We present herein various strategies to modify the surface of reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) electrodes to suppress non-specific binding of biomolecules onto its surface. Non-specific binding and specific binding (SB) of two enzyme conjugates, neutravidin-alkaline phosphatase (NA-ALP) and biotinylated alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP), and also neutravidin itself, were studied using hydroquinone diphosphate (HQDP) as an enzyme substrate for ALP inside the pores of RVC electrodes that had been subjected to various modification schemes. The extent of NSB and SB of these biomolecules inside RVC pores was assessed by measuring the initial rate of generation of an electroactive product, hydroquinone (HQ), of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction, using linear scan voltammetry (LSV) for HQ detection. Electrodes functionalized with phenylacetic acid and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) showed low NSB and high SB (when biotin capture ligands were included in the modification scheme) in comparison with unmodified electrodes and RVC electrodes modified in other ways. A simple sandwich bioassay for neutravidin was performed on the RVC electrode with the lowest NSB. A concentration detection limit of 52 ± 2 ng mL⁻¹ and an absolute detection limit of 5.2 ± 0.2 ng were achieved for neutravidin when this assay was performed using a 100 μL sample size.     

The role of thermodynamics and kinetics in ligand binding to G-quadruplex DNA

Molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of four different 2,4,6-triarylpyridines to G-quadruplex DNA. Both the binding free energies, and the kinetics of binding are required to explain the measured degree of ligand induced stabilisation of the compounds, with bulky substituents having the potential to prevent the ligand from reaching the lowest energy binding site.     

Kinetic isotope effects for alkaline phosphatase reactions: implications for the role of active-site metal ions in catalysis

Enzyme-catalyzed phosphoryl transfer reactions have frequently been suggested to proceed through transition states that are altered from their solution counterparts, with the alterations presumably arising from interactions with active-site functional groups. In particular, the phosphate monoester hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase (AP) has been the subject of intensive scrutiny. Recent linear free energy relationship (LFER) studies suggest that AP catalyzes phosphate monoester hydrolysis through a loose transition state, similar to that in solution. To gain further insight into the nature of the transition state and active-site interactions, we have determined kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) for AP-catalyzed hydrolysis reactions with several phosphate monoester substrates. The LFER and KIE data together provide a consistent picture for the nature of the transition state for AP-catalyzed phosphate monoester hydrolysis and support previous models suggesting that the enzymatic transition state is similar to that in solution. Moreover, the KIE data provides unique information regarding specific interactions between the transition state and the active-site Zn2+ ions. These results provide strong support for a model in which electrostatic interactions between the bimetallo Zn2+ site and a nonbridging phosphate ester oxygen atom make a significant contribution to the large rate enhancement observed for AP-catalyzed phosphate monoester hydrolysis.     

Stimulation and binding properties of polyelectrolyte multilayers verified by ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy

We report on the deposition and properties of multilayers composed of reactive polymers on planar surfaces. As reactive polymers the poly cations poly(ethylene‐imine), poly(L‐lysine) (PLL), poly(allylamime) (PAA) and the polyanions poly(acrylate) (PAC), poly(vinylsulfate), poly(maleate‐co‐olefines) were used. ATR‐FTIR Spectroscopy was adopted to study deposition, binding and stimulation properties of polymer multilayers. The binding of charged species of different molecular size such as rhodanide anions and sodium oleate from solution was examined, whereby binding was found to be dependent on the charge of the outermost layer. For these two analytes a selectivity parameter Q, defined as the ratio between the adsorbed amount obtained at the negatively charged and that at the positively charged surface, respectively, was determined. Furthermore, swelling experiments on multilayer assemblies of PLL and PAC exposed to mixtures of ethanol/water (10–70% EtOH content) were carried out. Our experiments gave evidence, that the PLL layers showed a more significant increase in density than the PAC layers. The conformation of PLL incorporated into multilayers could be changed by pH variation.     

Evaluation and optimization of the metal‐binding properties of a complex ligand for immobilized metal affinity chromatography

The simultaneous determination of two binding parameters for metal ions on an immobilized metal affinity chromatography column was performed by frontal chromatography. In this study, the binding parameters of Cu²⁺ to l ‐glutamic acid were measured, the metal ion‐binding characteristics of the complex ligand were evaluated. The linear correlation coefficients were all greater than 99%, and the relative standard deviations of two binding parameters were 0.58 and 0.059%, respectively. The experiments proved that the frontal chromatography method was accurate, reproducible, and could be used to determine the metal‐binding parameters of the affinity column. The effects of buffer pH, type, and concentration on binding parameters were explored by uniform design experiment. Regression, matching and residual analyses of the models were performed. Meanwhile, the optimum‐binding conditions of Cu²⁺ on the l ‐glutamic acid‐silica column were obtained. Under these binding conditions, observations and regression values of two parameters were similar, and the observation values were the best. The results demonstrated that high intensity metal affinity column could be effectively prepared by measuring and evaluating binding parameters using frontal chromatography combined with a uniform design experiment. The present work provided a new mode for evaluating and preparing immobilized metal affinity column with good metal‐binding behaviors.     

trans-Parinaric acid as a versatile spectroscopic label to study ligand binding properties of bovine beta-lactoglobulin

Advantageous spectroscopic properties of the plant derived polyunsaturated trans-parinaric acid (tPnA) was demonstrated in obtaining valuable data on the ligand binding characteristics of the lipocalin member bovine beta-lactoglobulin A (BLG-A). Titration of the protein with tPnA resulted in the appearance of an intense negative induced circular dichroism (CD) band and bathochromic shift of the ultraviolet (UV) peak of the ligand. The extrinsic optical activity was interpreted by the chiral contribution of the allylic axial CH bonds of tPnA to the pi-pi(*) transition of the planar tetraene chromophore. Analysis of the series of induced CD curves obtained by CD titration experiment indicated the complexation of a single ligand molecule to a uniform protein binding site. Additionally, the dramatic increase of fluorescence intensity of the lactoglobulin bound ligand suggested the hydrophobic nature of the binding site. CD and fluorescence titration data were utilized to calculate the binding constant (K(a)) of which high value ( approximately 10(6)M(-1)) refers to strong protein association of tPnA. pH dependent reversible dis- and reappearance of the induced CD signal unambigously proved the inclusion of tPnA into the central hydrophobic cavity of the lactoglobulin governed by the protonation induced conformational movement of the EF loop at the opening of the calyx. This conclusion was supported and complemented by molecular docking calculations.     

pH-metric detection of alkaline phosphatase activity as a novel biosensing platform

A detection of alkaline phosphatase (ALP, EC 3.1.3.1) activity by the monitoring of pH changes caused by the biocatalytic action of the enzyme has been experimentally examined. Enzymatically catalyzed hydrolysis of monofluorophosphate has been found to be the best basis for such measurements. Protolytic equilibria connected with the developed biosensing system were recognized and the optimal conditions for the assay have been found. Advantages and disadvantages of the developed (bio)sensing scheme have been discussed. The prototype of pH-ALP based enzyme electrode has been demonstrated. Potential utility of such substrate-enzyme-sensor system for the development of a new group of biosensors has been announced.     

Cooperativity during binding of a ligand to a multidentate oligomer

A matrix method to describe the equilibrium binding of a ligand by a multidentate oligomer with a system of binding centers differing in the affinity for the binding ligand has been proposed. The example of a complexation process simulating the formation of a complex between an oligonucleotide and zinc phthalocyanine ZnPc is considered. With the use of the proposed method, diagrams of the relative contents of different forms of DNA-ligand complexes have been constructed and analyzed. It is shown that the cooperativity of complexation has a considerable effect on the equilibrium of the ligand with the system of nonequivalent centers of binding. The experimental data on changes in the intensity of luminescence in the course of binding between zinc tetrakis(diisopropylguanidinio)phthalocyanine and a DNA molecule with the nucleotide sequence GTTA(GAGTTA)4GG have been analyzed.     

2-Carboxy-1-naphthyl phosphate as a substrate for the fluorimetric determination of alkaline phosphatase

A new substrate, 2-carboxy-1-naphthyl phosphate (CNP), was developed for the fluorimetric determination of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. The product of the enzyme reaction is 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA), which is a strong fluorescent product. The amount of HNA generated is proportional to ALP activity. Optimal conditions for the determination of ALP were investigated. The linear range and detection limit for the determination of ALP are 0.01-4.8 U/L and 7.44 mU/L, respectively. This method is simple, practical and can be successfully applied to assess ALP in human serum with good accuracy and precision. The results were evaluated by comparison with a standard colorimetric assay using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as ALP substrate.     

Generalized energy-based fragmentation approach for computing the ground-state energies and properties of large molecules

We present a generalized energy-based fragmentation (GEBF) approach for approximately predicting the ground-state energies and molecular properties of large molecules, especially those charged and polar molecules. In this approach, the total energy (or properties) of a large molecule can be approximately obtained from energy (or properties) calculations on various small subsystems, each of which is constructed to contain a certain fragment and its local surroundings within a given distance. In the quantum chemistry calculation of a given subsystem, those distant atoms (outside this subsystem) are modeled as background point charges at the corresponding nuclear centers. This treatment allows long-range electrostatic interaction and polarization effects between distant fragments to be taken into account approximately, which are very important for polar and charged molecules. We also propose a new fragmentation scheme for constructing subsystems. Our test calculations at the Hartree-Fock and second-order M?ller-Plesser perturbation theory levels demonstrate that the approach could yield satisfactory ground-state energies, the dipole moments, and static polarizabilities for polar and charged molecules such as water clusters and proteins.     

Lectin affinity electrophoresis of alkaline phosphatase for the differentiation of bone and hepatobiliary disease

An affinity electrophoresis procedure is described for the separation and quantification of the bone- and liver-derived fractions of alkaline phosphatase in plasma. Separation is carried out on cellulose acetate membrane pre-soaked with buffer containing wheat germ lectin. The electrophoretic mobility of the bone enzyme is preferentially retarded by the lectin and this fraction is well separated from the liver fraction. After separation, enzyme activity is demonstrated by staining using an indigogenic alkaline phosphatase substrate incorporated in agar gel, and the stained fractions quantified by densitometry. The procedure has low imprecision, good linearity, and the activities of the bone and liver fractions correlate well with values obtained using nonelectrophoretic quantification methods. The procedure is especially suitable for use in the diagnostic laboratory.