Copper(II) complexes of N-terminal protected tri- and tetra-peptides containing histidine residues

Copper(II) complexes of peptides containing two or three histidyl residues (Ac-HisGlyHis-OH, Ac-HisGlyHis-NHMe, Ac-HisHisGlyHis-OH and Ac-HisHisGlyHis-NHMe) have been studied by potentiometric, UV-Vis, EPR and CD spectroscopic measurements. The imidazole nitrogen atoms are described as the primary metal binding sites of all ligands resulting in the formation of various macrochelates in the pH range 4 to 7. The (Nim, N-, Nim)-co-ordinated [CuH-1L]0+ complexes were mainly detected in samples containing free carboxylates at the C-termini, whilst the [CuH-2L]-(0) complexes were the predominant species in slightly alkaline solution and their binding modes were described via 4N-co-ordination (Nim, N-, N-, Nim) in (7,5,6)-membered fused chelate rings. Deprotonation and co-ordination of the third amide nitrogens were detected above pH approximately 9 in all cases.     

A three‐dimensional framework of bis­[tris­(ethyl­enediamine)zinc] tetra­iodo­cadmate diiodide assisted by N—H⋯I hydrogen bonds

The title salt, [Zn(C₂N₂H₈)₃]₂[CdI₄]I₂, conventionally abbreviated [Zn(en)₃]₂[CdI₄]I₂, where en is ethyl­enediamine, contains discrete [Zn(en)₃]²⁺ cations and [CdI₄]²⁻ anions with distorted octa­hedral and nearly tetra­hedral geometries, respectively, as well as uncoordinated I⁻ ions. The cation and the free I⁻ anion lie on twofold rotation axes and the [CdI₄]²⁻ anion lies on a axis in the space group I2d. The structure exhibits numerous weak inter‐ionic hydrogen bonds of two types, viz. N—H⋯I⁻(free ion) and N—H⋯I([CdI₄]²⁻), which support the resulting three‐dimensional framework.     

Efficient Entropy-Driven Inhibition of Dipeptidyl Peptidase III by Hydroxyethylene Transition-State Peptidomimetics

Dipeptidyl peptidase III (DPP3) is a ubiquitously expressed Zn-dependent protease, which plays an important role in regulating endogenous peptide hormones, such as enkephalins or angiotensins. In previous biophysical studies, it could be shown that substrate binding is driven by a large entropic contribution due to the release of water molecules from the closing binding cleft. Here, the design, synthesis and biophysical characterization of peptidomimetic inhibitors is reported, using for the first time an hydroxyethylene transition-state mimetic for a metalloprotease. Efficient routes for the synthesis of both stereoisomers of the pseudopeptide core were developed, which allowed the synthesis of peptidomimetic inhibitors mimicking the VVYPW-motif of tynorphin. The best inhibitors inhibit DPP3 in the low μM range. Biophysical characterization by means of ITC measurement and X-ray crystallography confirm the unusual entropy-driven mode of binding. Stability assays demonstrated the desired stability of these inhibitors, which efficiently inhibited DPP3 in mouse brain homogenate.     

Tuning Ruthenium Carbene Complexes for Selective P−H Activation through Metal-Ligand Cooperation

The use of iminophosphoryl-tethered ruthenium carbene complexes to activate secondary phosphine P−H bonds is reported. Complexes of type [(p-cymene)-RuC(SO₂Ph)(PPh₂NR)] (with R = SiMe₃ or 4-C₆H₄−NO₂) were found to exhibit different reactivities depending on the electronics of the applied phosphine and the substituent at the iminophosphoryl moiety. Hence, the electron-rich silyl-substituted complex undergoes cyclometallation or shift of the imine moiety after cooperative activation of the P−H bond across the M=C linkage, depending on the electronics of the applied phosphine. Deuteration experiments and computational studies proved that cyclometallation is initiated by the activation process at the M=C bond and triggered by the high electron density at the metal in the phosphido intermediates. Consistently, replacement of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) group by the electron-withdrawing 4-nitrophenyl substituent allowed the selective cooperative P−H activation to form stable activation products.     

Determining binding constants for 1:1 and 1:2 inclusion complexes of ester betulin derivatives with (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin by affinity capillary electrophoresis

The complexation of ester betulin derivatives with (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was studied by mobility shift affinity CE. Electrophoretic mobility for triangular peaks was calculated using the parameter a₁ of the Haarhoff–Van der Linde function instead of the peak top time. Dependences of the viscosity corrected electrophoretic mobility on HP-β-CD concentration were not described on the basis of only complexes with 1:1 stoichiometry due to the fact that these binding curves did not reach a plateau. However, the dependences were well described taking into account both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes. The presence of higher order equilibria was also revealed by x-reciprocal plots. The values of apparent binding constant logarithm, obtained for the first time, for 1:1 and 1:2 HP-β-CD complexes of betulin 3,28-diphthalate and betulin 3,28-disuccinate with 95% confidence interval limits in brackets are the same within error and are equal to 4.85 (4.73–4.95), 8.56 (7.75–8.82), 4.92 (4.86–4.97), and 8.54 (8.23–8.72) at 25°C, respectively. These values for 1:1 and 1:2 HP-β-CD complexes of betulin 3,28-disulfate at 25°C are 4.61 (4.57–4.64) and 7.11 (6.57–7.34), respectively. The binding constants for betulin 3,28-disulfate agree with the previously obtained results from the separation in the thermostatted capillary segment.     

The effect of carbon dioxide on xylose fermentation byPichia stipitis

Carbon dioxide was found to reduce the xylose fermentation rate of two different strains ofPichia stipitis (CBS 5773 and CBS 5776) significantly in anaerobic batch fermentations. The maximum specific fermentation rate in a carbon dioxide atmosphere was about 45% lower than the fermentation rate in nitrogen atmosphere. Further-more, the fermentation rate was found to be correlated to the growth rate. It is probable that the carbon dioxide influences the fermentation rate partly through decreasing the growth rate. It was also found that the fermentation rate of CBS 5773 was higher than for CBS 5776 and that the specific fermentation rate was lower at a higher cell density.     

Competition between non-classical and classical hydrogen bonded sites in [BH3CN]: Spectral, energetic, structural and electronic features

Interaction of the salt (Ph₃PNPPh₃)BH₃CN with the various OH and NH proton donors in low polar media was studied by variable temperature (200–290 K) IR spectroscopy and theoretically by DFT calculations. The formation of two types of complexes containing non-classical dihydrogen bond to the hydride hydrogen (DHB) and classical hydrogen bond (HB) to nitrogen lone pair was shown in solution. The 1:1 complexes of both types (XHH and XHN) coexist in the presence of equimolar amount of proton donor. The addition of excess XH-acid leads to the increase of the classical HB content and appearance of the 1:2 complexes, where two basic sites work simultaneously. The structure, spectral characteristics, energy and electron redistribution were studied by DFT (B3LYP) method. The comparison DHB parameters of [BH₃CN]⁻ with those of the unsubstituted analogue [BH₄]⁻ allowed analyzing the electronic effects of the CN group on the basic properties of boron hydride moiety. The electronic influence of the BH₃ group on CN⁻HX hydrogen bond was also established by comparison with the corresponding classical HB to the CN⁻ anion.     

Unusual stereoselectivity of methionine-γ-lyase from Citrobacterfreundii toward diastereomeric (S)-methionine S-oxide

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Major flavonoid components of heartsease (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Viola tricolor</Emphasis> L.) and their antioxidant activities

Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography was used to separate flavonoid components in a heartsease methanol extract. One of the main components was identified by NMR as violanthin (6-C-glucosyl-8-C-rhamnosylapigenin). As a first approximation, the other main flavonoid component was considered to be rutin (3-O-rhamnoglucosylquercetin), based on comprehensive comparison of retention times and UV spectra of reference molecules, as well as molecular mass and fragmentation patterns obtained by mass spectrometry. The minor flavonoids were separated by polyamide column and analyzed by LC-MS. The antioxidant capacity of different flavonoid fractions was determined using both Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in vitro antioxidant assays. The highest electron-donor capacity was found for the major flavonoid component (rutin), whereas one minor component-rich flavonoid fraction exhibited the highest hydrogen-donor activity.