Observation of Fe-H/D modes by nuclear resonant vibrational spectroscopy

Metal-hydrogen bonding is important in chemistry and catalysis, but H atoms are often difficult to observe, especially in metalloproteins. In this work we show that Fe-H interactions can be probed by nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy at the 14.4 keV 57Fe nuclear resonance. An important advantage of this method, compared to Raman and IR spectroscopy, is the selectivity for modes that involve 57Fe motion. We present data on the FeS4 site in rubredoxin and the [FeH(D)6]2- ion. Prospects for studying more complex systems are discussed.     

Calculation of the diamagnetic shielding of the nuclei by the point-charge approximation

It is shown that the diamagnetic shielding of the nuclei can be calculated to a good accuracy by using point-charge approximation. Very good results were obtained by the semiempirical SCC-MO method employing Clementi-Raimondi AO basis set.     

Semiempirical studies of inner-core energy levels: IX. Esca shifts of silicon atoms in various chemical environments by the scc-mo method

The semiempirical self-consistent charge molecular orbital (SCC-MO) method has been applied to a number of representative molecules involving Si atoms in various chemical environments. The calculated point charges were correlated with Si(2p) inner-core energy level shifts by using ground state potential, relaxation potential and transition potential models (GPM, RPM and TPM). The results are in good agreement with experimental data. Various contributions to the relaxation energy are briefly discussed.     

SEMIEMPIRICAL CALCULATION OF THE INNER SHELL BINDING ENERGY SHIFTS IN MOLECULES INVOLVING SULPHUR ATOM

Abstract

The inner core binding energy shifts of sulphur atom in various chemical environments were studied by the semiempirical self-consistent charge molecular orbital method. The relaxation energy was taken into account by using two distinct approaches:(a) reorganizatinoo potential method and (b) transition potential method. The changes in ESCA chemical shifts of sulphur are satisfactorily accounted for by the latter method, the s tandard deviation from the experimental data being 0.2 eV. It appears that the reorganization energy plays an important role in rationlizing inner core binding energy shifts of sulphur.     

P(+) state of nitrogenase p-cluster exhibits electronic structure of a [fe(4)s(4)](+) cluster

Mo nitrogenase consists of two component proteins: the Fe protein, which contains a [Fe(4)S(4)] cluster, and the MoFe protein, which contains two different classes of metal cluster: P-cluster ([Fe(8)S(7)]) and FeMoco ([MoFe(7)S(9)C·homocitrate]). The P-cluster is believed to mediate the electron transfer between the Fe protein and the MoFe protein via interconversions between its various oxidation states, such as the all-ferrous state (P(N)) and the one- (P(+)) and two-electron (P(2+)) oxidized states. While the structural and electronic properties of P(N) and P(2+) states have been well characterized, little is known about the electronic structure of the P(+) state. Here, a mutant strain of Azotobacter vinelandii (DJ1193) was used to facilitate the characterization of the P(+) state of P-cluster. This strain expresses a MoFe protein variant (designated ΔnifB β-188(Cys) MoFe protein) that accumulates the P(+) form of P-cluster in the resting state. Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum of the P-cluster in the oxidized ΔnifB β-188(Cys) MoFe protein closely resembles that of the P(2+) state in the oxidized wild-type MoFe protein, except for the absence of a major charge-transfer band centered at 823 nm. Moreover, magnetization curves of ΔnifB β-188(Cys) and wild-type MoFe proteins suggest that the P(2+) species in both proteins have the same spin state. MCD spectrum of the P(+) state in the ΔnifB β-188(Cys) MoFe protein, on the other hand, is associated with a classic [Fe(4)S(4)](+) cluster, suggesting that the P-cluster could be viewed as two coupled 4Fe clusters and that it could donate either one or two electrons to FeMoco by using one or both of its 4Fe halves. Such a mode of action of P-cluster could provide energetic and kinetic advantages to nitrogenase in the complex mechanism of N(2) reduction.