Direct electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of osmium substituted horseradish peroxidase

In this contribution the substitution of the central protoporphyrin IX iron complex of horseradish peroxidase by the respective osmium porphyrin complex is described. The direct electrochemical reduction of the Os containing horseradish peroxidase (OsHRP) was achieved at ITO and modified glassy carbon electrodes and in combination with spectroscopy revealed the three redox couples Os^IIIHRP/Os^IVHRP, Os^IVHRP/Os^VHRP and Os^VHRP/Os^VIHRP. The midpoint potentials differ dependent on the electrode material used with E_1/2 (Os^III/IV) of − 0.4 V (ITO) and − 0.25 V (GC), E_1/2 (Os^IV/^V) of − 0.16 V (ITO) and + 0.10 V (GC), and E_1/2 (Os^V/VI)of + 0.18 V (ITO), respectively. Moreover, with immobilised OsHRP the direct electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide was observed. In comparison to electrodes modified with native HRP the sensitivity of the OsHRP-electrode for tert-butyl hydroperoxide is higher.     

Oxidation of 5,15-Dioxaporphyrin: Its Generality and Novelty as an Oxaporphyrin Analogue

5,15-Dioxaporphyrin ( DOP ) is a novel meso-oxaporphyrin analogue and exhibits unique 20π-antiaromaticity, unlike its mother congener of 18π-aromatic 5-oxaporphyrin, commonly known as its cationic iron complex called verdohem, which is a key intermediate of heme catabolism. To reveal its reactivities and properties as an oxaporphyrin analogue, the oxidation of tetra-β-arylated DOP ( DOP-Ar₄ ) was explored in this study. Stepwise oxidation from the 20π-electron neutral state was achieved, and the corresponding 19π-electron radical cation and 18π-electron dication were characterized. Further oxidation of the 18π-aromatic dication resulted in the formation of a ring-opened dipyrrindione product by hydrolysis. Considering a similar reaction of verdoheme to ring-opened biliverdin in the heme degradation in nature, the current result consolidates the ring-opening reactivity of oxaporphyrinium cation species.     

Structural and functional properties of designed globins

De novo design of artificial proteins is an essential approach to elucidate the principles of protein architecture and to understand specific functions of natural proteins and also to yield novel molecules for medical and industrial aims. We have designed artificial sequences of 153 amino acids to fit the main-chain framework of the sperm whale myoglobin structure based on the knowledge-based energy functions to evaluate the compatibility between protein tertiary structures and amino acid sequences. The synthesized artificial globins bind a single heme per protein molecule as designed, which show well-defined electrochemical and spectroscopic features characteristic of proteins with a low-spin heme. Redox and ligand binding reactions of the artificial heme proteins were investigated and these heme-related functions were found to vary with their structural uniqueness. Relationships between the structural and functional properties are discussed.     

A Functional Model of Cytochrome c Oxidase: Thermodynamic Implications

The environment of the Cu ^I ion in the distal ligand group decides the fate of the reduction of O₂ by the two analogues 1 and 2 of the heme a₃ Cu_B center in cytochrome c oxidase. The fourfold coordination by N in 1 favors the Cu^II oxidation state and leads to a 4 e⁻–4 H⁺ reduction and the formation of H₂O under physiological conditions, while with 2 a 2 e⁻–2 H⁺ reduction occurs to form the cytotoxic H₂O₂.     

Crystal Structure and Chemical Reactivity of Heme Phenoxide Adducts

Abstract

A simple phenoxide heme compound has been fully structurally characterized for the first time. The crystal structure of a 2,6-dichlorophenoxy Fe(III) 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin is reported and compared with the structure of simple aliphatic alkoxy aducts of Fe(III) porphyrins. It is further shown that phenoxy Fe porphyrins can promote regiospecific substitution (cyanation) of the bound phenol ring.     

Folding behaviors of apocytochrome b5 and its mutants: Insights from high temperature molecular dynamics simulations

Apocytochrome b₅ (apocyt b₅) with heme removal from the heme-binding core 1, and its mutants with amino acid replaced in the hydrophobic core 2, namely apocyt b₅ Y7P, P81A and H15R/S20E, have been subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulation at high temperature (500 K) for elucidating their folding behaviors. The early events upon thermal induced unfolding were found to be in good agreement with available experimental results, and the lowest stability of Y7P was predicted among the four apoproteins. The influences of these key residues on protein folding behavior were compared directly at an atomic level. At the same time, the influences of non-native interactions of hydrogen bonds and salt-bridges on protein stabilities were analyzed in detail. The insights from current MD simulations are valuable for understanding the apoprotein folding and the holoprotein formation in terms of heme proteins.     

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of a Deazaflavin‐Bridged Porphyrinatoiron(III) That Mimics the Interaction of a Deazaflavin Inhibitor with the Heme‐Thiolate Cofactor of Cytochrome P450 3A4

Cytochrome P450 3A4 metabolizes a majority of administered therapeutic agents in the human liver. We recently reported the synthesis of a new inhibitor, 1 , whose binding to and displacement from the active site of CYP 3A4 can be conveniently followed by the associated changes in fluorescence intensity. Here we report the synthesis of a bichromophoric compound, 6 , in which deazaflavin was strapped over the distal side of a porphyrinatoiron(III) complex to mimic the envisaged enzyme–inhibitor interaction within the active site. Femtosecond pump–probe and fluorescence spectroscopies were used to study the photophysical processes of 6 . Rapid intramolecular energy transfer and enhanced intersystem‐crossing processes induced by the high‐spin Fe^III central ion are responsible for the complete suppression of deazaflavin fluorescence in 6 . Fluorescence quenching is less efficient in the iron‐free analogue of 6 , i.e., in 21 .     

Far infrared spectroscopy on hemoproteins: A model compound study from 1800–100 cm

Infrared spectroscopy measurements on different hemoproteins and models of the active side have been completed for the spectral range from 1800 to 100 cm⁻¹ giving an overview on the contributions expected in the low frequency range. Little is known of the low frequency contribution of proteins in infrared. In order to detect the contributions of heme centers and protein moiety, a systematic study of the infrared spectroscopic properties of the porphyrin ring, the ferric porphyrines with different ligands (hemine and hematine), a heme with 11 amino acids (microperoxidase-11), cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase are compared at different pD values and an overview on the relative contributions of hemes, their ligands and the protein site can be provided in the low frequency region. Beside the well know amide I and II modes, the low frequency range is found to be dominated by the amide IV and VI mode around 530/580 cm⁻¹ for cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase, as well as further proteins like ferrodoxin. Below 300 cm⁻¹ amide VII modes, doming modes of the heme site and hydrogen-bonding signatures overlap to a broad peak with covering 100–250 cm⁻¹. As clear markers for the iron ligands, bands can be depicted at 388/378 cm⁻¹ (FeN, histidine ligand) and 345 cm⁻¹ FeCl. Furthermore the ring vibration of the protonated histidine is determined at 623 cm⁻¹.     

Preparation of Polyaniline Modified Electrode for the Electroanalysis of Heme Proteins

ABSTRACT

Polyaniline, which was electroactive in pH5.5 NaAc-HAc buffers, was used to investigate the electrochemistry of some heme proteins. The polyaniline was electropolymerized and deposited on a macro- and a micro- platinum electrode successfully. The optimum preparation method and conditions were that the polymer film was polymerized by a galvanostatic method with 35 μA/cm² current density in a 2.0 mol/L HCl solution containing 1.0 mol/L monomer under nitrogen atmosphere. The deposit amount was about 7.0 mC/cm² for the macro- and 8.5 mC/cm² for the micro- electrode. Experimental results revealed that the commonly used heme proteins, myoglobin and hemoglobin, could exhibit useful current responses at the polymer coated electrode. Since polyaniline modified electrode have a lot of virtues such as stability, good longevity, reversibility, conductivity etc., they may be useful for protein studies in the future. Another application of the polymer is, therefore, reported in this paper.