Binding of copper to albumin and participation of cysteine in vivo and in vitro

Albumin, the major copper-binding protein in blood serum, was shown to form different albumin-copper complexes in in vivo and in vitro. Cupric ions added in vitro to control rat serum bound preferentially to mercaptalbumin and the mercaptalbumin-copper complex remained unchanged with time. Cupric ions injected intravenously into the rat first formed the mercaptalbumin-copper complex; this binary complex changed gradually with time to form an albumin-copper-cysteine complex. The participation of cysteine in the formation of this complex was demonstrated in vitro and further suggested that its conversion was an oxidative reaction. Glutathione also participated in forming the complex, but it was not as effective as cysteine. Albumin-copper complexes were separated on a gel filtration column and detected simultaneously by high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled argon plasma-atomic emission spectrometry.     

Acid proteases. II. Fluorescence study of the interaction of Cladosporium acid protease with glycyl-DL-norleucine methyl ester in the presence of cupric ions.

Glycyl-DL-norleucine methyl ester (GN), a diazoacetyl-DL-norleucine methyl ester (DAN) analog, in the presence of cupric ions was found to partially quench the protein fluorescence of acid protease from Cladosporium sp. No. 45-2, and cupric ions were also found to quench the fluorescence. These quenchings were pH-dependent. GN alone did not quench the fluorescence of the enzyme. The interaction between the enzyme and GN in the presence of cupric ions was studied statically at pH 5.4 in terms of fluorescence change. The dissociation constant, Kd, of the enzyme-GN complex in the presence of a 20-fold molar excess of cupric ions (0.08 mM) determined by fluorescence titration at 30 degrees C (Kd = 1.86 mM) was in good agreement with that obtained for GN from kinetics of inhibition of DAN-induced inactivation in the presence of a 20-fold molar excess of cupric ions at 30 degrees C (KA = 1.94 mM) (Kanazawa, H. (1977) J. Biochem. 81, 1739-1744). At various concentrations of cupric ions, no change of Kd was found. These results suggest that cupric ions are attracted to a negatively charged carboxyl group responsible for the formation of the enzyme-GN complex.     

Active site-specific reconstituted copper(II) horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase: a biological model for type 1 Cu2+ and its changes upon ligand binding and conformational transitions

Insertion of Cu2+ ions into horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase depleted of its catalytic Zn2+ ions creates an artificial blue copper center similar to that of plastocyanin and similar copper proteins. The esr spectrum of a frozen solution and the optical spectra at 296 and 77 K are reported, together with the corresponding data for binary and ternary complexes with NAD+ and pyrazole. The binary complex of the cupric enzyme with pyrazole establishes a novel type of copper proteins having the optical characteristics of Type 1 and the esr parameters of Type 2 Cu2+. Ternary complex formation with NAD+ converts the Cu2+ ion to a Type 1 center. By an intramolecular redox reaction the cuprous enzyme is formed from the cupric enzyme. Whereas the activity of the cupric alcohol dehydrogenase is difficult to assess (0.5%-1% that of the native enzyme), the cuprous enzyme is distinctly active (8% of the native enzyme). The implications of these findings are discussed in view of the coordination of the metal in native copper proteins.     

Model for prebiotic pyrophosphate formation: Condensation of precipitated orthophosphate at low temperature in the absence of condensing or phosphorylating agents

Summary The formation of pyrophosphate (PPi) by condensation of orthophosphate (Pi) at low temperature (37°C) in the absence of condensing or phosphorylating agents could have been an ancient process in chemical evolution. In the present investigation the synthesis of³²PPi from³²Pi was carried out at pH 8.0 and PPi was found in larger amounts in the presence of insoluble Pi (with calcium or manganese ions) than in its absence (with magnesium ions, or with no divalent cations present). After 10 days of incubation in the presence of precipitated calcium phosphate, about 1.6 nmol/ml of PPi was formed (0.057% yield relative to insoluble Pi). The hypothesis that the reaction is dependent on precipitated Pi was reinforced by the effect of adding dimethyl sulfoxide (2.1–9.9 M) in the presence of magnesium ions: the amount of magnesium phosphate precipitated in the presence of the organic solvent was proportional to the amount of PPi formed. The large and negative activation entropies found in aqueous media with calcium ions and in a medium containing 11.3 M dimethyl sulfoxide with magnesium ions suggest that the reaction was favored by a hydrophobic phenomenon at the surface of solid Pi. This reaction could serve as a model for prebiotic formation of PPi.     

Studies on the interaction between leukocyte elastase, antileukoproteinase and the plasma proteinase inhibitors alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and alpha 2-macroglobulin

The dominating inhibitor of leukocyte elastase in human respiratory tract secretions is a low molecular mass inhibitor, designated antileukoproteinase. An equimolar antileukoproteinase-elastase complex was produced and subjected to gel filtration after differing time intervals and was found to be stable. On addition to human serum, however, elastase dissociated from antileukoproteinase and formed a complex with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. A small amount of elastase was also found bound to alpha 2-macroglobulin. Antileukoproteinase was capable of inhibiting elastase bound to alpha 2-macroglobulin. This inhibition was more complete and more rapid when the alpha 2-macroglobulin-elastase complex was in a molar ratio of 1:1 than in a ratio of 1:2.     

Study of the interaction of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate and human serum albumin in the presence of copper ions by circular dichroism

When pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) binds with human serum albumin (HSA) in the molar ratio of 1:1, negative in sign induced Cotton effect is observed in the ligand absorption band. This high affinity center is localized in the second domain at an alpha-helical site of the protein molecule. As a result of adding Cu2+ equimolar concentration a new optically active PLP binding site with the positive sign of Cotton effect is acidic medium and the opposite one in alkaline medium is formed on Lys-4 at the beginning of the polypeptide chain. Inversion of the CD spectrum occurs over the same range of pH of the medium as the change in symmetry of electric field surroundings (rhombic in equilibrium axial) of the copper ion within the equimolar ternary complex HSA: PLP: Cu2+.     

Calcium,magnesium and zinc ion coordination equilibria of vincristine

The zinc ion coordination of vincristine was studied by polarography; the analogous calcium ion coordination process was studied potentiometrically by a calcium ion selective electrode. In both cases, complexes of 1:1 composition were formed. The formation constant of the calcium complex was found to be 1g K = 3.27 ± 0.1. On the basis of the substitution of zinc in its vincristine complex by calcium and magnesium ions respectively, the ratio of the corresponding stability constants could be estimated as K_Zn:K_Ca (and K_Zn:K_Mg) ∼ 10⁵−3 × 10⁴. The complex formation processes proved to be pH-independent in the pH range 3.4–5.5, indicating that the metal ions are coordinated by the unprotonated oxygen donor atoms of vincristine.     

THE EFFECT OF CALCIUM AND OTHER IONS ON THE AUTOCATALYTIC FORMATION OF TRYPSIN FROM TRYPSINOGEN

Crystalline trypsinogen is completely transformed into trypsin by means of trypsin in the presence of calcium salts. The process follows the course of a pure autocatalytic unimolecular reaction. In the absence of calcium salts, the autocatalytic formation of trypsin from trypsinogen is complicated by the transformation of part of the trypsinogen into an inert protein which cannot be changed into trypsin by any known means. Salts increase or decrease the rate of both reactions so that the ultimate amount of trypsin formed varies with the nature and concentration of the salt used. With equivalent concentrations of salt the percentage of trypsinogen changed into trypsin is greatest in the presence of calcium ion followed in order by strontium; magnesium and sodium; rubidium, ammonium, lithium, and potassium; caesium and barium. With the anions the largest percentage of trypsinogen transformed into trypsin was found with the acetate, sulfate, oxalate, citrate, tartrate, fluoride, and chloride ions followed in order by bromide, nitrate, and iodide. The formation of inert protein is completely suppressed by concentrations of calcium ion greater than 0.02 M.     

In vitro lipid peroxidation of human serum catalyzed by cupric ion: antioxidant rather than prooxidant role of ascorbate.

The dual role of ascorbate as an antioxidant and a prooxidant has been clearly documented in the literature. Ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting human serum from lipid peroxidation induced by azo dye-generated free radicals. On the other hand, ascorbate is readily oxidized in the presence of transition metal ions, (especially cupric ion) and accelerates lipid peroxidation in tissue homogenates by producing free radicals. Interestingly, we observed an antioxidant rather than an expected prooxidant role of ascorbate when human serum supplemented with 1.2mmol/L ascorbate underwent lipid peroxidations initiated by 2mmol/L copper sulfate. The antioxidant role of ascorbate was confirmed by studying the conventional thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as well as by observing the protective effect of ascorbate on the copper-induced peroxidation of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The antioxidation protection provided by ascorbate was comparable to that of equimolar alpha-tocopherol when incubated for 24h. However, lipid peroxidation products were lower in serum supplemented with alpha-tocopherol after 48h of incubation. This effect may be attributed to the binding of copper by plpha-tocopherol after serum proteins, thus preventing direct interaction between cupric ions and ascorbate. This proposed mechanism is based on the observation that the concentration of ascorbate decreased more slowly in serum than in phosphate buffer at physiological pH. Our results also indicate an outstanding anti-oxidant property of human serum due to the chelation of transition metal ions (even at high concentrations) by various serum proteins.     

THE EFFECT OF SALTS ON THE IONISATION OF GELATIN

The effect of the addition of sodium chloride to gelatin solutions is shown from the Donnan relationship to increase the ionisation of the gelatin, the increase produced in acid solutions reaching a maximum at about 1/1000 molar salt concentration. This effect is attributed to the formation of complex ions. From the similar action of calcium and copper chlorides the effective combining power of gelatin for complex positive ion formation is deduced. The bearing of complex ion formation on the zwitter-ionic structure and solubility phenomena of proteins is pointed out.     

NMR evidence of a valinomycin-proton complex

In addition to the well-known complexes of valinomycin with alkali metal cations, an equimolar complex of the same compound with proton was found to be formed in nitrobenzene. Hydrogen bis(1,2-dicarbollylide) cobaltate (HDCC) was used as a proton source. According to NMR spectra, the complex formation is quantitative at proton/valinomycin molar ratios up to 1:1 but there is fast exchange of protons between coordinated and uncoordinated valinomycin molecules at lower ratios. 1H and 13C NMR spectra show a dramatic change in the valinomycin conformation during its coordination with protons, probably from a propeller-like to a bracelet-like form. As valinomycin is one of the well-known ion-carrying ionophores facilitating especially the K+ ion transport across a biological membrane, the existence of the valinomycin-proton complex could be important in biochemistry and biology.     

Interaction of human calpains I and II with high molecular weight and low molecular weight kininogens and their heavy chain: mechanism of interaction and the role of divalent cations

Calpain I prepared from human erythrocytes was half-maximally and maximally activated at 23 and 35 microM calcium ion, and two preparations of calpain II from human liver and kidney were half-maximally activated at 340 and 220 microM calcium ion and maximally activated at 900 microM calcium ion, respectively. High molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) kininogens isolated from human plasma and the heavy chain prepared from these proteins inhibited calpain I as well as calpain II. The molar ratios of calpains to HMW kininogen to give complete inhibition of calpains were 1.4 for calpain I and 2.0 for calpain II, and those of calpains to heavy chain were 0.40-0.66 for calpain I and 0.85 for calpain II. LMW kininogen did not completely inhibit the calpains even with an excess amount of kininogen. The apparent binding ratio of calpain to HMW kininogen estimated from the disc gel electrophoretic analysis, however, was found to be 2:1, whereas those of calpain to LMW kininogen and of calpain to heavy chain were found to be 1:1. Calpains and kininogens failed to form complexes in the absence of calcium ion. In the presence of calcium ion, however, they formed the complexes, which were dissociable by the addition of ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. The minimum concentrations of calcium ion required to induce complex formation between calpain I and kininogens and calpain II and kininogens were 70 and 100 microM, respectively. Some other divalent cations such as Mn2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ were also able to induce the complex formation between calpains and kininogens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Damage to the DNA bases in mammalian chromatin by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of ferric and cupric ions.

Modification of DNA bases in mammalian chromatin upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of ferric and cupric ions was studied. Ten DNA base products in mammalian chromatin were identified and quantitated by the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring after hydrolysis of chromatin and trimethylsilylation of hydrolysates. This technique permitted the analysis of modified DNA bases in chromatin without the necessity of isolation of DNA from chromatin first. Modified bases identified were typical hydroxyl radical-induced products of DNA, indicating the involvement of hydroxyl radical in their formation. This was also confirmed by inhibition of product formation by typical scavengers of hydroxyl radical. The inhibition of product formation was much more prominent in the presence of chelated ions than unchelated ions, indicating a possible site-specific formation of hydroxyl radical when metal ions are bound to chromatin. Hydrogen peroxide in the presence of cupric ions caused more DNA damage than in the presence of ferric ions. Chelation of cupric ions caused a marked inhibition in product formation. By contrast, DNA was damaged more extensively in the presence of chelated ferric ions than in the presence of unchelated ferric ions. The presence of ascorbic acid generally increased the yields of the products, indicating increased production of hydroxyl radical by reduction of metal ions by ascorbic acid. Superoxide dismutase afforded partial inhibition of product formation only in the case of chelated iron ions. The yields of the modified bases in chromatin were lower than those observed with calf thymus DNA under the same conditions.     

Partition of trypsin and Kazal inhibitor in reaction mixtures with human serum.

The partition of trypsin and pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) in reaction mixtures with human serum was studied by electroimmunoassay and also by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The same pattern of trypsin complexes with alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin was observed in the presence or absence of PSTI. When sufficient trypsin was added to saturate the alpha2-macroglobulin, more complex with alpha1-antitrypsin was formed. A small amount of PSTI-trypsin complex was formed only when large amounts of trypsin and PSTI were present. The majority of PSTI was found in the fractions containing alpha2-macroglobulin, indicating the formation of a PSTI-trypsin-alpha2-macroglobulin complex. The remaining PSTI was eluted as free inhibitor. Increasing the added PSTI increased the fraction eluted as free inhibitor. alpha1-Antitrypsin and alpha2-macroglobulin appear to be much stronger than PSTI in their competition for trypsin in reaction mixtures of human serum, trypsin and PSTI.     

A continuous spectrophotometric assay for arylsulfatase activity,dependent on the formation of complexes between cupric ions and nitrocatechols

The nitrocatechols 2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenol and 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-nitrophenol formed strongly colored complexes with cupric ions, the dissociation constants of these complexes being 1.61 and 1.74 × 10^?4m, respectively. Complex formation with 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-nitrophenol was independent of pH between pH 5.4 and 7.2. The aryl-sulfate sulfohydrolase (EC 3.1.6.1) from the New Zealand mollusk, Haliotis iris, was not inhibited by low concentrations of cupric ion so that the enzymatic hydrolysis of sulfate esters of the above nitrocatechols could be monitored continuously in the presence of cupric ions, by following the formation of the yellow complexes. Assay methods based on this phenomenon gave results identical with those obtained by the discontinuous method of alkaline development. Rate measurements were linearly related to enzyme concentration whichever assay method was used. At very high pH, cupric ions decreased the intensity of color of the nitrocatechol anions.     

Amino acid-specific ADP-ribosylation: structural characterization and chemical differentiation of ADP-ribose-cysteine adducts formed nonenzymatically and in a pertussis toxin-catalyzed reaction.

ADP-ribosylation is a posttranslational modification of proteins by amino acid-specific ADP-ribosyltransferases. Both pertussis toxin and eukaryotic enzymes ADP-ribosylate cysteine residues in proteins and also, it has been suggested, free cysteine. Analysis of the reaction mechanisms of cysteine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferases revealed that free ADP-ribose combined nonenzymatically with cysteine. L- and D-cysteine, L-cysteine methyl ester, and cysteamine reacted with ADP-ribose, but alanine, serine, lysine, arginine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, 2-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, and glutathione did not. The 1H NMR spectrum of the product, along with the requirement for both free sulfhydryl and amino groups of cysteine, suggested that the reaction produced a thiazolidine linkage. ADP-ribosylthiazolidine was labile to hydroxylamine and mercuric ion, unlike the ADP-ribosylcysteine formed by pertussis toxin and NAD in guanine nucleotide-binding (G-) proteins, which is labile to mercuric ion but stable in hydroxylamine. In the absence of G-proteins but in the presence of NAD and cysteine, pertussis toxin generated a hydroxylamine-sensitive product, suggesting that a free ADP-ribose intermediate, expected to be formed by the NADase activity of the toxin, reacted with cysteine. Chemical analysis, or the use of alternative thiol acceptors lacking a free amine, is necessary to distinguish the enzymatic formation of ADP-ribosylcysteine from nonenzymatic formation of ADP-ribosylthiazolidine, thereby differentiating putative NAD:cysteine ADP-ribosyltransferases from NAD glycohydrolases.     

Interrelationships among biological activity, disulfide bonds, secondary structure, and metal ion binding for a chemically synthesized 34-amino-acid peptide derived from alpha-fetoprotein.

A 34-amino-acid peptide has been chemically synthesized based on a sequence from human alpha-fetoprotein. The purified peptide is active in anti-growth assays when freshly prepared in pH 7.4 buffer at 0.20 g/l, but this peptide slowly becomes inactive. This functional change is proven by mass spectrometry to be triggered by the formation of an intrapeptide disulfide bond between the two cysteine residues on the peptide. Interpeptide cross-linking does not occur. The active and inactive forms of the peptide have almost identical secondary structures as shown by circular dichroism (CD). Zinc ions bind to the active peptide and completely prevents formation of the inactive form. Cobalt(II) ions also bind to the peptide, and the UV-Vis absorption spectrum of the cobalt-peptide complex shows that: (1) a near-UV sulfur-to-metal-ion charge-transfer band had a molar extinction coefficient consistent with two thiolate bonds to Co(II); (2) the lowest-energy visible d-d transition maximum at 659 nm, also, demonstrated that the two cysteine residues are ligands for the metal ion; (3) the d-d molar extinction coefficient showed that the metal ion-ligand complex was in a distorted tetrahedral symmetry. The peptide has two cysteines, and it is speculated that the other two metal ion ligands might be the two histidines. The Zn(II)- and Co(II)-peptide complexes had similar peptide conformations as indicated by their ultraviolet CD spectra, which differed very slightly from that of the free peptide. Surprisingly, the cobalt ions acted in the reverse of the zinc ions in that, instead of stabilizing anti-growth form of the peptide, they catalyzed its loss. Metal ion control of peptide function is a saliently interesting concept. Calcium ions, in the conditions studied, apparently do not bind to the peptide. Trifluoroethanol and temperature (60 degrees C) affected the secondary structure of the peptide, and the peptide was found capable of assuming various conformations in solution. This conformational flexibility may possibly be related to the biological activity of the peptide.     

Complexes of sulfur-containing ligands. I. Factors influencing complex formation between D-penicillamine and copper (II) ion.

Complex formation and redox reactions between copper (II) ion and D-penicillamine were studied in detail as functions of the metal/-ligand ratio and the concentration of halide ions. It was established that a copper (I)- D-penicillamine polymeric complex of amphoteric character is formed when excess D-penicillamine is present. When the D-penicillamine/copper (II) ratio = 1.45 in the starting reaction mixture, a mixed valence complex with an intense red-violet color is formed. The formation of this compound, which contains 44% copper (II) ion, is greatly influenced by the experimental conditions, primarily by the concentration of halide ions. The main chemical and physical characteristics of the mixed valence complex were determined via magnetic and spectroscopic measurements. It was further established that a very intense blue complex is formed when the D-penicillamine/copper (II) ratio = 2 and halide ions are present. On the basis of the nature of the products formed under various conditions it was concluded that the copper (II)-D-penicillamine system may serve as a good model for studying the binding sites of copper-containing proteins.     

Measurement of antioxidant ability of melatonin and serotonin by the DMPD and CUPRAC methods as trolox equivalent

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is the chief secretory product of the pineal gland and synthesized enzymatically from serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). These indoleamine derivatives play an important role in the prevention of oxidative damage. In the present study, DMPD radical scavenging and cupric ion (Cu(2+)) reducing ability of melatonin and serotonin as trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC) was investigated. Melatonin and serotonin demonstrated 73.5 and 127.4 microg/mL trolox equivalent DMPD( radical+) scavenging activity at the concentration of 100 microg/mL. Also, at the same concentration, melatonin and serotonin showed 14.41 and 116.09 microg/mL trolox equivalent cupric ion (Cu(2+)) reducing ability. These results showed that melatonin and serotonin had marked DMPD(radical+) radical scavenging and cupric ions (Cu(2+)) reducing ability. Especially, serotonin had higher DMPD radical scavenging and cupric ions (Cu(2+)) reducing activity than melatonin because of its phenolic group.