Synthesis and use of new spin labeled derivatives of phosphorylcholine in a comparative study of human, dogfish, and Limulus C-reactive proteins

New spin labeled derivatives of phosphorylcholine have been synthesized. The compounds cause reversible inhibition of the precipitation reactions between pneumococcal C-polysaccharide and the C-reactive proteins from humans, dogfish sharks (Mustelus canis), and horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus). The spin labeled phosphorylcholine derivatives also rival phosphorylcholine as a ligand for the human, dogfish, and Limulus C-reactive proteins. The interactions of the purified C-reactive proteins with the spin labeled derivatives of phosphorylcholine have been studied using electron spin resonance spectrometry. The dramatic decrease in the ESR signal of some of the spin labels is due to immobilization of the label. Only the well known phosphate spin label, 4-phosphate-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl could be used for binding studies on human and Limulus C-reactive proteins. Thus, by Scatchard analysis, the human C-reactive protein bound 1 mol of phosphate spin label per mol of protein with a Ka = 3.91 X 10(3) M-1, whereas the Limulus C-reactive protein bound only 0.5 mol of phosphate spin label per mol of protein with an overall Ka = 1.95 X 10(3) M-1. Inhibition studies using purified C-polysaccharide-induced inhibition of the phosphate spin label-human C-reactive protein interaction showed competitive inhibition with a KI of 4.78 X 10(-5) M at 18 degrees C. The phosphate spin label did not bind to dogfish C-reactive protein. However, one new phosphorylcholine spin label did bind and was used for Scatchard and Hill plot analyses. The dogfish C-reactive protein, which exists as a Mr = 50,000 dimer, bound 2 mol of the phosphorylcholine spin label per mol of protein, and this binding exhibited negative cooperativity as indicated by a Hill coefficient of 0.75.     

An electron spin resonance study of temperature-induced structural changes of the spin-labeled myosin head: an evidence for two conformational states of myosin head

Heavy meromyosin labeled at the SH1 thiol group with an iodoacetamide spin label was studied by electron spin resonance spectroscopy at various temperatures in the presence and absence of nucleotides and PPi. The electron spin resonance spectra of the spin label bound to myosin head showed temperature-dependent changes indicating changes of the structure around the SH1 thiol group of the myosin head. As the temperature was elevated, the bound spin label was more mobilized in all the systems examined. The mobilization of the bound spin label by the elevation of temperature was enhanced in the presence of nucleotides or PPi. The temperature-dependent spectral changes had isosbestic points indicating that the structural changes around the SH1 thiol group took place between two states of the bound spin label, a weakly immobilized and a strongly immobilized state.     

Sonochemistry of nitrone spin traps in aqueous solutions. Evidence for pyrolysis radicals from spin traps

When argon-saturated aqueous solutions of alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) were sonicated, the spin adducts PBN-Phenyl (Ph), PBN-X, and PBN-H were observed. It can be inferred that PBN-Ph and -X arise from spin adducts of thermal decomposition products of PBN induced by the high temperature due to ultrasonic cavitation. The ESR signal of PBN-H was observed at a lower PBN concentration than those of PBN-Ph and PBN-X. The ratios of ESR intensity of PBN-H to those of PBN-Ph and PBN-X increased with the final temperatures of the cavitation bubbles created by different rare gases. The spin adducts of methyl and tert-butyl radicals from the pyrolysis of PBN, induced by the high temperatures due to cavitation, were found from spin trapping experiments in which 3,5-dibromo-2,6-dideuterio-4-nitrosobenzene sulfonate was used as a spin trap. Similar spin adducts induced by pyrolysis were also observed in sonicated aqueous solutions of other nitrone spin traps, such as alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone, and alpha-(4-nitrophenol) N-tert-butylnitrone. The greater the hydrophobicity of the spin traps, as measured by the 2-octanol/water partition coefficients, the lower the concentration of spin trap at which methyl radicals generated by thermal decomposition of the spin trap can be observed. The present results indicate that the nonvolatile, highly hydrophobic spin traps accumulate preferentially in the interfacial region of cavitation bubbles where they undergo thermal decomposition during cavitation to produce the radicals.     

Spin equilibrium in human methemoglobin: effects of inositol hexaphosphate and bezafibrate as measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy

The spin equilibria of several derivatives of human methemoglobin were probed by resonance Raman scattering. The intensity of lines in the Raman spectrum gives a measure of the high-spin (S = 5/2) to low-spin (S = 1/2) ratio which agrees well with the spin equilibria determined from direct magnetic susceptibility measurements. The addition of bezafibrate (BZF) to methemoglobin in the absence of organic phosphate, IHP, has very little effect on the spin equilibrium, whereas in the presence of IHP it augments the change in spin significantly. When both IHP and BZF are added to the mixed-spin derivatives (H2O, SCN-, OCN-, and NO2-) of human methemoglobin, the spin equilibrium is shifted toward higher spin by about 700 cal/mol, similar to the spin change detected in derivatives of carp methemoglobin upon addition of IHP alone. These data support a general mechanism for the allosteric transition in which a constant fraction of the cooperative energy (approximately 20%) is detected at the heme of the ferric ligand-bound forms.     

Electron-electron spin-spin interaction in spin-labeled low-spin methemoglobin.

Nitroxyl free radical electron spin relaxation times for spin-labeled low-spin methemoglobins were measured between 6 and 120 K by two-pulse electron spin echo spectroscopy and by saturation recovery electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Spin-lattice relaxation times for cyano-methemoglobin and imidazole-methemoglobin were measured between 8 and 25 K by saturation recovery and between 4.2 and 20 K by electron spin echo. At low temperature the iron electron spin relaxation rates are slow relative to the iron-nitroxyl electron-electron spin-spin splitting. As temperature is increased, the relaxation rates for the Fe(III) become comparable to and then greater than the spin-spin splitting, which collapses the splitting in the continuous wave EPR spectra and causes an increase and then a decrease in the nitroxyl electron spin echo decay rate. Throughout the temperature range examined, interaction with the Fe(III) increases the spin lattice relaxation rate (1/T1) for the nitroxyl. The measured relaxation times for the Fe(III) were used to analyze the temperature-dependent changes in the spin echo decays and in the saturation recovery (T1) data for the interacting nitroxyl and to determine the interspin distance, r. The values of r for three spin-labeled methemoglobins were between 15 and 15.5 A, with good agreement between values obtained by electron spin echo and saturation recovery. Analysis of the nitroxyl spin echo and saturation recovery data also provides values of the iron relaxation rates at temperatures where the iron relaxation rates are too fast to measure directly by saturation recovery or electron spin echo spectroscopy. These results demonstrate the power of using time-domain EPR measurements to probe the distance between a slowly relaxing spin and a relatively rapidly relaxing metal in a protein.     

Characteristics of Spondylotic Myelopathy on 3D Driven-Equilibrium Fast Spin Echo and 2D Fast Spin Echo Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

In patients with spinal stenosis, magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine can be improved by using 3D driven-equilibrium fast spin echo sequences to provide a high-resolution assessment of osseous and ligamentous structures. However, it is not yet clear whether 3D driven-equilibrium fast spin echo sequences adequately evaluate the spinal cord itself. As a result, they are generally supplemented by additional 2D fast spin echo sequences, adding time to the examination and potential discomfort to the patient. Here we investigate the hypothesis that in patients with spinal stenosis and spondylotic myelopathy, 3D driven-equilibrium fast spin echo sequences can characterize cord lesions equally well as 2D fast spin echo sequences. We performed a retrospective analysis of 30 adult patients with spondylotic myelopathy who had been examined with both 3D driven-equilibrium fast spin echo sequences and 2D fast spin echo sequences at the same scanning session. The two sequences were inspected separately for each patient, and visible cord lesions were manually traced. We found no significant differences between 3D driven-equilibrium fast spin echo and 2D fast spin echo sequences in the mean number, mean area, or mean transverse dimensions of spondylotic cord lesions. Nevertheless, the mean contrast-to-noise ratio of cord lesions was decreased on 3D driven-equilibrium fast spin echo sequences compared to 2D fast spin echo sequences. These findings suggest that 3D driven-equilibrium fast spin echo sequences do not need supplemental 2D fast spin echo sequences for the diagnosis of spondylotic myelopathy, but they may be less well suited for quantitative signal measurements in the spinal cord.     

Antagonistic effects of hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure on cytochrome P-450cam spin transition.

The combined effects of hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure, generated by polyols, on the spin equilibrium of fenchone-bound cytochrome P-450cam were investigated. Hydrostatic pressure indices a high spin to low spin transition, whereas polyols induce the reversed reaction. Of the four solutes used, glycerol, glucose, stachyose, and sucrose, only the last two would act on the spin transition by osmotic stress. The spin volume changes measured by both techniques are different, 29 and -350 ml/mol for hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure, respectively. It suggests that even if the two are perturbing water molecules, different properties are probed. From the volume change induced by osmotic stress, 19 water molecules are deduced that would be implicated in the spin transition of the fenchone-bound protein. This result suggests that water molecules other than the well defined ones located in the active site play a key role in modulating the spin equilibrium of cytochrome P-450cam.     

Calculation of the g-factors of hemoproteins with the crystal field theory. Development of a 3-term model

A 3-term crystal field model is used for the calculation of the magnetic properties of ferric hemoproteins. This model includes the high spin term (6A1), the low spin term (2T2) and the quartet term (4T1). The pertubation matrix between these 3 terms caused by spin orbit coupling and ligand fields of cubic, axial and rhombic symmetry are evaluated. The g-factor of the low spin cytochrome P-450 LM2 from rabbit liver are calculated using this 3-term model and the results are compared with those from the usual 1-term model. Contrary to the 1-term model, no orbital moment correction factor is necessary. That means that the orbital moment correction factor with value > 1 simulates some term interaction, predominantly with the quartet term. The g-factors of the high spin cytochrome P-450 LM4 were also calculated by means of the 3-term model and compared with a spin hamilton treatment. A good agreement between the spin hamilton parameters derived from the experimental g-factors and those calculated by the 3-term model were obtained. For hemoproteins with strongly mixed spin states the 3-term model is also useful, contrary to 1-term models or spin hamiltonians which are completely incorrect. The 3-term model is a minimal model to describe all typical magnetic properties of low spin and high spin ferric hemoproteins with the smallest number of terms.     

A new membrane probing steroidal spin label: synthesis and applications

The applicability of a new steroidal spin label, 3-oxo-androstan-17 beta-yl-(2",2",6",6"-tetramethyl-N-oxyl) piperidyl butan-1',4'-dioate, in studying the phase transition properties of model membrane L-alpha-dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) in the presence and absence of drugs has been explored. Its synthesis and characterization has been described herein. Besides, the localization of this spin label in lipid liposomes has been studied using electron spin resonance (ESR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopic techniques. The label has also been used to study the permeability of epinephrine into membrane. The results show that the spin label has a good potential as a spin probe in the study of biomembranes.     

Chemical modification of the histidine residues of purified hepatic cytochrome P-450: influence on substrate binding and the haemoprotein spin state

A hepatic cytochrome P-450 isolated in an electrophoretically homogeneous form from phenobarbital-treated rats, exists predominantly in the low spin configuration (82% at 20 degrees C). The addition of saturating amounts of the substrate benzphetamine to this haemoprotein shifted the spin equilibrium to the high spin form, resulting in a doubling of the spin equilibrium constant from 0.220 to 0.539 at 20 degrees C. The histidine residues of this low spin, substrate-free cytochrome P-450 were modified in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with diethylpyrocarbonate, and progressive histidine modification resulted in a decrease of both the affinity and extent of substrate interaction with the haemoprotein. Although the histidine-modified haemoprotein maintained the capacity to undergo a temperature-dependent spin transition of the haem iron in the presence of saturating amounts of substrate, this capability was substantially decreased in comparison to the unmodified cytochrome. These results indicate that a histidine residue(s) is involved in the binding of substrate to cytochrome P-450 and hence interferes with the substrate-bound spin equilibrium. Our results further imply that histidine is probably not the sixth ligand of the substrate-free ferric form of the rat liver cytochrome P-450.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance reveals a large-scale conformational change in the cytoplasmic domain of phospholamban upon binding to the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase

We used EPR spectroscopy to probe directly the interaction between phospholamban (PLB) and its regulatory target, the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA). Synthetic monomeric PLB was prepared with a single cytoplasmic cysteine at residue 11, which was then spin labeled. PLB was reconstituted into membranes in the presence or absence of SERCA, and spin label mobility and accessibility were measured. The spin label was quite rotationally mobile in the absence of SERCA, but became more restricted in the presence of SERCA. SERCA also decreased the dependence of spin label mobility on PLB concentration in the membrane, indicating that SERCA reduces PLB-PLB interactions. The spin label MTSSL, attached to Cys11 on PLB by a disulfide bond, was stable at position 11 in the absence of SERCA. In the presence of SERCA, the spin label was released and a covalent bond was formed between PLB and SERCA, indicating direct interaction of one or more SERCA cysteine residues with Cys11 on PLB. The accessibility of the PLB-bound spin label IPSL to paramagnetic agents, localized in different phases of the membrane, indicates that SERCA greatly reduces the level of interaction of the spin label with the membrane surface. We propose that the cytoplasmic domain of PLB associates with the lipid surface, and that association with SERCA induces a major conformational change in PLB in which the cytoplasmic domain is drawn away from the lipid surface by SERCA.     

NMR spin trapping: detection of free radical reactions with a new fluorinated DMPO analog

Electron spin resonance (ESR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin trapping were used for detection of free radical reactions utilizing a new fluorinated analog of DMPO, 4-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-trifluoromethylpyrroline-1-oxide (FDMPO). The parent FDMPO spin trap exhibits a single 19F-NMR resonance at -66.0 ppm. The signal to noise ratio improved 10.4-fold compared to 31P-NMR sensitivity of the phosphorus-containing spin trap, DEPMPO. The spin adducts of FDMPO with .OH, .CH3, and .CH2OH were characterized. Competitive spin trapping of FDMPO with DMPO showed that both have similar rates of addition of .OH and C-centered radicals. The corresponding paramagnetic spin adducts of FDMPO were extremely stable to degradation. In the presence of ascorbate, reaction products from C-centered radicals resulted in the appearance of two additional 19F-NMR signals at -78.6 and -80 ppm for FDMPO/ .CH(3) and at -74.6 and -76.75 ppm for FDMPO/ .CH(2)OH. In each case, these peaks were assigned to the two stereoisomers of their respective, reduced hydroxylamines. The identification of the hydroxylamines for FDMPO/ .CH3 was confirmed by EPR and 19F-NMR spectra of independently synthesized samples. In summary, spin adducts of FDMPO were highly stable for ESR. For NMR spin trapping, FDMPO showed improved signal to noise and similar spin trapping efficiency compared to DEPMPO.     

A novel steroidal spin label for membrane structure studies: synthesis and applications

2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl piperidine-N-oxyl nitroxyls are known to partition between aqueous and lipid phases, thus serving as probes to study membrane dynamics. The synthesis of a novel steroidal spin label, 3alpha-hydroxycholan-24-yl-(2",2",6",6"-tetramethyl-N-oxyl)p iperidyl butan-1',4'-dioate, containing 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl moiety covalently bonded to the side chain in 3,24-caprostan-diol has been described. The localization of this spin label in model biomembranes has been studied by using electron spin resonance, differential scanning calorimetry, and 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopic techniques. Its applicability in studying the phase transition properties of model membrane L-alpha-dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline in the presence and absence of drugs has been described by using electron spin resonance. The label has also been used to study the permeability of epinephrine into membrane. The results have shown the applicability of the spin label as a potential spin probe in the study of biomembranes.     

Decay Studies of Dmpo-Spin Adducts of Free Radicals Produced by Reactions of Metmyoglobin and Methemoglobin with Hydrogen Peroxide

The 5, 5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) spin adduct of myoglobin (Mb) or hemoglobin (Hb) was formed when metmyoglobin (MetMb) or methemoglobin (MetHb) reacted with H₂O₂ in the presence of DMPO, and both decayed with half-life of a few minutes. The DMPO spin adduct of Mb decayed with biphasic kinetics with k₁ = 0.645 min^-1 and k₂ = 0.012 min^-1, indicating that the spin adduct consisted of two kinetically heterogeneous species, stable and unstable ones. The DPMO spin adduct of Hb, however, was homogeneous. Decay of both spin adducts was accelerated in the presence of tyrosine, tryptophan or cysteine, but not phenylalanine, methionine or histidine. The decay obeyed the first order kinetics at varying concentrations of the spin adducts. The decay was accelerated by denaturation and proteolysis of protein moiety. The decay rate was not affected by the extra addition of MetMb or MetHb to each spin adduct. The decay rate of the spin adduct of Mb was increased by hematin in the presence of H₂O₂ and decreased by catalase. Decay of stable spin adduct of Mb, however, was not significantly changed under any experimental conditions used. These results led us to conclude that instability of the DMPO-spin adducts of Mb and Hb is due to intramolecular redox reactions between the spin adducts and amino acid residues and/or products of the reaction between heme and H₂O₂.     

Localizing the nitroxide group of fatty acid and voltage-sensitive spin-labels in phospholipid bilayers

The intramembrane locations of several spin labeled probes in small egg phosphatidylcholine (egg PC) vesicles were determined from the enhancement of the 13C nuclear spin lattice relaxation of the membrane phospholipid. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was also used to measure the relative environmental polarities of the spin labels in egg PC vesicles, ethanol and aqueous solution. The binding location of the spin label group was determined for a pair of hydrophobic ion spin labels, a pair of long chain amphiphiles, and three stearates containing doxyl groups at the 5, 10 and 16 positions. The nuclear relaxation results indicate that the spin label groups on the stearates are located nearer to the membrane exterior than the analogous positions of the unlabeled phospholipid acyl chains. In addition, the spin label groups of the hydrophobic ions and long chain amphiphiles are located near the acyl chain methylene immediately adjacent to the carboxyl group. The relative polarities, determined by the EPR technique, are consistent with the nuclear relaxation results. This information, when combined with information on their electrical properties, allows for an assessment of the conformation and position of these voltage sensitive probes in membranes.     

Receptor-mediated generation of an EDRF-like intermediate in a neuronal cell line detected by spin trapping techniques

We have studied receptor-mediated generation of an activator of soluble guanylate cyclase in cultured mouse neuroblastoma cells (clone N1E-115) by ESR/spin trapping spectroscopy. A spin adduct was detected during the activation of muscarinic receptors by carbamylcholine in the presence of the spin trap 3,5-dibromo 4-nitrosobenzene sulphonate (DBNBS). The spin adduct does not correspond to that originating from the free radical nitric oxide or hydroxylamine. The same adduct was generated in cytosol preparations from N1E-115 cells incubated with L-arginine, NADPH, in the presence of calcium. The use of isotopically labelled guanidino-N15-L-arginine supported the generation of a DBNBS spin trapped adduct originating from the guanidino moiety of L-arginine. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) stabilized the precursor of the spin adduct as well as the activator of soluble guanylate cyclase derived from L-arginine. Our results provide direct evidence for the receptor-mediated formation of a diffusible precursor of NO. derived from L-arginine.     

On the location of the sulfhydryl group in bovine plasma albumin.

A series of spin labels has been empolyed to explore the environment of the sulfhydryl group in bovine plasma albumin. The spin labels consist of the nitroxide-free radical and a maleimide (or iodoacetamide)-attaching group separated by varying chain lenghths. Both sets of spin labels preferentially bind to the sulfhydryl group under appropriate conditions. From the change in the electron spin resonance spectra of these nitroxides as a function of chain length, we conclude that the sulfhydryl group is located in a crevice approx. 9.5 A in depth.     

Cellular spin resonance: Theory and experiment

Living and dead cells, as well as certain inanimate particles, can be made to spin in a rotating electric field, such as that produced by a four-pole electrode system. The theory for the effects and the experimental results for a number of cells are given. Yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, dead, and as protoplasts;Schizosaccharomyces octospora); an alga (Chlorella pyrenoidosa); mouse myeloma cells; human Hela cells; and several model particles were studied. Their spectra of spin response are shown to agree with the theory presented. Interestingly, live cells spin in a contrafield direction, while dead ones spin co-field in the low-frequency range. The result indicate that this new technique of cellular spin resonance (CSR) will be useful in determining the effective dielectric constant of individual cells, for the direction and magnitude of the CSR is directly proportional to the effective dielectric constant, and the spin rate can readily and directly be determined over a wide frequency range.