Regioselective cleavage of myoglobin with copper(II) compounds at neutral pH

Selective hydrolytic cleavage of myoglobin was studied with CuCl2, Cu(ClO4)2, Cu(AC)2, and binuclear Cu(II) complexes of 3,6,9,16,19,22-hexaaza-6,19-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-tricyclo- 22,2,2,2(11,14)]-triaconta-1,11,13,24,27,29-hexaene (1) and 3,6,9,16,19,22-hexaaza-tricyclo-22,2,2,2(11,14)]-triaconta- 1,11,13,24,27,29-hexaene (2). The sites of cleavage were precisely determined by LC-ESIMS and further confirmed by an MS/MS method through fragmentation from both the N-terminal and C-terminal. The peptide bonds of Gln91-Ser92 and Ala94-Thr95 were remarkably cleaved by Cu(II) anchored to the side chain of the His93 residue. The data presented in this study show that Cu(II)-mediated cleavage of myoglobin is able to proceed at neutral pH, more selectively than Pd(II)-mediated cleavage, and buffer solution of phosphate and NH4HCO3 accelerates the cleavage reaction.