Probing the coordination properties of glutathione with transition metal ions (Cr2+,Mn2+,Fe2+,Co2+, Ni2+,Cu2+,Zn2+,Cd2+,Hg2+) by density functional theory

Complexes formed by reduced glutathione (GSH) with metal cations (Cr²⁺, Mn²⁺,Fe²⁺,Co²⁺,Ni²⁺,Cu²⁺,Zn²⁺,Cd²⁺,Hg²⁺) were systematically investigated by the density functional theory (DFT). The results showed that the interactions of the metal cations with GSH resulted in nine different stable complexes and many factors had an effect on the binding energy. Generally, for the same period of metal ions, the binding energies ranked in the order of Cu²⁺>Ni²⁺>Co²⁺>Fe²⁺>Cr²⁺>Zn²⁺>Mn²⁺; and for the same group of metal ions, the general trend of binding energies was Zn²⁺>Hg²⁺>Cd²⁺. Moreover, the amounts of charge transferred from S or N to transition metal cations are greater than that of O atoms. For Fe²⁺,Co²⁺,Ni²⁺,Cu²⁺,Zn²⁺,Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ complexes, the values of the Wiberg bond indices (WBIs) of M-S (M denotes metal cations) were larger than that of M-N and M-O; for Cr²⁺ complexes, most of the WBIs of M-O in complexes were higher than that of M-S and M-N. Furthermore, the changes in the electron configuration of the metal cations before and after chelate reaction revealed that Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺,Co²⁺ and Hg²⁺ had obvious tendencies to be reduced to Cu⁺,Ni⁺,Co⁺ and Hg⁺ during the coordination process.     

Metal complexes of polyesters

Polyesters obtained from 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid and 1,n-alkanediols were used to complexate the metal ions Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ga³⁺, In³⁺, Bi³⁺, Si⁴⁺, Ce³⁺, UO₂²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mn³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺. The metal ions are always six-coordinated with additional ligands (mostly H₂O) besides the four from the polyester system. The H₂O-ligands can be removed by heating in vacuum, as was proven for the complexes of Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺, and are added again in moist air. For the waterfree Ni²⁺-complex a tetrahedral surrounding is suggested by magnetic measurements. Polymerization degrees of the polyesters were found to be 30–70 by the membrane osmometric method. Thermal stabilities of the metal complexes (200– 300 °C) are less than those of the polyesters themselves (300–350 °C).     

Calcium signaling mediates the response to cadmium toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells

The involvement of Ca²⁺ in the response to high Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺ was investigated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yeast cells responded through a sharp increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺ when exposed to Cd²⁺, and to a lesser extent to Cu²⁺, but not to Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, or Hg²⁺. The response to high Cd²⁺ depended mainly on external Ca²⁺ (transported through the Cch1p/Mid1p channel) but also on vacuolar Ca²⁺ (released into the cytosol through the Yvc1p channel). The adaptation to high Cd²⁺ was influenced by perturbations in Ca²⁺ homeostasis. Thus, the tolerance to Cd²⁺ often correlated with sharp Cd²⁺-induced cytosolic Ca²⁺ pulses, while the Cd²⁺ sensitivity was accompanied by the incapacity to rapidly restore the low cytosolic Ca²⁺.     

Enzymatic detection of heavy metal ions in aqueous solution from vegetable wastes by immobilizing pumpkin (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis melo</Emphasis>) urease in calcium alginate beads

Enzyme urease is extracted from the discarded seeds of pumpkin. Urease was purified to apparent homogeneity (5.2 fold) by heat treatment at 48 ± 1°C and gel filtration through Sephadex G-200. Effect of model metal ions on the activity of the homogeneous enzyme preparation (sp. activity 353 U/mg protein, A₂₈₀/A₂₆₀ = 1.12) of soluble as well as immobilized enzyme was investigated. The soluble and immobilized urease has been used for the quantitative estimation of general water pollution with heavy metal ions like Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Co²⁺. The measurements of the urease residual activity have been carried out in tris-acetate buffer after pre-incubation of model metal salt. The inhibition was found to be biphasic with an initial rapid loss of activity and remainder in slow phase of 10∼15 min. The immobilization was done in 3.5% alginate beads leading to 86% of entrapment. There was no leaching of the enzyme over a period of 15 days at 4°C. The beads were fairly stable up to 50°C and exhibited activity even at −10°C. The inhibition by these ions was non-competitive and irreversible, hence could not be restored by dialysis. Based on the values of inhibition constant Ki the heavy-metal ions were found to inhibit urease in the following order Hg²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Co²⁺.     

Heavy metal ions affect the activity of DNA glycosylases of the Fpg family

Prokaryotic enzymes formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) and endonuclease VIII (Nei) and their eukaryotic homologs NEIL1, NEIL2, and NEIL3 define the Fpg family of DNA glycosylases, which initiate the process of repair of oxidized DNA bases. The repair of oxidative DNA lesions is known to be impaired in vivo in the presence of ions of some heavy metals. We have studied the effect of salts of several alkaline earth and transition metals on the activity of Fpg-family DNA glycosylases in the reaction of excision of 5,6-dihydrouracil, a typical DNA oxidation product. The reaction catalyzed by NEIL1 was characterized by values K _m = 150 nM and k _cat = 1.2 min⁻¹, which were in the range of these constants for excision of other damaged bases by this enzyme. NEIL1 was inhibited by Al³⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Fe²⁺ in Tris-HCl buffer and by Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe²⁺ in potassium phosphate buffer. Fpg and Nei, the prokaryotic homologs of NEIL1, were inhibited by the same metal ions as NEIL1. The values of I₅₀ for NEIL1 inhibition were 7 μM for Cd²⁺, 16 μM for Zn²⁺, and 400 μM for Cu²⁺. The inhibition of NEIL1 by Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺ was at least partly due to the formation of metal-DNA complexes. In the case of Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺, which preferentially bind to DNA bases rather than phosphates, the presence of metal ions caused the enzyme to lose the ability for preferential binding to damaged DNA. Therefore, the inhibition of NEIL1 activity in removal of oxidative lesions by heavy metal ions may be a reason for their comutagenicity under oxidative stress.     

Effect of divalent metal ions on the microsomal aniline hydroxylase system of rainbow trout

The ability of trout to metabolize aniline in vitro in the presence of some divalent metal ions was investigated in the liver microsomes of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. Trout liver microsomes were highly capable of catalyzing aniline hydroxylation to p-aminophenol with a specific activity of 0.068 nmoles/min per mg of microsomal protein in potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 at 25°C. The activity of the aniline hydroxylase system was competitively inhibited by Hg⁺², Ni⁺², Cd⁺², and Zn⁺², while Cu⁺² and Fe⁺³ seemed to inhibit the activity noncompetitively at 1 mM aniline concentrations. IC₅₀ values at fixed aniline concentration were estimated to be 0.45 mM for Hg⁺², Ni⁺², and Cd⁺², 1.8 mM for Zn⁺² and Fe⁺³, and 1.3 mM for Cu⁺². Eadie-Hofstee plots gave identical V_max values of approximately 0.046 nmol/min per mg of protein while K_m values were increased in the presence of Hg⁺², Ni⁺², CD⁺², and Zn⁺², indicating competitive inhibition. Both K_m and V_max values were affected by Fe⁺³ and Cu⁺², suggesting noncompetitive inhibition. K_i values extracted from the Dixon plots were determined t be 0.23, 0.43, and 0.65 mM for Hg⁺², Ni⁺², and Cd⁺², respectively, providing the most effective inhibition on the aniline hydroxylase system among studied metal ions. The K_i values were much higher in the presence of others. The results indicate a selective inhibition of the aniline hydroxylase system of trout liver microsomes by divalent metal ions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chemical and functional characterization of metal-binding pseudotripeptides with different functionalized N-alkyl residues Dedicated to Professor Dr. Ernst-Gottfried Jaeger on occasion of his 65th birthday

Summary Pseudotripeptide ligands with 4 different N-functionalized glycine residues were qualitatively, semiquantitatively and quantitatively tested for their complexation of the bivalent transition metal ions Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺. The functional side chains have different length and different groups available for complexation. MALDI-MS and ESI-MS were used for more qualitative or semiquantitative estimation of the complex formation tendencies. The found ranking differs by these two methods only for Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺. For one of the pseudotripeptide ligands, the ligand L1, complex formation with certain transition metal was estimated quantitatively by potentiometric titration. The Zn-complex of that ligand polarizes bound water strongly, resulting in a low pK _a -value. Complexes of pseudotripeptide ligand L1 with certain metal ions were tested for their hydrolytic activity. The pseudo first order rate constants of the hydrolysis of the substrates 4-nitrophenyl acetate and bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate were compared to complexes with the same metal ions formed with a very well studied ligand from the literature, the 1,4,7,10-tetraaza cyclododecane (cyclen). The hydrolysis of the phosphate ester occurs very slowly compared to the acetate ester. No correlation exists between the estimated pK _a values of complexes formed from ligand L1 with different metal ions and the phosphate ester hydrolysis. The Ni ions give totally different hydrolytic activities for pseudotripeptide ligand L1 and cyclen. With one exception, the Ni-cyclen complex, all other complexes have only a low or moderate catalytic activity. Dedicated to Professor Dr. Ernst-Gottfried Jaeger on occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Theoretical insights into the metal chelating and antimicrobial properties of the chalcone based Schiff bases

The emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens in infectious disease conditions accentuates the need for the design of new classes of antimicrobial agents that could defeat the multidrug resistance problems. As a new class of molecules, the Heterocyclic Schiff base is of considerable interest, owing to their preparative accessibility, structural flexibilities, versatile metal chelating properties, and inherent biological activities. In the present study, CAM-B3LYP/LANL2DZ and M062X/DEF2-TZVP level of density functional method is used to explore the complexation of chalcone based Schiff base derivatives by Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ metal ions. The HL(1-3)-Co²⁺, HL(1-3)-Ni²⁺ and HL(1-3)-Zn²⁺ complexes formed the distorted tetrahedral geometry. Whereas, the HL(1-3)-Cu²⁺ complexes prefers distorted square-planar geometry. The BSSE corrected interaction energies of the studied complexes reveals that Cu²⁺ ion forms the most stable complexes with all three chalcone based Schiff bases. Of the three Schiff bases studied, the HL2 Schiff base acts as a potent chelating agent and forms the active metal complexes than the HL1 and HL3 Schiff bases. Further, the strength of the interaction follows the order as Cu^2+?>?Ni^2+?>?Co^2+?>?Zn²⁺. The QTAIM analysis reveals that the interaction between the metal ions and coordinating ligand atoms are electrostatic dominant. The metal interaction increases the π-delocalisation of electrons over the entire chelate. Hence, the antimicrobial activity of the metal complexes is more effective than the free Schiff bases. Moreover, the HL(1-3)-Cu²⁺ complexes shows higher antimicrobial activities than the other complexes studied.     

Effects of Metal Ions on the Conformation and Activity of Acutolysin D from Agkistrodon Acutus Venom

Acutolysin D, isolated from the venom of Agkistrodon acutus, possesses marked haemorrhagic and proteolytic activities. The molecular weight and the absorption coefficients (A ^1% ₂₈₀) of acutolyisn D have been determined to be 47,850 ± 8 amu and 9.3 by mass spectrometer and UV spectrum, respectively. The effects of metal ions on the conformation and activity of acutolysin D have been studied by following fluorescence, circular dichroism and biological activity measurements. Acutolysin D contains two Ca²⁺-binding sites and two Zn²⁺-binding sites determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Zn²⁺ is essential for the enzyme activities of acutolysin D, however, the presence of 1 mM Zn²⁺ significantly decreases its caseinolytic activity and intrinsic fluorescence intensity at pH 9.0 due to Zn(OH)₂ precipitate formation. Ca²⁺ is important for the structural integrity of acutolysin D, and the presence of 1 mM Ca²⁺ markedly enhances its caseinolytic activity. Interestingly, the caseinolytic activity which is inhibited partly by Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺ or Tb³⁺ and inhibited completely by Cd²⁺, is enhanced by Mg²⁺. The fluorescence intensity of the protein decreases in the presence of Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Cd²⁺ or Mn²⁺, but neither for Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ nor for Tb³⁺. Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Tb³⁺ have slight effects on its secondary structure contents. In addition, Cd²⁺ causes a marked increase of antiparallel β-sheet content from 45.5% to 60.2%.     

Sorption of Heavy Metal Cations by Corn Mitochondria and the Effects on Electron and Energy Transfer Reactions

The passive sorption of Pb⁺², Cd⁺², Zn⁺², Co⁺², Ni⁺², and Mn⁺² by isolated corn mitochondria was determined, and, except for Pb⁺², the maximum sorption for each cation was about 58 nmol per milligram of protein. Sorption of Pb⁺² was apparently ten times greater, but precipitation may have been the cause of this larger value. The effects of Pb⁺², Cd⁺², Zn⁺², Co⁺², and Ni⁺² on acceptorless rates of electron transport for three substrates were determined. Greater than 50% inhibitions of oxidation were observed for succinate after additions of >0.1 mM Cd⁺², Zn⁺², or Pb⁺²: for NADH after additions of >0.5 mM Cd⁺² or Zn⁺²; and for malate + pyruvate after additions of >0.1 mM Cd⁺². Some inhibition of the rate of substrate oxidation was observed for most cations at higher concentrations. Coupling, as measured by ADP/O ratios, was inhibited at lowest concentrations by Cd⁺² or Zn⁺² and at higher concentrations by Co⁺² or Ni⁺². Substantial swelling of mitochondria oxidizing succinate was observed following additions of O.1 mM Cd⁺² or Pb⁺², Correlations are drawn between the effects of Pb⁺², Cd⁺², Zn⁺², Co⁺², and Ni⁺² and their sorption to mitochondrial membranes.     

Some metals inhibit the glutathione S‐transferase from Van Lake fish gills

Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) are the superfamily of multifunctional detoxification isoenzymes and play important role cellular signaling. The present article focuses on the role of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ag⁺ in vitro inhibition of GST. For this purpose, GST was purified from Van Lake fish (Chalcalburnus tarichii Pallas) gills with 110.664 EU mg^?1 specific activity and 79.6% yield using GSH‐agarose affinity chromatographic method. The metal ions were tested at various concentrations on in vitro GST activity. IC₅₀ values were found for Cd⁺², Cu⁺², Zn⁺², Ag⁺ as 450.32, 320.25, 1510.13, and 16.43 μM, respectively. K _i constants were calculated as 197.05 ± 105.23, 333.10 ± 152.76, 1670.21 ± 665.43, and 0.433 ± 0.251 μM, respectively. Ag⁺ showed better inhibitory effect compared with the other metal ions. The inhibition mechanisms of Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ were non‐competitive, whereas Zn²⁺ and Ag⁺ were competitive. Co²⁺, Cr²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Fe³⁺ had no inhibitory activity on GST.     

Hemolysis of human red blood cells induced by the combination of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and divalent metals: Modulation by anaerobiosis,certain antioxidants and oxidants

The objective of the present communication is to describe the role played by combinations between diethydithiocarbamate (DDC) and divalent metals in hemolysis of human RBC. RBC which had been treated with DDC (10–50 μM) were moderately hemolyzed (about 50%) upon the addition of subtoxic amounts of Cu²⁺ (50 μM). However, a much stronger and a faster hemolysis occurred either if mixtures of RBC-DDC were immediately treated either by Co²⁺ (50 μM) or by a premixture of Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ (Cu:Co) (50 μM).

While Fe²⁺ and Ni²⁺, at 50 μM, initiated 30–50% hemolysis when combined with DDC (50 μM), on a molar basis, Cd²⁺ was at least 50 fold more efficient than any of the other metals in the initiation of hemolysis by DDC. On the other hand, neither Mn²⁺ nor Zn²⁺, had any hemolysis-initiating effects. Co²⁺ was the only metal which totally blocked hemolysis if added to DDC prior to the addition of the other metals.

Hemolysis by mixtures of DDC + (Cu:Co) was strongly inhibited by anaerobiosis (flushing with nitrogen gas), by the reducing agents glutathione, N-acetyl cysteine, mercaptosuccinate, ascorbate, TEMPO, and α-tocopherol, by the PLA₂ inhibitor bromophenacylbromide (BrPACBr), by tetracycline as well as by phosphatidyl choline, cholesterol and by trypan blue. However, TEMPO, BrPACBr and PC were the only agents which inhibited hemolysis induced by DDC:Cd²⁺ complexes.

On the other hand, none of the classical scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) employed e.g dimethylthiourea, catalase, histidine, mannitol, sodium benzoate, nor the metal chelators desferal and phenanthroline, had any appreciable inhibitory effects on hemolysis induced by DDC + (Cu:Co).

DDC oxidized by H₂O₂ lost its capacity to act in concert either with Cu²⁺ or with Cd²⁺ to hemolyze RBC.

While either heating RBC to temperatures greater than 37°C or exposure of the cells to glucose-oxidase-generated peroxide diminished their susceptibility to hemolysis, exposure to the peroxyl radical from AAPH, enhanced hemolysis by DDC + (Cu:Co).

The cyclovoltammetry patterns of DDC were drastically changed either by Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ or by Cd²⁺ suggesting a strong interaction of the metals with DDC. Also, while the absorbance spectrum of DDC at 280 nm was decreased by 50% either by Co²⁺, Cd²⁺ or by H₂O₂, a 90% reduction in absorbance occurred if DDC + H₂O₂ mixtures were treated either by Cu²⁺ or by Co²⁺, but not by Cd²⁺.

Taken together, it is suggested that DDC-metal chelates can induce hemolysis by affecting the stability and the integrity of the RBC membrane, and possibly also of the cytoskeleton and the role played by reducing agents as inhibitors might be related to their ability to deplete oxygen which is also supported by the inhibitory effects of anaeobiosis.     

Composition and metal ion complexation behavour of humic fractions derived from corn tissue

Decomposition of fresh plant residues produces humic fractions with different molecular size and composition. It was hypothesized that the functional group-type and content of humic fractions depended on molecular size, which was expected to influence heavy-metal complexation behavior. In this study, corn (Zea maysL.) stalks and leaves were collected from the field and decomposed for an 8-month period to produce humic substances which were separated into three water soluble fractions, HF1, HF2 and HF3, from highest to lowest relative molecular size. Functional group determination showed that total, carboxylic and phenolic OH acidity increased as relative molecular size of humic fractions decreased. Furthermore, C/O ratios decreased, whereas N/C and H/C ratios remained relatively unaffected as relative molecular size of humic fractions decreased. Formation of Ca²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ -humic fraction complexes and how these complexes were affected by pH and relative (humic fraction) molecular size were studied using potentiometric titration. Metal-humic complexes exhibited at least two types of sites with respect to Ca²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ complexation. Relative molecular size had a large significant influence on total metal-ion complexation, but it had a relatively small influence on complex stability at low levels of metal-ion complexation. Strength of metal-ion humic complexes followed the order Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Ca²⁺ and was affected by pH, especially for low affinity sites. Carboxylic and phenolic OH groups were most likely involved in complex formation. Magnitude of the metal-humic formation constants at the lowest equilibrium metal-ion concentration, under the various pH values tested, varied from 5.39 to 5.90 for Ca²⁺, from 5.36 to 6.01 for Cd²⁺ and from 6.93 to 7.71 for Cu²⁺. Furthermore, the formation constants appeared to be positively influenced by decreasing molecular size of water-soluble humic fraction, and increasing pH. These results inferred that soil management practices causing build-up of humic substances would affect mobility and bioavailability of metal-ions.     

Resistance and bioaccumulation of Cd2+, Cu2+, Co2+ and Mn2+ by thermophilic bacteria, Geobacillus thermantarcticus and Anoxybacillus amylolyticus

In this study, bioaccumulation and heavy metal resistance of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions by thermophilic Geobacillus thermantarcticus and Anoxybacillus amylolyticus was investigated. The bacteria, in an order with respect to metal resistance from the most resistant to the most sensitive, was found to be Mn²⁺ > Co²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺ for both G. thermantarcticus and A. amylolyticus. It was determined that the highest metal bioaccumulation was performed by A. amylolyticus in Mn²⁺ (28,566 μg/g dry weight), and the lowest metal bioaccumulation was performed by A. amylolyticus in Co²⁺ (327.3 μg/g dry weight). The highest Cd²⁺ capacities of dried cell membrane was found to be 36.07 and 39.55 mg/g membrane for G. thermantarticus and A. amylolyticus, respectively, and the highest Cd²⁺ capacities of wet cell membrane was found to be 14.36 and 12.39 mg/g membrane for G. thermantarcticus and A. amylolyticus, respectively.     

Characterization of the Effects of Divalent Cations on the Coupled Activities of the H-ATPase in Tonoplast Vesicles

The substrate requirement of the H⁺-ATPase in purified corn root tonoplast vesicles was investigated. The coupled activities, ATP hydrolysis and proton pumping, were simultaneously supported only by Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺. The presence of Ca²⁺ or Ba²⁺ did not significantly affect the coupled activities. The addition of Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ inhibited both the hydrolysis of Mg-ATP and the proton transport. However, the inhibition of proton pumping was more pronounced. Based on equilibrium analysis, both ATP-complexed and free forms of these cations were inhibitory. Inhibition of the hydrolysis of Mg-ATP could be correlated to the concentrations of the ATP-complex of Zn. On the other hand, the free Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ were effective in inhibiting hydrolysis. For proton pumping, the ATP complexes of Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ were effective inhibitors. However, this inhibition could be further modulated by free Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺. While the equilibrium concentrations of Cd-ATP and free Cd²⁺ were not estimated, the total concentration of this cation needed to inhibit the coupled activities of the H⁺-ATPase was found to be in the range of 10 to 100 micromolars. The presence of free divalent cations also affected the structure of the lipid phase in tonoplast membrane as demonstrated by the changes of emission intensity and polarization of incorporated 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. The differential inhibition caused by these cations could be interpreted by interactions with the protogenic domain of the membrane as previously proposed in “indirect-link” mechanism.     

Estimation of pseudopeptide metal ion complexation tendencies by special MS methods,HPCE and circular dichroism

Summary To obtain more insight into catalytic mechanisms of metallo enzymes and specific metal complexation by proteins we use linear and cyclic pseudopeptides as mimetics. Knowledge about tendencies of complex formation of different ligands with selected transition metal ions is an indispensable prerequisite for the development of homo-and hetero-dinuclear metallo enzyme mimetics. Three pseudotripeptide ligands were investigated with respect to formation tendency and properties of complexes with the transition metal ions Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺. To study complexation tendencies we applied different methods. One of the important prerequisites for the application in a secreening of series of peptide ligands is the necessity for a minimal amount of substance. We used and compared certain masspectrometric methods for the estimation of a rank order of complexation of certain transition metal ions. We also applied spectrophotometric titration, circular dichroism measurements, capillary electrophoresis and pH-rate profile of catalytic activity in the attempt to evaluate complex formation tendencies. Except for the spectrophotometric pH-titration and the pH-profile of catalytic activity all methods, were applicable, but each method has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the separation effect of the ligand from the metal complex, and depending on the spectroscopic properties of ligand and complex. The results regarding complex formation are compared to each other. Comparison of pairs by MALDI-TOF-and ESI-MS allows an estimation of the rank order of complexation tendency of one ligand with different metal ions and requires the least amount of substance. The other investigated methods provided additional information on structural properties of the formed complexes; however either they required too much pseudopeptide ligand or were not applicable for all transition metal ions used in this study.     

Influence of metal ions on bioremediation activity of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2

The aim of this paper was to describe the effect of various metal ions on the activity of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2. We also compared activity of different dioxygenases isolated from this strain, in the presence of metal ions, after induction by various aromatic compounds. S. maltophilia KB2 degraded 13 mM 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, 10 mM benzoic acid and 12 mM phenol within 24 h of incubation. In the presence of dihydroxybenzoate and benzoate, the activity of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase was observed. Although Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Al³⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions caused 20–80 % inhibition of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase activity, the above-mentioned metal ions (with the exception of Ni²⁺) inhibited catechol 1,2-dioxygenase to a lesser extent or even activate the enzyme. Retaining activity of at least one of three dioxygenases from strain KB2 in the presence of metal ions makes it an ideal bacterium for bioremediation of contaminated areas.     

Addition and reaction products of triethyl thiophosphate and metal perchlorates at just over ambient and elevated temperatures

Triethyl thiophosphate (tetp) invariably forms adducts with various metal perchlorates (M=Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺) at 35–40°C in ethanol-triethyl orthoformate (teof). Only certain of these adducts, which involve S-bonded tetp in the thione form for soft or borderline metal ions and O-bonded tetp in the thiol tautomeric form for hard metal ions, could be isolated in solid form, owing to their tendency to decompose yielding diethylthiophosphato (detp) metal complexes and ethyl perchlorate, at temperatures ranging between ambient and 80–90°C, depending on the metal ion. Several well-defined detp and detpperchlorato metal complexes were obtained by heating solutions of mixtures of tetp and metal perchlorates in ethanol-teof at 80–90°C, and characterized. In most cases, linear polymeric or dimeric complexes involving double or triple bridges of O,S-bonded bidentate detp between adjacent metal ions were isolated. However, in a number of occasions, heavily hydrated monomeric species, containing terminal S-bonded detp were obtained.     

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.     

The effect of metals on isolated pea pyruvate decarboxylase

Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) was prepared from four-day-old pea seedlings by a procedure which involves extraction of plant material with a phosphate buffer, fractionation of the extract with ammonium sulphate, desalting by dialysis or gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 column, chromatography on DEAE cellulose and filtration on Sepharose 4B. The PDC preparation activity 10 000 U g^-1 protein was about 600 fold higher than that of the sodium phosphate buffer extract. According to the enzyme behaviour during the gel filtration on different carriers the molecular mass of pea PDS was estimated at about 10⁶. Magnesium ions and thiamine pyrophosphate were found to be coenzymes of PDC. Cofactors can be removed by 48 h dialysis followed by chromatography on DEAE cellulose. Apoenzym is activated optimally with the concentration of cofactors of 0.002 M. Magnesium ions can be replaced in their activation function by ions of Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺. Another ions,i.e. Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ are inactive. Assumption about the relation between the ion diameter and degree of activation is formulated.