Chemistry, urease inhibition, and phytotoxic studies of binuclear vanadium(IV) complexes

Vanadium plays an important role in biological systems and exhibits a variety of bioactivities. In an effort to uncover the chemistry and biochemistry of vanadium with nitrogen- and oxygen-containing ligands, we report herein the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of vanadium(IV) complexes with hydrazide ligands. Substituents on these ligands exhibit systematic variations of electronic and steric factors. Elemental and spectral data indicate the presence of a dimeric unit with two vanadium(IV) ions coordinated with two hydrazide ligands along with two H(2)O molecules. The stability studies of these complexes over time in coordinating solvent, DMSO, indicates binding of the solvent molecules to give [V2O2L2(H2O)2(DMSO)2]2+ (L=hydrazide ligand) and then conversion of it to a monomeric intermediate species, [VOL(DMSO)3]1+. Hydrazide ligands are inactive against urease, whereas vanadium(IV) complexes of these ligands show significant inhibitory potential against this enzyme and are found to be non-competitive inhibitors. These complexes also show low phytotoxicity indicating their usefulness for soil ureases. Structure-activity relationship studies indicate that the steric and/or electronic effects that may change the geometry of the complexes play an important role in their inhibitory potential and phytotoxicity.     

Quinolinic acid, alpha-picolinic acid, fusaric acid, and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid enhance the Fenton reaction in phosphate buffer.

Quinolinic acid, alpha-picolinic acid, fusaric acid, and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid enhanced the Fenton reaction in phosphate buffer, respectively. The enhancement by quinolinic acid, alpha-picolinic acid, fusaric acid, and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid of the Fenton reaction may be partly related to their respective actions in the biological systems such as a neurotoxic effect (quinolinic acid), a marked growth-inhibitory action on rice seeding (alpha-picolinic acid and fusaric acid), and an antiseptic (2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid). The ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum of the mixture of alpha-picolinic acid with ferrous ion showed a characteristic visible absorbance band with a lambda(max) at 443 nm, suggesting that alpha-picolinic acid chelate of Fe2+ ion forms in the solution. Similar characteristic visible absorbance band was also observed for the mixture of Fe2+ ion with quinolinic acid (or fusaric acid, or 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid). The chelation seems to be related to the enhancement by quinolinic acid, alpha-picolinic acid, fusaric acid, and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid of the Fenton reaction. alpha-Picolinic acid was reported to be a toxic substance isolated from the culture liquids of blast mould (Piricularia oryzae CAVARA). On the other hand, it has also been known that chlorogenic acid protects rice plants from the blast disease. The chlorogenic acid inhibited the formation of the hydroxyl radical in the reaction mixture of alpha-picolinic acid, FeSO4(NH4)2SO4, and H2O2. Thus the inhibition may be a possible mechanism of the protective action of the chlorogenic acid against the blast disease.     

Model complexes for amavadine,a vanadium natural product

Amavadine is a vanadium natural product from the mushroom Amanita muscaria. Earlier reports have characterized the compound as a vanadyl (VO²⁺) complex with two N-hydroxy-αα-iminodipropionic acid ligands, but no hypothesis as to its function has yet been put forward. We report here the synthesis, isolation, and properties of bis(iminodiacetato)oxovanadium(IV) and bis(αα-iminodipropionato)oxovanadium(IV). The complex bis(ββ-iminodipropionato)oxovanadium(IV) has been prepared in solution. These complexes serve as models for Amavadine. The structures of the models are analogous to that of Amavadine, with two bidentate, singly charged ligands bonding through one oxygen and one nitrogen atom. The visible spectra suggest the possibility of 1:1 complexes in solution in addition to the 2:1 ligand to metal complexes. Preliminary electrochemical data suggest reversible V(IV) ? V(III) couples.     

Fermentative degradation of dipicolinic acid (pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) by a defined coculture of strictly anaerobic bacteria

Degradation of dipicolinic acid (pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) under strictly anaerobic conditions was studied in enrichment cultures from marine and freshwater sediments. In all cases, dipicolinic acid was completely degraded. From an enrichment culture from a marine sediment, a defined coculture of two bacteria was isolated. The dipicolinic acid-fermenting bacterium was a Gram-negative, non-sporeforming strictly anaerobic short rod which utilized dipicolinic acid as sole source of carbon, energy, and nitrogen, and fermented it to acetate, propionate, ammonia, and 2CO₂. No other substrate was fermented. This bacterium could be cultivated only in coculture with another Gram-negative, non-sporeforming rod from the same enrichment culture which oxidized acetate to CO₂ with fumarate, malate, or elemental sulfur as electron acceptor, similar to Desulfuromonas acetoxidans. Since this metabolic activity is not important in substrate degradation by the coculture, the basis of the dependence of the dipicolinic acid-degrading bacterium on the sulfur reducer may be sought in the assimilatory metabolism.     

Inhibition of acid, alkaline, and tyrosine (PTP1B) phosphatases by novel vanadium complexes

In the course of our investigations of vanadium-containing complexes for use as insulin-enhancing agents, we have generated a series of novel vanadium coordination complexes with bidentate ligands. Specifically we have focused on two ligands: anthranilate (anc⁻), a natural metabolite of tryptophan, and imidizole-4-carboxylate (imc⁻), meant to mimic naturally occurring N-donor ligands. For each ligand, we have generated a series of complexes containing the V(III), V(IV), and V(V) oxidation states. Each complex was investigated using phosphatase inhibition studies of three different phosphatases (acid, alkaline, and tyrosine (PTP1B) phosphatase) as prima facia evidence for potential use as an insulin-enhancing agent. Using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as an artificial phosphatase substrate, the levels of inhibition were determined by measuring the absorbance of the product at 405 nm using UV/vis spectroscopy. Under our experimental conditions, for instance, V(imc)₃ appears to be as potent an inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase as sodium orthovanadate when comparing the K_cat/K_m term. VO(anc)₂ is as potent an inhibitor of acid phosphatase and tyrosine phosphatase as the Na₃VO₄. Thus, use of these complexes can increase our mechanistic understanding of the effects of vanadium in vivo.     

Enzyme inhibition,radical scavenging,and spectroscopic studies of vanadium(IV)–hydrazide complexes

Spectroscopic, enzyme-inhibition, and free-radical scavenging properties of a series of hydrazide ligands and their vanadium(IV) complexes have been investigated. Analytical and spectral data indicate the presence of a dimeric unit with two oxovanadium(IV) ions (VO²⁺) coordinated with two hydrazide ligands along with two water molecules. All complexes are stable in the solid state, but exhibit varying degrees of stability in solution. Binding of the coordinating solvent such as DMSO is indicated at the 6th position of vanadium in the dimeric unit followed by conversion to a monomeric intermediate species, [VOL(DMSO)3]1+ (L = hydrazide ligand). The free hydrazide ligands are inactive against snake venom phosphodiesterase I (SVPD), whereas oxovanadium(IV) complexes of these ligands show varying degrees of inhibition and are found to be non-competitive inhibitors. The superoxide and nitric oxide radical scavenging properties have been determined. Hydrazide ligands are inactive against these free radicals, whereas their V(IV) complexes show varying degrees of inhibition. Structure–activity relationship studies indicate that the electronic and/or steric factors that change the geometry of the complexes play an important role in their inhibitory potential against SVPD and free radicals.     

Synthesis, spectroscopy, and biological properties of vanadium(IV)-hydrazide complexes

The synthesis, spectroscopic, enzyme-inhibition, and free-radical-scavenging properties of a series of vanadium(IV) complexes, compounds 1-10, were investigated. These complexes exhibit a dimeric structure with hydrazide ligands coordinated in a bidentate fashion. All complexes are stable in the solid state, but exhibit varying degrees of stability in solution. In coordinating solvent such as DMSO, stepwise binding of two solvent molecules at the 6th positions trans to the V double bond O bond of the dimeric unit is observed. The dimeric compounds are converted to monomeric species in which both solvent molecules and the hydrazide ligands are coordinated to the V(IV) center. The free hydrazide ligands 11-20 were inactive against alpha-glucosidase, but the V(IV) complexes showed varying degrees of inhibition, depending on the type of ligand. The DPPH-radical-scavenging activities of 1-20 were determined, which indicated that steric and/or electronic effects responsible for changes in geometry play important roles in terms of antioxidant potential.     

Formation and structure in aqueous solution of complexes between vanadium(V) and aminohydroxamic acids that potentiates vanadium’s insulinomimetic activity: l-glutamic γ-hydroxamic and l-aspartic-β-hydroxamic acids

The full speciation of the vanadium(V) complexation systems with two aminohydroxamic acids, aspartic-β- and glutamic-γ-hydroxamic acid, has been determined using potentiometric and spectroscopic techniques. Formation constants were calculated in a systematic study at different ligand to metal molar ratios and the coordination types are proposed. An almost constant value of the ⁵¹V NMR signal in neutral medium can be attributed to two (1:1 and 1:2 metal to ligand ratios) similar structures, both of which can be either protonated or deprotonated. The two ligands have a carboxylic group in the structure and show comparable biological activities. In this work analogous complexation behavior at physiological conditions was found despite the presence of two or three methylenic groups between the amino and hydroxamate groups. The carboxylic groups are quite distant from the hydroxamic groups and are not involved directly in the coordination process. Therefore the coordination structures are related to that found in the vanadium(V)-β-alaninehydroxamic acid in which there is not a carboxylic group.     

The permeability and cytotoxicity of insulin-mimetic vanadium (III,IV,V)-dipicolinate complexes

Vanadium (III,IV,V)-dipicolinate complexes with different redox properties were selected to investigate the structure-property relationship of insulin-mimetic vanadium complexes for membrane permeability and gastrointestinal (GI) stress-related toxicity using the Caco-2 cell monolayer model. The cytotoxicity of the vanadium complexes was assayed with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazoyl-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays and the effect on monolayer integrity was measured by the trans-epithelial electric resistance (TEER). The three vanadium complexes exhibited intermediate membrane permeability (P(app) = 1.4-3.6x10(-6) cm/s) with low cellular accumulation level (<1%). The permeability of all compounds was independent of the concentration of vanadium complexes and excess picolinate ligands. Both V(III) and V(V)-dipicolinate complexes induced 3-4-fold greater reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) production than the V(IV)-dipicolinate complex; while the vanadium (III)-dipicolinate was 3-fold less damaging to tight junction of the Caco-2 cell monolayer. Despite the differences in apparent permeability, cellular accumulation, and capacity to induce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) levels, the three vanadium complexes exhibited similar cytotoxicity (IC50 = 1.7-1.9 mM). An ion pair reagent, tetrabutylammonium, increased the membrane apparent permeability by 4-fold for vanadium (III and IV)-dipicolinate complexes and 16-fold for vanadium (V)-dipicolinate as measured by decrease in TEER values. In addition, the ion pair reagent prevented damage to monolayer integrity. The three vanadium (III,IV,V)-dipicolinate complexes may pass through caco-2 monolayer via a passive diffusion mechanism. Our results suggest that formation of ion pairs may influence compound permeation and significantly reduce the required dose, and hence the GI toxicity of vanadium-dipicolinate complexes.     

Complexes of vanadium(III) with L-alanine and L-aspartic acid

The equilibria of the complexation processes of V(3+) with L-alanine and L-aspartic acid in aqueous solution over a wide pH range (2-10) were studied by potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV-Vis, CD) methods. The results show that alanine forms complexes with V(3+) in the metal ion concentration range and at the ligand-to-metal ratios investigated, giving mononuclear species only. In ML(2) species, which dominate in the range pH 4-8, alanine acts as a bidendate ligand through O and N atoms. The complexation processes of V(3+) with aspartic acid are more complicated. In acidic solution (up to pH approximately 4) they are similar to those for alanine. In the higher pH region, however, there are complicated equilibria among mono- and various dinuclear species. These dinuclear species consist of carboxylic or mu-oxo bridges and differ from each other by the number of coordinated ligands and OH(-) groups. The solid phase of the V(III) complex with aspartic acid could be isolated from nonaqueous solution only. Spectroscopic (UV-Vis-IR) measurements and magnetic susceptibility data confirm the coordination of vanadium(III) by two carboxylic groups. Both V(III)-L-aspartic acid and V(III)-L-alanine complexes have a significant apoptotic effect on Hepatoma Morris 5123 cells.     

Studies on metal carboxylates. VIII. Reactions of acetylacetonates of the first row transition elements with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid

The acetylacetonates VO(acac)₂, M(acac)₃, where M = V, Mn or Fe and [M′(acac)₂]_n, where M′ = Co, Ni or Cu, have been reacted with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (dipicH₂) in acetone to afford the complexes VO(dipic)·2H₂O, M(acac)(dipic)·xH₂O [M = V, Mn or Fe and x = 1 or 0] and M₂(dipic) (dipicH)₂·yH₂O [M = Co, Ni or Cu and y = 2 or 0]. The cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes are converted to polymeric [M(dipic)]_n in ethanol and all three complexes formulated as M₂(dipic)(dipicH)₂ react with 2,2′2″-terpyridyl to yield M(dipic)(terpy)·3H₂O. The vanadium(III) complex V(acac)(dipic) is oxidized to VO(dipic)·4H₂O in aqueous solution via the vanadium(III) intermediate V(OH)(dipic)·2H₂O. Tentative structural conclusions are drawn for certain of these new complexes based upon room temperature spectral and magnetic measurements. The characterization of these complexes has included selected studies of their X-ray photoelectron spectra.     

Potentiometric sensor for dipicolinic acid

A potentiometric chemosensor for selective determination of dipicolinic acid (2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, DPA) was developed based on the surface imprinting technique coupled with a nanoscale transducer: an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass plate. The sensor fabrication conditions, optimal recognition condition, as well as selectivity, sensitivity, and stability of the DPA sensor have been investigated. The DPA sensor could recognize DPA from 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid. Potentiometric measurements demonstrated selective detection of DPA in a concentration range of 1.5 x 10(-6) to 0.0194 M. The response time of DPA sensor for 4 x 10(-4) M DPA was 25 s. The potentiometric response of the DPA sensor to DPA is at 90% of its initial magnitude after 550 times measurement. The viability of such a modified ITO electrode in the presence of other inorganic, organic, and biological materials was probed.     

Synthesis of vanadium(IV,V) hydroxamic acid complexes and in vivo assessment of their insulin-like activity

We synthesized vanadyl (oxidation state +IV) and vanadate (oxidation state +V) complexes with the same hydroxamic acid derivative ligand, and assessed their glucose-lowering activities in relation to the vanadium biodistribution behavior in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. When the mice received an intraperitoneal injection of the complexes, the vanadate complex more effectively lowered the elevated glucose levels compared with the vanadyl one. The glucose-lowering effect of the vanadate complex was linearly related to its dose within the range from 2.5 to 7.5 mg V/kg. In addition, pretreatment of the vanadate complex induced a larger insulin-enhancing effect than the vanadyl complex. Both complexes were more effective than the corresponding inorganic vanadium compounds. The vanadyl and vanadate complexes, but not the inorganic vanadium compounds, resulted in almost the same organ vanadium distribution. Consequently, the observed differences in the insulin-like activity between the complexes would reflect the potency of the two compounds in the +IV and +V oxidation states in the subcellular region.     

Coordinative binding of divalent cations with ligands related to bacterial spores. Equilibrium studies

It has been repeatedly postulated that the high heat resistance of bacterial spores is due to stabilization of biopolymers in the spore interior by a solid deposit of protective cement consisting of coordination complexes of ligands with divalent metal ions. This report presents data on metal-binding characteristics of some of the ligands related to spores as determined by means of potentiometric equilibrium measurements under conditions of temperature and ionic strength (t = 25.0°C; μ = 1.0 KNO₃) identical with those reported earlier by the authors in order to facilitate correlation by using comparable data. The spore ligands investigated in this study included 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA), α,ε-diaminopimelic acid, D-glutamic acid, and D-alanine in a ratio of 1:1 with metal ions which are known to play a role in heat resistance of spores. Stability constants of the chelates of these spore ligands with metal ions such as Ca(II), Mg(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) have been determined. In general the metal chelates of DPA exhibited the greatest stability. On the basis of a consideration of the stability data together with the known configurations of the ligand and the coordination requirements of the metal ions, possible structures indicating the coordinate binding of the spore ligands with the metal ions are presented. All the metal chelates except those of Ca(II) were found to undergo hydrolysis and separation of solid phase in the pH range 7-8.5. The relatively greater hydrolytic stability of Ca(II) chelates and the high affinity of DPA for metal ions appear to be of biological significance insofar as these two spore components are more widely associated with the heat resistance of bacterial spores.     

Reduction of vanadium(V) with ascorbic acid and isolation of the generated oxovanadium(IV) species

The interaction of sodium metavanadate and VOCl₃ with ascorbic acid, one of the possible natural reducing agents of vanadium(V) to oxovanadium(IV), has been investigated. Three new VO²⁺ complexes could be isolated as microcrystalline powders. One of them, of composition K_1.5Na_0.5[VO(HAsc)(OH)₃], contains ascorbic acid as a monodentate ligand. In the other two, K[VO(Diketo)(OH)]·H₂O and Na₃[VO(Diketo)₂(OH)], the enolized form of 2,3-diketogulonic acid (one of the oxidation products of ascorbic acid), acts as a bidentate ligand. The complexes were characterized by means of electronic (absorption and reflectance) and infrared spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Their thermal behavior was investigated by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The interest of the investigated system in relation to vanadium detoxification is also discussed.     

Metal complexes of N-hydroxy-imino-di-α-propionic acid and related ligands

N-hydroxy-imino-di-α-propionic acid, the ligand present in the natural oxovanadium(IV) complex ‘amavadin’ which occurs in the toadstool Amanita muscaria, has been synthesised, as well as two related ligands—N-hydroxy-iminodiacetic acid and imino-di-α-propionic acid—useful for comparison purposes. The formation of complexes of these ligands with VO²⁺, Ni²⁺ has been studied and their stability constants have been determined.The two N-hydroxy-substituted ligands, of low basicity, form ML₂ complexes with VO²⁺, unlike the more basic derivatives of iminodiacetic acid. Since substitution of ligands bonded to the apical site trans to the oxo ligand is very fast and the formation of ML₂ complexes of VO²⁺ exposes that apical site to the reaction media, this may be the reason why oxovanadium(IV) and the unusual derivative of iminodiacetic acid present in ‘amavadin’ were selected for the biological role that this complex plays in the toadstool.     

High-valent transition metal centers versus noninnocent ligands in metallocorroles: insights from electrochemistry and implications for high-valent heme protein intermediates

For relatively electron-rich corrole ligands, the halfwave potentials for oxidation of Cu(III), Sn(IV)Ph, Fe(IV)Ph, and Fe(IV)-O-Fe(IV) complexes are significantly lower than those of Sn(IV)Cl, Fe(IV)Cl, Mn(IV)Cl, and Cr(V)(O) complexes, suggesting that the corrole ligand is relatively electron-rich or 'innocent' in the former group of complexes and that it is relatively electron-deficient or 'noninnocent' in the latter group. Both the formal charge of the central metal ion and the nature of the axial ligand, if any, appear to be key determinants of the electronic character of the corrole ligand in metallocorrole complexes, a theme that has interesting resonances with recent findings on high-valent heme protein intermediates. However, for very strongly electron-deficient ligands such as meso-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (TPFPC) and beta-octabromo-meso-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (Br(8)TPFPC), which cannot sustain significant radical character, the various metal complexes all exhibit comparable halfwave potentials for oxidation and the ligand may be considered to be relatively innocent.     

Detection of oxovanadium(IV) and characterization of its ligand environment in subcellular fractions of the liver of rats treated with pentavalent vanadium(V)

Tetravalent oxovanadium(IV) was detected in subcellular fractions of liver by ESR spectroscopy after i.p. injection of pentavalent vanadium(V) as sodium vanadate into rats for three days. This indicates that the metal ion was reduced from the pentavalent state to oxovanadium(IV). The ligand environment around this oxovanadium center was characterized using ESR parameters (g_o and A_o) and the empirical bonding coefficients calculated from the ESR parameters. These values indicate that most of the ligand atoms around the oxovanadium(IV) are oxygens and that the metal may exist in a protein-bound form.     

Development of oxidovanadium and oxido-peroxido vanadium-based artificial DNA nucleases via multi spectroscopic investigations and theoretical simulation of DNA binding

Benzimidazole is a neutral ligand which is often used to synthesize bioactive compounds. Two transition metal benzimidazole-based complexes, namely, vanadium (IV) dioxido complex (complex 1) and vanadium (V) oxido-peroxido complex (complex 2) with tridentate benzimidazole ligand, 2,6-di (1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) pyridine (Byim) have been designed with the intention of developing potential DNA nuclease. Different studies involving biochemical and biophysical techniques along with molecular docking suggest that both the complexes interact with DNA, while the mode of binding is intercalation. The complexes were further used for DNA cleavage activity. Both of them were found to have substantial DNA nuclease activity, but complex 2 was more potent than complex 1 in exhibiting such activity.