Proteolytic activity of Co(III) complex of 1-oxa-4,7,10-triazacyclododecane: a new catalytic center for peptide-cleavage agents

Catalytic drugs based on target-selective artificial proteases have been proposed as a new paradigm in drug design. Peptide-cleavage agents selective for pathogenic proteins of Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus or Parkinson’s disease have been prepared using the Co(III) aqua complex (Co(III)cyclen) of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane as the catalytic center. In the present study, the Co(III) aqua complex (Co(III)oxacyclen) of 1-oxa-4,7,10-triazacyclododecane was examined in search of an improved catalytic center for peptide-cleavage agents. An X-ray crystallographic study of [Co(oxacyclen)(CO₃)](ClO₄), titration of Co(III)oxacyclen, and kinetic studies on the cleavage of albumin, γ-globulin, lysozyme, and myoglobin by Co(III)oxacyclen were carried out. Considerably higher proteolytic activity was observed for Co(III)oxacyclen in comparison with Co(III)cyclen, indicating that better target-selective artificial metalloproteases would be obtained using Co(III)oxacyclen as the catalytic center. The improved proteolytic activity was attributed to either steric effects or the increased Lewis acidity of the Co(III) center. The kinetic data also predicted that side effects due to the cleavage of nontarget proteins by a catalytic drug based on Co(III)oxacyclen would be insignificant.     

New chelating ligands for Co(III)-based peptide-cleaving catalysts selective for pathogenic proteins of amyloidoses

The Co(III) complex of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane has been employed as the catalytic center of target-selective peptide-cleaving catalysts in previous studies. As new chelating ligands for the Co(III) ion in the peptide-cleaving catalysts, 1-oxo-4,7,10-triazacyclodedecane, 1-aryl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodecane, and 7-aryl-1-oxo-4,7,10-triazacyclodecane were examined in the present study. A chemical library comprising 612 derivatives of the Co(III) complex of the new chelating ligands was constructed. The catalyst candidates were tested for their activity to cleave the soluble oligomers of amyloidogenic peptides amyloid β-42 and human islet amyloid polypeptide (h-IAPP), which are believed to be the pathogenic species for Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, respectively. One derivative of the Co(III) complex of 1-aryl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodecane was found to cleave the oligomers of h-IAPP. Cleavage products were identified and cleavage yields were measured at various catalyst concentrations for the action of the new catalyst. The present results reveal that effective catalytic drugs for amyloidoses may be obtained by using Co(III) complexes of various chelating ligands.     

Angiotensin-cleaving catalysts: conversion of N-terminal aspartate to pyruvate through oxidative decarboxylation catalyzed by Co(III)cyclen

To provide a firm basis for the new paradigm of drug discovery based on peptide-cleaving catalysts, oligopeptide-cleaving catalysts were searched for by using human angiotensin I (Ang-I) and angiotensin II (Ang-II) as the substrates. Catalyst candidates containing the Co(III) complex of cyclen as the catalytic center were prepared by multicomponent condensation reactions. From two types of chemical libraries containing about 3,600 catalyst candidates, two compounds [SS-Co(III)X and S-Co(III)Y] were selected as the most active catalysts. On incubation with SS-Co(III)X and S-Co(III)Y, both Ang-I and Ang-II were cleaved by oxidative decarboxylation instead of peptide hydrolysis: the N-terminal Asp residues of Ang-I and Ang-II were converted to pyruvate residues. Catalysts for oxidative decarboxylation of the N-terminal Asp residue contained in an oligopeptide are unprecedented in both biological and chemical systems. Detailed kinetics analysis suggested that Ang-I and Ang-II can be cleaved with half-lives much less than 1 h if the structures of the chelating ligands of the catalysts are further improved. The results indicated that the concept of the peptide-cleaving catalysts can be expanded to include oligopeptides as the targets and nonhydrolytic reactions as the means for cleavage.     

Cu(II) cyclen cleavage agent for human islet amyloid peptide

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by a substantial reduction in β-cell mass and the amyloid fibrils which are formed by the aggregation of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (h-IAPP) in the islet of Langerhans. Cleavage agents with Co(III) cyclen as the catalytic group have been studied as a novel therapeutic option for T2DM patients. However, recent research has suggested that the cytotoxicity of h-IAPP might be mediated by interactions with Cu(II); furthermore, it has been shown in vitro that Cu(II) prevents h-IAPP from forming the β-sheet conformers. Therefore, we synthesized a cleavage agent using Cu(II) cyclen. The resulting cleaved fragments and estimated cleavage yield (8.3 mol %) were evaluated after incubation with h-IAPP.     

Peptide-cleaving catalyst selective for melanin-concentrating hormone: oxidative decarboxylation of N-terminal aspartate catalyzed by Co(III)cyclen

To provide a firm basis for the new paradigm of drug discovery based on catalysts for oxidative cleavage of N-terminal aspartate (Asp) residues of oligopeptides, oligopeptide-cleaving catalysts were searched by using melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) as the substrate. MCH is a target for designing drugs to reduce obesity. Catalyst candidates containing the Co(III) complex of cyclen as the catalytic center were prepared by multicomponent condensation reactions. From three kinds of chemical libraries containing about 19,000 catalyst candidates, one compound was identified as the MCH-cleaving catalyst. On incubation with the catalyst, the N-terminal Asp residue of MCH was converted to the pyruvate residue by oxidative decarboxylation. Detailed kinetics analysis revealed the catalytic nature of the action of the catalyst. In addition, the kinetics data indicated that MCH can be cleaved with half-lives of 3 h or less with submicromolar catalyst concentrations if the structure of the catalyst is further improved.     

Chemical cleavage of plasmid DNA by Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(III) desferal complexes.

It is demonstrated that the Cu(II), Co(III) and Ni(II) complexes of a siderophore chelating drug desferal cleave DNA, in contrast to the corresponding Fe(II) complex which does not bring about DNA scission. Hydroxy radical scavengers inhibit the cleavage reaction.     

Synthesis and DNA-cleavage properties of metal complexes of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) functionalized with a pendant benzocrown ether

The synthesis and DNA-cleavage properties of a series of novel mononuclear Zn(II), Cu(II), and Co(II) complexes 2 of a crown-ether-functionalized cyclen ligand is described. The Cu complex 2b displayed the highest catalytic activity towards pUC 19 DNA. The effects of reaction time, complex concentration, and pH were investigated, showing that 2b readily and efficiently converts supercoiled (type I ) plasmid DNA to nicked (type II) DNA under physiological conditions (37 degrees, pH 7.4).     

Metal complexes as artificial proteases: toward catalytic drugs

Catalytic cleavage of the backbone of a protein related to a disease may cure the disease. Owing to the catalytic nature of the protein inactivation, the drug dosage and the side effects can be reduced with the catalytic drugs. Catalytic drugs can be designed even for proteins lacking active sites. Effective artificial proteases have been designed for proteins or oligomers of oligopeptides. The Co(III) complex of cyclen has been used as the catalytic center for peptide hydrolysis. Binding sites of the catalysts that recognize the targets have been searched by using various kinds of chemical libraries. Some of the artificial metalloproteases reported till date offer a new therapeutic option for amyloidoses (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, mad cow's disease, etc.).     

Redox-dependent structural changes in an engineered heme-copper center in myoglobin: insights into chloride binding to CuB in heme copper oxidases

The effects of chloride on the redox properties of an engineered binuclear heme-copper center in myoglobin (Cu(B)Mb) were studied by UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry and EPR spectroscopy. A low-spin heme Fe(III)-Cu(I) intermediate was observed during the redox titration of Cu(B)Mb only in the presence of both Cu(II) and chloride. Upon the first electron transfer to the Cu(B) center, one of the His ligands of Cu(B) center dissociates and coordinates to the heme iron, forming a six-coordinate low-spin ferric heme center and a reduced Cu(B) center. The second electron transfer reduces the ferric heme and causes the release of the coordinated His ligand. Thus, the fully reduced state of the heme-copper center contains a five-coordinate ferrous heme and a reduced Cu(B) center, ready for O(2) binding and reduction to water to occur. In the absence of a chloride ion, formation of the low-spin heme species was not observed. These redox reactions are completely reversible. These results indicate that binding of chloride to the Cu(B) center can induce redox-dependent structural changes, and the bound chloride and hydroxide in the heme-copper center may play different roles in the redox-linked enzymatic reactions of heme-copper oxidases, probably because of their different binding affinity to the copper center and the relatively high concentration of chloride under physiological conditions.     

Cell-penetration by Co(III)cyclen-based peptide-cleaving catalysts selective for pathogenic proteins of amyloidoses

Derivatives of the Co(III) complex of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) with various organic pendants have been reported as target-selective peptide-cleaving catalysts, which can be exploited as catalytic drugs. In order to provide a firm basis for the catalytic drugs based on Co(III)cyclen, the ability of the Co(III)cyclen-containing peptide-cleaving catalysts to penetrate animal cells such as mouse fibroblast NIH-3T 3 or human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells is demonstrated in the present study. Since the catalysts destroy pathogenic proteins for amyloidoses, results of the present study are expected to initiate extensive efforts to obtain therapeutically safe catalytic drugs for amyloidoses such as Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, mad cow disease, and so on.     

A chelate complex‐enhanced luminol system for selective determination of Co(II), Fe(II) and Cr(III)

A determination method for Co(II), Fe(II) and Cr(III) ions by luminol‐H₂O₂ system using chelating reagents is presented. A metal ion‐chelating ligand complex with a Co(II) ion and a chelating reagent like ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) produced highly enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) intensity as well as longer lifetime in the luminol‐H₂O₂ system compared to metals that exist as free ions. Whereas free Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions had a strong catalytic effect on the luminol‐H₂O₂ system, significantly, the complexes of Cu(II) and Pb(II) with chelating reagents lost their catalytic activity due to the chelating reagents acting as masking agents. Based on the observed phenomenon, it was possible to determine Co(II), Fe(II) and Cr(III) ions with enhanced sensitivity and selectivity using the chelating reagents of the luminol‐H₂O₂ system. The effects of ligand, H₂O₂ concentration, pH, buffer solution and concentrations of chelating reagents on CL intensity of the luminol‐H₂O₂ system were investigated and optimized for the determination of Co(II), Fe(II) and Cr(III) ions. Under optimized conditions, the calibration curve of metal ions was linear over the range of 2.0 × 10^‐8 to 2.0 × 10^‐5 M for Co(II), 1.0 × 10^‐7 to 2.0 × 10^‐5 M for Fe (II) and 2.0 × 10^‐7 to 1.0 × 10^‐4 M for Cr(III). Limits of detection (3σ/s) were 1.2 × 10^‐8, 4.0 × 10^‐8 and 1.2 × 10^‐7 M for Co(II), Fe(II) and Cr(III), respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Negative cooperativity of chicken ovotransferrin on Al(III)-binding

Chicken ovotransferrin, an iron binding protein, has two metal binding sites (amino (N) and carboxy (C) terminal sites). It binds Cu(II), Al(III), Co(II), and other metals, as well as Fe(III). In this study, the selectivity and cooperativity of the N and C sites on Al(III), Co(II), and Tb(III) binding were investigated. Metals were classified into two groups according to their site preference. Co(II) and Al(III) bound to the N site more preferably than to the C site, whereas Tb(III) bound to the C site more preferably. On Fe(III) binding, the binding constant of Fe(III) becomes larger when the other site is already occupied. Thus, positive cooperativity is seen. In the present study, the binding cooperativities of Co(II), Tb(III), and Al(III) as to the N and C sites were investigated. On Co(II) and Tb(III) binding, no cooperativity was observed, as in the case of Cu(II) [Yamamura, T. et al. (1985) in Proteins of Iron Storage and Transport (Spik, G., Montreuil, J., Crichton, R.R., & Mazurier, J., eds.) pp. 53-56, Elsevier Science Publ. B.V., Amsterdam]. In contrast, negative cooperativity was observed on Al(III) binding. Based on a model proposed by Yamamura et al. [Yamamura, T. et al. (1985) ibid.], the ratio of the binding constants, KC/KN, and the stacking coefficient, Kst, were estimated. KC/KN is 2.2 +/- 0.4 for the Tb(III) ion, 0.5 +/- 0.1 for the Co(II) ion, and 0.12 +/- 0.02 for the Al(III) ion. Kst (= 1 in a non-cooperative case) is 0.98 +/- 0.02 for the Tb(III) ion, 1.03 +/- 0.02 for the Co(II) ion, and 0.55 +/- 0.22 for the Al(III) ion.     

Bis-bidentate bridging ligands containing two N,O-chelating pyrazolyl-phenolate units; double helical complexes with Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)

Two ligands have been prepared in which N,O-bidentate chelating pyrazolyl-phenolate units, based on 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazole, are connected via methylene linkages to aromatic (1,4-phenylene or 3,3′-biphenylene) spacers. In each case the two N,O-donor units are too far apart to chelate to a single metal ion. Complexes of both ligands with Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) were prepared and structurally characterised; in all cases the complexes are dinuclear double helicates M₂L₂, with each four-coordinate metal ion bound by a chelating unit from each of the two ligands in the complex. For Co(II) and Zn(II) the two M(NO) planes at each metal are close to perpendicular, indicative of a geometry which may be described as approximately distorted tetrahedral; for the Cu(II) complexes the angle between the two Cu(NO) planes is less, indicative of a distortion towards a more planar coordination geometry.     

The conjugates of uracil-cyclen Zn(II) complexes: synthesis, characterization, and their interaction with plasmid DNA

As an important nucleobase in RNA, uracil was introduced into the side chain of cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) by using phenylene dimethylene group as bridge. The target compounds 5 were obtained in high yields. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that the uracil-cyclen conjugates can bind Zn(2+) cation rapidly in water, and the catalytic activities of their Zn(II) complexes 6 in DNA cleavage were also studied. The results showed that Zn(II) complexes can catalyze the cleavage of supercoiled DNA (pUC 19 plasmid DNA) (Form I) to produce nicked DNA (Form II and Form III) with high selectivity. In water solution, complex 6b may form a unique and stable supramolecular structure, which benefits the DNA cleavage process.     

DNA cleavage by novel copper (II) complex and the role of beta-cyclodextrin in promoting cleavage

A new cyclen derivative N-1-naphthyl-[4-amino-5-oxo-5-(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl)]valeramide and the copper (II) complex were synthesized and characterized. The copper (II) complex showed DNA cleavage ability without the existence of other additives. The pUC19 plasmid DNA was cleaved to linear form by 0.71 microM of complex under physiological conditions. beta-Cyclodextrin was used to investigate the relationship of nuclease activity and DNA binding ability. The addition of beta-cyclodextrin exhibited an unexpected ability to promote the cleavage of DNA. The role of the beta-cyclodextrin in DNA cleavage process was studied by (1)H NMR and fluorescence spectrum. According to the data of viscosity measurement, it was confirmed that the binding of complex with DNA should be a groove binding model. All the results suggested that the increasing of the DNA cleavage ability was attributed to the interaction between beta-cyclodextrin and the naphthyl moieties. beta-Cyclodextrin could include the naphthyl moieties and keep it from the minor/major groove of DNA and decreased the DNA binding ability, therefore, the copper (II) center was activated to generate more reactive oxygen species, which was responsible for DNA cleavage.     

Metal-directed affinity labeling of zinc(II), cobalt(II) and cadmium(II) horse liver alcohol dehydrogenases

The active site metal in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase has been studied by metal-directed affinity labeling of the native zinc(II) enzyme and that substituted with cobalt(II) or cadmium(II). Reversible binding of bromoimidazolyl propionic acid to the cobalt enzyme blueshifts the visible absorption band originating from the catalytic cobalt atom at 655 to 630 nm. Binding of imidazole to the cobalt(II) enzyme redshifts the 655 nm band to 667 nm. Addition of bromoimidazolyl propionic acid blueshifts this 667 nm band back to 630 nm. This proves direct binding of the label to the active site metal in competition with imidazole. The affinity of the label for the reversible binding site in the three enzymes follows the order Zn ? Cd ? Co. After reversible complex formation, bromoimidazolyl propionic acid alkylates cysteine-46, one of the protein ligands to the active site metal. The nucleophilic reactivity of this metal-mercaptide bond in each reversible complex follows the order Co ? Zn ? Cd.     

Drug binding by branched DNA: selective interaction of tetrapyridyl porphyrins with an immobile junction

The differential binding of a number of water-soluble cationic porphyrins to a branched DNA molecule is reported. Tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridiniumyl)porphine (H2TMpyP-4) interacts near the branch point with an immobile DNA junction formed from four 16-mer strands. Its Cu(II) and Ni(II) derivatives show stronger preferential binding in the neighborhood of the branch point. Axially liganded derivatives, Zn, Co, and Mn, also interact near this branch point, but in a different way. We use the reagents methidiumpropyl-EDTA.Fe(II) [MPE.Fe(II)] and bis(o-phenanthroline)copper(I) [(OP)2Cu(I)] to cleave complexes of DNA duplex controls and the junction with these porphyrins. The resulting cleavage patterns are consistent with previous evidence that the branch point provides a strong site for intercalative binding agents, which is not available in unbranched duplexes of identical sequence. The preferential scission by (OP)2Cu(I) in the presence of Ni and Cu porphyrins near the branch point exceeds that seen for any agents we have studied. This hyperreactivity is not seen in the case of porphyrins with axial ligands, ZnTMpyP-4, CoTMpyP-4, and MnTMpyP-4, although these also interact near the branch point. The Zn derivative tends to protect sites close to the branch point from cutting, while the Co and Mn porphyrins moderately enhance cleavage of sites in this region.     

Synthesis of a novel linear polymer of a macrocyclic polyamine copper (II) complex and its interaction with plasmid DNA

The novel linear polymer of a macrocyclic polyamine copper (II) complex, which has many cyclen groups linked by epichlorohydrin, has been synthesized as a DNA cleavage agent. The structure of the polymer 3 was identified by 1HNMR and IR and its molecular weight was measured by GPC. The result of agarose gel electrophoresis assay showed that Cu-(II) complex 4 could act as a powerful catalyst for the cleavage of plasmid DNA under physiological conditions.     

Synthesis and DNA‐Cleavage Activities of Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes of Urea‐Bridged Macrocyclic Polyamines

Two dinuclear macrocyclic polyamine copper(II) (Cu^II) complexes, which have two cyclen units linked by urea, were synthesized as DNA‐cleavage agents. The structures of these new dinuclear complexes were identified by HR‐ESI‐MS and IR analyses. The catalytic activities of DNA cleavage of these dinuclear Cu^II complexes were subsequently studied. The results show that 6a was the better catalyst in the DNA‐cleavage process than 6b . The effects of reaction time and concentration of complexes were also investigated. The results indicate, that the Cu^II complexes could catalyze the cleavage of supercoiled DNA (pUC 19 plasmid DNA; Form I) under physiological conditions to produce selectively nicked DNA (Form II; no Form III was produced) with high yields (nearly 100%) in short time in the absence of reductant or oxidant.     

Crystal structures of manganese- and cobalt-substituted myoglobin in complex with NO and nitrite reveal unusual ligand conformations

Nitrite is now recognized as a storage pool of bioactive nitric oxide (NO). Hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) convert, under certain conditions, nitrite to NO. This newly discovered nitrite reductase activity of Hb and Mb provides an attractive alternative to mammalian NO synthesis from the NO synthase pathway that requires dioxygen. We recently reported the X-ray crystal structure of the nitrite adduct of ferric horse heart Mb, and showed that the nitrite ligand binds in an unprecedented O-binding (nitrito) mode to the d(5) ferric center in Mb(III)(ONO) [D.M. Copeland, A. Soares, A.H. West, G.B. Richter-Addo, J. Inorg. Biochem. 100 (2006) 1413-1425]. We also showed that the distal pocket in Mb allows for different conformations of the NO ligand (120 degrees and 144 degrees ) in Mb(II)NO depending on the mode of preparation of the compound. In this article, we report the crystal structures of the nitrite and NO adducts of manganese-substituted hh Mb (a d(4) system) and of the nitrite adduct of cobalt-substituted hh Mb (a d(6) system). We show that the distal His64 residue directs the nitrite ligand towards the rare nitrito O-binding mode in Mn(III)Mb and Co(III)Mb. We also report that the distal pocket residues allow a stabilization of an unprecendented bent MnNO moiety in Mn(II)MbNO. These crystal structural data, when combined with the data for the aquo, methanol, and azide MnMb derivatives, provide information on the role of distal pocket residues in the observed binding modes of nitrite and NO ligands to wild-type and metal-substituted Mb.