Low-spin ferriheme models of the cytochromes: correlation of molecular structure with EPR spectral type

The preparation and characterization of the following bis-imidazole and bis-pyridine complexes of octamethyltetraphenylporphyrinatoiron(III), Fe(III)OMTPP, octaethyltetraphenylporphyrinatoiron(III), Fe(III)OETPP, and tetra-beta,beta'-tetramethylenetetraphenylporphyrinatoiron(III), Fe(III)TC(6)TPP, are reported: paral-[FeOMTPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl, perp-[FeOMTPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl, [FeOETPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl, [FeTC(6)TPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl, [FeOMTPP(4-Me(2)NPy)(2)]Cl, and [FeOMTPP(2-MeHIm)(2)]Cl. Crystal structure analysis shows that paral-[FeOMTPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl has its axial ligands in close to parallel orientation (the actual dihedral angle between the planes of the imidazole ligands is 19.5 degrees ), while perp-[FeOMTPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl has the axial imidazole ligand planes oriented at 90 degrees to each other and 29 degrees away from the closest N(P)-Fe-N(P) axis. [FeOETPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl has its axial ligands close to perpendicular orientation (the actual dihedral angle between the planes of the imidazole ligands is 73.1 degrees ). In all three cases the porphyrin core adopts relatively purely saddled geometry. The [FeTC(6)TPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl complex is the most planar and has the highest contribution of a ruffled component in the overall saddled structure compared to all other complexes in this study. The estimated numerical contribution of saddled and ruffled components is 0.68:0.32, respectively. Axial ligand planes are perpendicular to each other and 15.3 degrees away from the closest N(P)-Fe-N(P) axis. The Fe-N(P) bond is the longest in the series of octaalkyltetraphenylporphyrinatoiron(III) complexes due to [FeTC(6)TPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl having the least distorted porphyrin core. In addition to these three complexes, two crystalline forms each of [FeOMTPP(4-Me(2)NPy)(2)]Cl and [FeOMTPP(2-MeHIm)(2)]Cl were obtained. In all four of these cases the axial planes are in nearly perpendicular planes in spite of quite different geometries of the porphyrin cores (from purely saddled to saddled with 30% ruffling). The EPR spectral type correlates with the geometry of the OMTPP, OETPP and TC(6)TPP complexes. For the paral-[FeOMTPP(1-MeIm)(2)]Cl, a rhombic signal with g(1) = 1.54, g(2) = 2.51, and g(3) = 2.71 is consistent with nearly parallel axial ligand orientation. For all other complexes of this study, "large g(max)" signals are observed (g(max) = 3.61 - 3.27), as are observed for nearly perpendicular ligand plane arrangement. On the basis of this and previous work, the change from "large g(max)" to normal rhombic EPR signal occurs between axial ligand plane dihedral angles of 70 degrees and 30 degrees.     

Distance-independent Cross-correlated Relaxation and Isotropic Chemical Shift Modulation in Protein Dynamics Studies

Cross-correlated relaxation (CCR) in multiple-quantum coherences differs from other relaxation phenomena in its theoretical ability to be mediated across an infinite distance. The two interfering relaxation mechanisms may be dipolar interactions, chemical shift anisotropies, chemical shift modulations or quadrupolar interactions. These properties make multiple-quantum CCR an attractive probe for structure and dynamics of biomacromolecules not accessible from other measurements. Here, we review the use of multiple-quantum CCR measurements in dynamics studies of proteins. We compile a list of all experiments proposed for CCR rate measurements, provide an overview of the theory with a focus on protein dynamics, and present applications to various protein systems.     

Unsymmetrical Trifluoromethyl Methoxyphenyl β-Diketones: Effect of the Position of Methoxy Group and Coordination at Cu(II) on Biological Activity

Copper(II) complexes with 1,1,1-trifluoro-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)butan-2,4-dione (HL1) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The biological properties of HL1 and cis-[Cu(L1)₂(DMSO)] (3) were examined against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and opportunistic unicellular fungi. The cytotoxicity was estimated towards the HeLa and Vero cell lines. Complex 3 demonstrated antibacterial activity towards S. aureus comparable to that of streptomycin, lower antifungal activity than the ligand HL1 and moderate cytotoxicity. The bioactivity was compared with the activity of compounds of similar structures. The effect of changing the position of the methoxy group at the aromatic ring in the ligand moiety of the complexes on their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity was explored. We propose that complex 3 has lower bioavailability and reduced bioactivity than expected due to strong intermolecular contacts. In addition, molecular docking studies provided theoretical information on the interactions of tested compounds with ribonucleotide reductase subunit R2, as well as the chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp90, which are important biomolecular targets for antitumor and antimicrobial drug search and design. The obtained results revealed that the complexes displayed enhanced affinity over organic ligands. Taken together, the copper(II) complexes with the trifluoromethyl methoxyphenyl-substituted β-diketones could be considered as promising anticancer agents with antibacterial properties.     

Deuteron Quadrupolar Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (Q-CEST) Solid-State NMR for Static Powder Samples: Approach and Applications to Amyloid-β Fibrils

We provide an experimental and computational framework for ²H quadrupolar chemical exchange saturation transfer NMR experiments (Q-CEST) under static solid-state conditions for the quantification of dynamics on μs-ms timescales. Simulations using simple 2-site exchange models provide insights into the relation between spin dynamics and motions. Biological applications focus on two sites of amyloid-β fibrils in the 3-fold symmetric polymorph. The first site, the methyl group of A2 of the disordered N-terminal domain, undergoes diffusive motions and conformational exchange due to transient interactions. Earlier ²H rotating frame relaxation and quadrupolar CPMG measurements are combined with the Q-CEST approach to characterize the multiple conformational states of the domain. The second site, the methyl group of M35, spans the water-accessible cavity inside the fibrils’ core and undergoes extensive rotameric exchange. Q-CEST permits us to refine the rotameric exchange model for this site and allows the more precise determination of populations and rotameric exchange rate constants than line shape analysis.     

Deuteron Solid-State NMR Relaxation Measurements Reveal Two Distinct Conformational Exchange Processes in the Disordered N-Terminal Domain of Amyloid-β Fibrils

We employed deuterium solid-state NMR techniques under static conditions to discern the details of the μs–ms timescale motions in the flexible N-terminal subdomain of Aβ_1–40 amyloid fibrils, which spans residues 1–16. In particular, we utilized a rotating frame (R_1ρ) and the newly developed time domain quadrupolar Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (QCPMG) relaxation measurements at the selectively deuterated side chains of A2, H6, and G9. The two experiments are complementary in terms of probing somewhat different timescales of motions, governed by the tensor parameters and the sampling window of the magnetization decay curves. The results indicated two mobile “free” states of the N-terminal domain undergoing global diffusive motions, with isotropic diffusion coefficients of 0.7−1 ⋅ 10⁸ and 0.3−3 ⋅ 10⁶ad² s⁻¹. The free states are also involved in the conformational exchange with a single bound state, in which the diffusive motions are quenched, likely due to transient interactions with the structured hydrophobic core. The conformational exchange rate constants are 2−3 ⋅ 10⁵ s⁻¹ and 2−3 ⋅ 10⁴ s⁻¹ for the fast and slow diffusion free states, respectively.     

Innate Immunomodulatory Activity of Cedrol,a Component of Essential Oils Isolated from Juniperus Species

Little is known about the immunomodulatory activity of essential oils isolated from Juniperus species. Thus, we isolated essential oils from the cones and leaves of eight juniper species found in Montana and in Kazakhstan, including J. horizontalis, J. scopolorum, J. communis, J. seravschanica, J. sabina, J. pseudosabina, J. pseudosabina subsp. turkestanica, and J. sibirica. We report here the chemical composition and innate immunomodulatory activity of these essential oils. Compositional analysis of the 16 samples of Juniper essential oils revealed similarities and differences between our analyses and those previously reported for essential oils from this species. Our studies represent the first analysis of essential oils isolated from the cones of four of these Juniper species. Several essential oil samples contained high levels of cedrol, which was fairly unique to three Juniper species from Kazakhstan. We found that these essential oils and pure (+)-cedrol induced intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization in human neutrophils. Furthermore, pretreatment of human neutrophils and N-formyl peptide receptor 1 and 2 (FPR1 and FPR2) transfected HL60 cells with these essential oils or (+)-cedrol inhibited agonist-induced Ca²⁺ mobilization, suggesting these responses were desensitized by this pretreatment. In support of this conclusion, pretreatment with essential oils from J. seravschanica cones (containing 16.8% cedrol) or pure (+)-cedrol inhibited human neutrophil chemotaxis to N-formyl peptide. Finally, reverse pharmacophore mapping predicted several potential kinase targets for cedrol. Thus, our studies have identified cedrol as a novel neutrophil agonist that can desensitize cells to subsequent stimulation by N-formyl peptide.     

Investigation of surface and interfacial properties of modified epoxy films formed under different conditions

The surface free energies and their components of the modified amine-cured epoxy polymers were estimated using the geometric mean and acid-base approaches. The surface and interfacial properties of the modified epoxy films depend on the modifying agent percentage and on the conditions of the polymer formation.