Substrate binding to vanadate-dependent bromoperoxidase from Ascophyllum nodosum: a vanadium K-edge XAS approach

The EXAFS region of vanadium K-edge XAS spectra of native vanadate-dependent bromoperoxidase (isoenzyme I) from Ascophyllum nodosum in the presence of the substrate bromide can be fitted to three shells (at 1.62, 1.73-1.78 and 1.99-2.07 A) in the first coordination sphere of vanadium plus two more distant shells at 4.1A, possibly corresponding to bromide, and 4.7 A due to light scatterers stemming from the protein pocket. Bromide does not directly bind to the vanadium centre. The XANES and the EXAFS features for the enzyme are essentially reproduced by model complexes of the general composition [VO(H(2)O)(n)(ONO)] (n= 1 or 2) where ONO is the dianion of a Schiff base from bromosalicylaldehydes (Brsal; with the Br substituent in the position 3, 4, 5 or 6) and amino acids. The 3-Brsal derivatives exhibit an outer sphere shell at 3.8 A, which is traced back to intermolecular contacts. The data obtained from EXAFS are compared to those obtained from single crystal X-ray diffraction of [VO(H(2)O)(2)(4-Brsal-gly)] and [VO(H(2)O)(2)(6-Brsal-gly)] (gly = glycinate). In the complex [VOBr(2)(ONO)']] ((ONO)' is the Schiff base from o-anisole and o-hydroxyaniline), the V-Br distance is 2.44 A.     

Synthesis, chiroptical properties, and solid-state structure determination of two new chiral dipyrrin difluoroboryl chelates

Two new types of optically active BODIPY fluorophores bearing chiral phenyl substituents either at the meso-position or at both external alpha-positions have been synthesized. Their chiroptical properties are strongly dependent both on the position of the chiral group and on the protonation of the chromophore. The solid-state structures of one of the difluoroboryl chelates bearing the chiral phenyl substituent at the meso-position (9a) as well as of the corresponding ligand (8a) and its perchlorate have been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. These are, to the best of our knowledge, the first crystal structures of a dipyrrin free base and of a dipyrrin salt which have been obtained by X-ray diffraction analysis. Hence, for the first time, the helical structure of a protonated dipyrrin chromophore has been proved experimentally.     

Maskierung mit Kaliumjodid bei direkten Titrationen von Kupfer(II) mit Äthylendiamintetraessigsäure

Zusammenfassung Die Jodidoxydation durch Cu(II) wird in Anwesenheit von Ammoniak, Natriumtartrat, citrat oder -oxalat infolge Komplexbildung verhindert. Daher kann man z. B. Quecksüber(II) in Anwesenheit der genannten Komplexbildner mit Kaliumjodid maskieren und Kupfer(II) durch direkte Titration mit ÄDTA gegen Murexid, Brenzcatechinviolett, Chromazurol S, PAN oder PAR als Indikator bestimmen.

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Masking with potassium iodide in direct titrations of copper(II) with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

Summary The formation of a complex prevents the iodide oxidation by Cu(II) in the presence of ammonia, sodium tartrate, citrate, or oxalate. Hence mercury(II) for instance, can be masked against potassium iodide in the presence of these complex formers, and Cu(II) can be determined by direct titration with EDTA in the presence of murexide, pyrocatechol violet, chromazurol, PAN or PAR as indicator.

     

Histidine-rich branched peptides as Cu(II) and Zn(II) chelators with potential therapeutic application in Alzheimer's disease

Two histidine-rich branched peptides with one lysine as a branching unit have been designed and synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Their complex formation with Cu(II) and Zn(II) as well as their ability to attenuate the metal-ion induced amyloid aggregation has been characterized. Both peptides can keep Cu(II) and Zn(II) in complexed forms at pH 7.4 and can bind two equivalents of metal ions in solutions with excess metal. The stoichiometry, stability and structure of the complexes formed have been determined by pH potentiometry, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism, EPR and NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS. Both mono- and bimetallic species have been detected over the whole pH range studied. The basic binding mode is either a tridentate {N(amino), N(amide), N(im)} or a histamine-type of coordination which is complemented by the binding of far imidazole or amino groups leading to macrochelate formation. The peptides were able to prevent Cu(II)-induced Aβ(1-40) aggregation but could not effectively compete for Zn(II) in vitro. Our results suggest that branched peptides containing potential metal-binding sites may be suitable metal chelators for reducing the risk of amyloid plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease.     

Isolation and On‐Line LC/CD Analysis of 3,8″‐Linked Biflavonoids from Gnidia involucrata

Investigation of the methanol extract of the roots of Gnidia involucrata (Thymelaeaceae) led to the isolation and characterization of two new 3,8″‐biflavonoid diastereoisomers, named GB‐4 ( 6a ) and GB‐4a ( 6b ). Their absolute configurations were determined in mixture by on‐line LC/CD measurements, which also allowed the revision of absolute configurations of the biflavanoids GB‐1 and GB‐2, and the configurational assignment of GB‐3.     

Thermal behavior of Al-, AlFe- and AlCu-pillared interlayered clays

The purified bentonite parent clay, fraction ≤; 2 mm of montmorillonite type, has been pillared by various polyhydroxy cations, Al, AlFe and AlCu, using conventional pillaring methods. The thermal behavior of PILCs was investigated by combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (DTA, TG) and low temperature N2 adsorption/desorption (LTNA). Thermal stability of Al-, AlFe- and AlCu-PILC samples was estimated after isothermal pretreatment in static air on the temperatures 300, 500, 600 and 900°C. Crucial structural changes were not registered up to 600°C, but the fine changes in interlayer surrounding and porous/microporous structure being obvious at lower temperatures, depending on the nature of the second pillaring ion. AlFe-PILC showed higher thermal stability of the texture, the AlCu-PILC having lower values and lower thermal stability concerning both overall texture and micropore surface and volume. Poorer thermal stability of AlCu-PILC sample at higher temperatures was confirmed, the presence of Cu in the system contributing to complete destruction of aluminum silicate structure, by 'extracting' aluminum in stabile spinel form. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Decoding the intricate network of molecular interactions of a hyperstable engineered biocatalyst

Computational design of protein catalysts with enhanced stabilities for use in research and enzyme technologies is a challenging task. Using force-field calculations and phylogenetic analysis, we previously designed the haloalkane dehalogenase DhaA115 which contains 11 mutations that confer upon it outstanding thermostability (T_m = 73.5 °C; ΔT_m > 23 °C). An understanding of the structural basis of this hyperstabilization is required in order to develop computer algorithms and predictive tools. Here, we report X-ray structures of DhaA115 at 1.55 Å and 1.6 Å resolutions and their molecular dynamics trajectories, which unravel the intricate network of interactions that reinforce the αβα-sandwich architecture. Unexpectedly, mutations toward bulky aromatic amino acids at the protein surface triggered long-distance (∼27 Å) backbone changes due to cooperative effects. These cooperative interactions produced an unprecedented double-lock system that: (i) induced backbone changes, (ii) closed the molecular gates to the active site, (iii) reduced the volumes of the main and slot access tunnels, and (iv) occluded the active site. Despite these spatial restrictions, experimental tracing of the access tunnels using krypton derivative crystals demonstrates that transport of ligands is still effective. Our findings highlight key thermostabilization effects and provide a structural basis for designing new thermostable protein catalysts.

Illustration of cooperative thermostabilization effects of the double-lock system that: (i) induced backbone changes, (ii) closed the molecular gates, (iii) reduced the volumes of the main and slot access tunnels, and (iv) occluded the active site.     

Characterisation of combinatorial libraries of mucin-2 antigen peptides by high-resolution mass spectrometry

An epitope motif, TX(1)TX(2)T, of mucin-2 glycoprotein was identified by means of a mucin-2-specific monoclonal antibody, mAb 994, raised against a synthetic mucin-derived 15-mer peptide conjugate. For determination of the epitope sequence recognised with highest affinity by mAb 994, a combinatorial approach was applied using the portioning-mixing technique excluding Cys. Antibody binding of libraries was most profound when Gln was at the X(1) position. Analytical characterisation of the TQTX(2)T library was conducted by amino acid analysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) and electrospray ionisation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI-FTICR) mass spectrometric methods. Control libraries were prepared by mixing 19 individual peptides corresponding to the TQTX(2)T sequence. Thus, mixtures of 6, 10 and 19 pentapeptides were analysed and compared with the combinatorial mixture. MALDI-TOFMS was able to detect only partially the components in the 6- and 10-member mixtures, but failed to characterise a more complex 19-member mixture. In contrast, ESI-FTICRMS resolved all mixtures of higher complexity and provided direct identification at monoisotopic resolution, such as for a peptide library containing 'isobaric' lysine and glutamine (Delta m = 0.0364 Da). The results of this study suggest that ESI-FTICRMS is a powerful tool for characterisation of combinatorial peptide libraries of higher complexity.     

Mimicking catalase and catecholase enzymes by copper(II)-containing complexes

An imidazolate-bridged copper(II)-zinc(II) complex (Cu(II)-diethylenetriamino-μ-imidazolato-Zn(II)-tris(2-aminoethyl)amine perchlorate (denoted as “Cu,Zn complex”) and a simple copper(II) complex (Cu(II)-tris(2-aminoethyl) amine chloride (“Cu-tren”) were prepared and immobilised on silica gel (by hydrogen or covalent bonds) and montmorillonite (by ion exchange). The immobilised substances were characterised by FT-IR spectroscopy and their thermal characteristics were also studied. The obtained materials were tested in two probe reactions: catalytic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol (DTBC) (catecholase activity) and the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (catalase activity). It was found that the catecholase activity of the Cu,Zn complex increased considerably upon immobilization on silica gel via hydrogen bonds and intercalation by ion exchange among the layers of montmorillonite. The imidazolate-bridged copper(II)-zinc(II) complex and its immobilised versions were inactive in hydrogen peroxide decomposition. The Cu(II)-tris(2-aminoethyl)amine chloride complex displayed good catalase activity; however, immobilisation could not improve it.