Interactions of metal ions with mu-monothiopyrophosphate.

mu-Monothiopyrophosphate (MTP) binds monovalent and divalent metal ions with dissociation constants (Kd) similar to those for pyrophosphate (PPi). The values of Kd for metal-MTP complexes are the following, as measured kinetically in the hydrolysis of MTP (microM): Mg2+, 32 +/- 4; Mn2+, 5.4 +/- 1.4; and Co2+, 27 +/- 15. The thermodynamically measured (EPR) values for Mg2+ and Co2+ are 28 +/- 13 microns and 11 +/- 4 microM, respectively; and the Kd for the complex MnPPi is 3.4 +/- 0.5 microM. The metal-MTP complexes undergo hydrolysis at rates modestly faster or slower than the rate at which MTP itself reacts. The complexes MgMTP2-, CoMTP2-, and MnMTP2- undergo hydrolytic cleavage with release of thiophosphate with observed first-order rate constants of 1.6 x 10(-2) min-1, 2.3 x 10(-2) min-1, and 0.6 x 10(-2) min-1, respectively, at 35 degrees C, compared with 1.1 x 10(-2) min-1 for MTP4- under the same conditions. Alkali metal cations also stimulate or retard the hydrolysis of MTP. At 25 degrees C and pH 12.2, the observed rate constant for tetramethylammonium MTP4- is 2.1 x 10(-3) min-1, and the estimated rate constants (min-1) for saturating alkali metals under the same conditions are as follows: Li+, 0.25 x 10(-3); Na+, 3.9 x 10(-3), K+, 6.7 x 10(-3); and Cs+, 6.7 x 10(-3). Divalent metal ions markedly retard the hydrolysis of MTP at pH 7 and 8 because complexation shifts the pH rate profile more than 2 pH units toward the acid side.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

DNA hydrolysis by rare-earth metal ions.

Plasmid DNA and poly(dA) are cleaved by rare-earth(III) ions at pH 7-8 and 50 degrees C. The cleavage has been confirmed by prompt conversion of supercoiled pBR 322 plasmid DNA (Form I) to a relaxed Form II. Furthermore, degradation of poly(dA) to shorter oligonucleotides is clearly evidenced by HPLC. A possible application of the metal ions (and their complexes) to artificial nucleases is indicated.     

Iron-sulphur clusters with labile metal ions.

A study has been carried out of the redox-linked metal ion uptake processes of the iron-sulphur cluster [3Fe-4S] in the bacterial ferredoxin, Fd III from Desulphovibrio africanus using a combination of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and low-temperature magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy and direct, unmediated electrochemistry of the Fd in a film deposited at a pyrolytic graphite electrode. Reduction of the three-iron cluster is required before a divalent metal ion becomes bound as in the reaction sequence [formula: see text] The redox potentials of these processes and the metal binding constants have been determined. The affinities of the [3Fe-4S]0 cluster for divalent ions lie in the sequence Cd greater than Zn much greater than Fe. In addition, specific binding of a monovalent ion, Thallium(I), is detected for [3Fe-4S]1+ as well as for [3Fe-4S]0. The results provide a clear and quantitative demonstration of the capability of the open triangular tri-mu 2-sulphido face of a [3Fe-4S] cluster to bind a variety of metal ions if the protein environment permits. In each case the entering metal ion is coordinated by at least one additional ligand which may be from solvent (H2O or OH-) or from a protein side chain (e.g., carboxylate from aspartic acid). Hence the [3Fe-4S] core can be a redox-linked sensor of divalent metal ions, Fe(II) or Zn(II), that may trigger conformational change.     

Interaction of metal ions with polynucleotides and related compounds. XXII. Effect of divalent metal ions on the conformational changes of polyribonucleotides

Changes in the conformation of poly(G), poly(C), poly(U), and poly(I) in the presence of divalent metal ions Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Zn²⁺ have been measured by means of ORD and u.v. spectra. Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions stabilize helical structures of all the polynucleotides very effectively at concentrations several orders of magnitude lower than the effective concentration of Na⁺ion. Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ destabilize the helical structure of polynucleotides to form random coils. Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Mn²⁺ions do not behave in such a clear-cut manner: they selectively stabilize some ordered structures, while destabilizing others, depending on the ligand strength of the nucleotide base as well as the preferred conformation of that polynucleotide.     

Ferritin. Binding of beryllium and other divalent metal ions

Rat liver homogenates in 0.1 M Tris, pH 7.5, were heated to 80 degrees C, cooled immediately, and centrifuged at 24,000 X g, and 7Be2+ was added to the supernatant. Twenty-five per cent of the radioactivity was bound to a single protein. It was purified to homogeneity and identified to be ferritin as judged by different criteria. These were sucrose density gradient centrifugation, electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel of the native or sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated protein, reactivity to antibodies, isoelectric focusing, and total amino acid composition. Comparative study of the ability of ferritin or apoferritin to bind Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Be2+ was conducted by using a gel equilibrium technique, Centifree micropartition technique, and microcentrifuge desalting technique. Ferritin could be saturated with Cd2+ or Zn2+ or Cu2+ but not with Be2+ even after 800 g atoms of Be2+ were bound. None of the bound Be2+ was dialyzable at 4 degrees C in 0.05 Tris acetate buffer, pH 8.5, but at pH 6.5 over 80% of the bound metal ion was dialyzed after 72 h. By contrast, apoferritin bound similar amounts of all four metal ions, some of which were dialyzable. By spectrophotometric titrations at pH 6.5 of Be2+ with sulfosalicylic acid (SSA), BeKDSSA was calculated to be 5.0 X 10(-6) M and by competition of sulfosalicyclic acid and ferritin for Be2+ the BeKDferritin was calculated to be 6.8 X 10(-6) M.     

Inhibition of HIV-1 proteinase by metal ions.

1. Certain metal ions have been identified as inhibitors (IC50 1-20 microM) of the aspartic proteinase of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-PR). 2. By contrast most simple metal ions do not inhibit this enzyme. 3. Those that did inhibit have in common a high charge/size ratio or "hard" acidic nature, preferring to combine covalently with oxygen donor ligands. 4. Some evidence from independent X-ray crystal structure determinations suggests that the metalloinhibitors identified here may bind in the active site of the enzyme via coordination to the carboxylate side chains of the essential active site residues Asp 25 and 125. 5. Although the measured inhibition is only microM, very few enzyme-inhibitor interactions can be taking place and so more complex metalloinhibitors with ligands that can also bind to peptide side chains of the enzyme might be significantly more potent inhibitors of HIV-PR and of viral replication.     

Stimulation of mitochondrial protein synthesis by metal ions.

1--10 muM Cu2+, Ag+, and Au3+ were found to stimulate rat liver mitochondrial protein synthesis in vitro. Cu2+ and Ag+ also produced an increase in mitochondrial volume ("swelling"). Thus, thyroid hormones and their analogs are not unique, as suggested previously (Buchanan, J.L., Primack, M.P. and Tapley, D.F. (1970) Endocrinology 87, 993--999), in stimulating both mitochondrial protein synthesis and swelling. Furthermore, the data suggest a role for Cu2+ in the regulation of mitochondrial protein synthesis.     

Charge-transfer interactions between metal ions and some uracil derivatives.

The interaction between Cu2+ and a few uracil derivatives has been investigated by means of electron spin resonance and optical absorption studies. It could be shown that a charge transfer interaction occurs. Its strength depends upon the electron attracting or releasing properties of the substitutents of the nucleobase.     

Ascorbic acid, metal ions and the superoxide radical.

1. No evidence could be found for production of the superoxide radical, O2-, during autoxidation of ascorbic acid at alkaline pH values. Indeed, ascorbate may be important in protection against O2- genat-d in vivo. 2. Oxidation of ascorbate at pH 10.2 was stimulated by metal ions. Stimulation by Fe2+ was abolished by superoxide dismutase, probably because of generation of O2-- during reduction of O2 by Fe2+, followed by reaction of O2-- with ascorbate. EDTA changed the mechanism of Fe2+-stimulated ascorbate oxidation. 3. Stimulation of ascorbate oxidation by Cu2+ was also decreased by superoxide dismutase, but this appears to be an artifact, since apoenzyme or bovine serum albumin showed similar effects.     

Interaction of anions and divalent metal ions with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.

The catalytic activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in rat liver cytosol is stimulated by incubating with Fe2+, Mn2+, Co2+, and Cd2+. When purified, the enzyme no longer responds to Fe2+, Co2+, or Cd2+ but retains a response to Mn2+. Low concentrations of SO4(2-) in the incubation medium with enzyme and divalent transition metal allow stimulation by Fe2+ and Co2+ and enhance the response to Mn2+. Under identical conditions, orthophosphate with Fe2+ is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme (half-maximal inhibition at 50 muM). A thiol is required in the incubation medium for the effects of Fe2+ plus sulfate or orthophosphate to be expressed. The magnitude of these effects depends on the thiol concentration. Dithiothreitol is more effective than GSH and activation by sulfate plus Fe2+ appears to require the reduced form of dithiothreitol. Sulfate ion is not considered to be the physiological Fe2+-activator of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase in rat liver cytosol, as this function is fulfilled by a newly discovered liver protein. Knowledge concerning the interaction of Fe2+ and sulfate with the enzyme may be useful in examining their interaction between the enzyme, ferrous ion, and this activator protein.     

Interactions of DNA with divalent metal ions. III. Extent of metal binding: Experiment and theory

DNA with Mn²⁺ as the only counterion has been prepared, and the extent of the Mn²⁺ binding was determined under a variety of conditions through measurements of the proton relaxation enhancement of water. The total extent of Mn²⁺ binding per DNA phosphate is found to be 0.43 ± 0.04, independent of the metal ion concentration in the experimental range of 2.8 × 10^?5 to 2.1 × 10^?3M. The predictions of Manning's condensation theory and those obtained from solution of the generalized Poisson-Boltzmann equation regarding the extent of divalent ion binding to polyelectrolytes, in the presence and absence of monovalent counterions, are compared with one another and with the experimental results. Good agreement between the two theoretical approaches is found, with less than 14% variance in the predicted extent of binding over a large range of mono- and divalent ion concentrations. While the predictions of both theoretical approaches generally agree with the experimental results, some discrepancies are noted and their possible origins discussed.     

Interactions between metal ions and carbohydrates: the coordination behavior of neutral erythritol to transition metal ions

The single crystals of coordinated complexes of neutral erythritol (C4H10O4) with various transition metal ions were synthesized and studied using FT-IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Two CuCl2-erythritol complexes (denoted as CuE(I) and CuE(II)) were obtained. In CuE(I), Cu2+ coordinates with two chloride ions and four OH groups from two erythritol molecules. Two copper centers are linked by one erythritol molecule to form a zigzag chain. For CuE(II), each Cu2+ coordinates with two OH groups from an erythritol molecule and two chloride ions. The crystal of CuE(II) contains complexed and free erythritol, the dimers of [Cu2Cl4(C4H10O4)] further form a [Cu2Cl4(C4H10O4)]infinity chain via secondary Cu...Cl bonds, both the dimer unit of [Cu2Cl4.(C4H10O4)] and non-coordinated C4H10O4 unit exist side by side in the crystal. MnCl2-erythritol complex whose structure is similar to CuE(I) is also acquired. The OH groups of erythritol act as ligand to coordinate to metal ions on one hand, one the other hand, OH groups form hydrogen bonds network that link chain and layer together to build three-dimensional structures.     

Transformation and transfection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: effects of metal ions.

The ability of different metal ions to promote transformation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by deoxyribonucleic acid of the plasmid RP1 was examined. CaCl2, MgCl2, and MnCl2 were found to promote such transformation, although at different frequencies and with the optimum response at different concentrations. Only MgCl2 promoted transfection of P. aeruginosa by the linear deoxyribonucleic acid of phage F116. CaCl2 was demonstrated to allow adsorption and entry into the cell of F116 deoxyribonucleic acid such that it became resistant to exogenous deoxyribonuclease, but phage production occurred only when MgCl2 was provided. Inactivation of linear phage deoxyribonucleic acid taken up in the absence of MgCl2 was observed. The transfection frequencies at various concentrations of MgCl2 were compared, and the optimum response occurred at the concentration which promoted the highest frequency of transformation by RP1 deoxyribonucleic acid.