Reexamination of lead(II) coordination preferences in sulfur-rich sites: implications for a critical mechanism of lead poisoning

Recent studies suggest that the developmental toxicity associated with childhood lead poisoning may be attributable to interactions of Pb(II) with proteins containing thiol-rich structural zinc-binding sites. Here, we report detailed structural studies of Pb(II) in such sites, providing critical insights into the mechanism by which lead alters the activity of these proteins. X-ray absorption spectroscopy of Pb(II) bound to structural zinc-binding peptides reveals that Pb(II) binds in a three-coordinate Pb(II)-S(3) mode, while Zn(II) is known to bind in a four-coordinate mode in these proteins. This Pb(II)-S(3) coordination in peptides is consistent with a trigonal pyramidal Pb(II)-S(3) model compound previously reported by Bridgewater and Parkin, but it differs from many other reports in the small molecule literature which have suggested Pb(II)-S(4) as a preferred coordination mode for lead. Reexamination of the published structures of these "Pb(II)-S(4)" compounds reveals that, in almost all cases, the coordination number of Pb is actually 5, 6, or 8. The results reported herein combined with this new review of published structures suggest that lead prefers to avoid four-coordination in sulfur-rich sites, binding instead as trigonal pyramidal Pb(II)-S(3) or as Pb(II)-S(5-8). In the case of structural zinc-binding protein sites, the observation that lead binds in a three-coordinate mode, and in a geometry that is fundamentally different from the natural coordination of zinc in these sites, explains why lead disrupts the structure of these peptides and thus provides the first detailed molecular understanding of the developmental toxicity of lead.     

Design and synthesis of conformationally constrained, extended and reverse turn pseudopeptides as Grb2-SH2 domain antagonists

A series of conformationally constrained and flexible pseudopeptide derivatives of the tripeptide pYVN were prepared as potential antagonists of interactions of phosphotyrosine peptides with the Grb2-SH2 domain. The conformationally constrained compounds contained trans- and cis-cyclopropanes as replacements to enforce locally extended and reverse turn peptide conformations, respectively.     

Oxidation of meso-tetraphenyl-2,3-dihydroxychlorin: simplified synthesis of β,β′-dioxochlorins

DDQ Oxidation of meso-tetraphenyl-cis-2,3-dihydroxychlorins leads to an efficient synthesis of the corresponding 2,3-dioxochlorins. This alternative synthesis of these known chromophores is simple and likely to be more general as compared to established syntheses. A single crystal structure of [meso-tetraphenyl-cis-2,3-dihydroxychlorinato]Ni(II) proves the ruffled structure of the chromophore. The reduction of the free base dioxochlorin allows the preparation of the meso-tetraphenyl-trans-2,3-dihydroxychlorin.     

Study of the dative bond in 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate at various levels of theory: another poor performance of the B3LYP method for B-N dative bonds

Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), 1, is a potent inhibitor of store-operated calcium entry channels (SOCCs). Other SOCC inhibitors are being investigated as promising pharmacological agents for a variety of conditions. Though toxic, 2-APB could be useful in the development of additional inhibitors, but its preferred binding structure must first be determined. Thus, we performed ab initio calculations to study the conformers and the strength of the dative bond of 2-APB. As a first step, we performed a series of computations at various levels of theory. We obtained vastly different dissociation energies for the dative bond depending on whether we used MP2 or B3LYP (7-10 kcal/mol different). This discrepancy has previously been observed for other B-N dative bonds by Gilbert, who found that the MP2 values were in much better agreement with experimental values (Gilbert, T. M. J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 2550-2554). Since we lacked experimental data for comparison, we performed CCSD(T) calculations and found them to have similar results to those from MP2. Thus, we conclude that MP2 is more accurate for 2-APB. The dissociation free energy at the MP2 level is 7 kcal/mol and indicates that the dative bond conformer will be the predominant structure in the gas phase. The dissociation energy is comparatively low due to the electron donation from the oxygen atom to the boron atom and due to the ring strain in the dative bond conformer.     

Scenery reconstruction on finite abelian groups

We consider the question of when a random walk on a finite abelian group with a given step distribution can be used to reconstruct a binary labeling of the elements of the group, up to a shift. Matzinger and Lember (2006) give a sufficient condition for reconstructability on cycles. While, as we show, this condition is not in general necessary, our main result is that it is necessary when the length of the cycle is prime and larger than 5, and the step distribution has only rational probabilities. We extend this result to other abelian groups.     

ASPECTS OF CONSTRUCTION AND PROOF IN A HAND-HELD DYNAMIC GEOMETRY ENVIRONMENT

This paper considers how the use of dynamic geometry software (Cabri II on the Texas TI 92) can contribute to the development of pupils’ ideas of construction and proof. Classroom research is reported involving a group of Year 8 pupils (aged 12 to 13) in a mixed urban comprehensive school in the North of England. Two perspectives are combined in analysing the classroom activities. Socio-culturally, the technology is seen as a mediating tool and intellectual development as a complex, dialectical process. A second perspective considers the elements of proof and concludes that, whilst verification and conviction have an importance, it is in explanation that proof becomes social. This combination may indicate the potential of the technology in supporting the development of ideas of construction and proof.     

Crystal structure of 1,3-di-2-[(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-diazenyl]imidazolidine

The crystal and molecular structure of 1,3-di-2-[(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-diazenyl]imidazolidine (1) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. This novel bis-triazene assumes a close-to planar structure with the aryltriazene moieties aligned in diametrically opposed directions, unlike many other previously reported bis-triazenes, which assume a folded structure. The structure of 1 is compared with the closely related, non-cyclic bis-triazene analogue (2), and also compared with the structure of the simple mono-triazene (3). Crystal data: 1 C₁₇H₂₀N₆O₂, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 34.948(3), b = 5.925(5), c = 8.1225(6) Å, = 100.8420(10)°, and V = 1652.0(2) ų, for Z = 4.