Preparation and characterization of met apo hemocyanin: a single copper (II) active site.

A new derivative of $\text{Busycon canaliculatum}$ hemocyanin has been prepared for which one copper has been removed from the binuclear active site of the holoprotein and the remaining copper has been oxidized with a variety of small molecule oxidizing agents. This met apo derivative [( )…Cu(II)] binds a number of ligands; EPR spectra of several forms are reported and compared to those obtained for a singly oxidized (half met-L) derivative [Cu(I)…Cu(II)L]. The site of the oxidized copper for both forms is found to be quite similar in structure but shows large differences in ligand binding ability.     

The crystal structure of galactaric acid (mucic acid) at −147°: An unusually dense,hydrogen-bonded structure

Galactaric acid, C₆H₁₀O₈, (CAS Reg. No. 526-99-8), is triclinic, P$\text{1}$, with cell dimensions at ?147° [and 20°], a = 4.900(1) [4.918(1)], b = 5.728(1) [5.816(1)], c = 6.784(1) [6.849(1)] Å, α = 92.32(2) [92.31(2)], β = 93.74(2) [94.16(2)], γ = 93.08(2) [93.49(2)]°, V = 189.5 ų, Z = 1, D_x = 1.831 [1.800], D_m = [1.790] g.cm^?3, molecular symmetry $\text{I}$. The structure was solved by the direct method, MULTAN, and refined to R = 0.034, R_w = 0.039 for 787 reflections with F_Obs > 3σ(F_obs). The crystal structure has a system of strong, intermolecular hydrogen-bonds, which accounts for the high crystal density and low solubility in water.     

The conformation and orientation of copper(II)-bleomycin intercalated with DNA

EPR data are used to describe the conformation and identity of the atoms coordinated to Cu(II) in Cu(II)-bleomycin bound to oriented DNA fibers. The fibers were slowly drawn from viscous solutions of Cu(II)-bleomycin-DNA containing one Cu(II)-bleomycin to 200 basepairs. EPR measurements were made at room temperature and 90 K for different orientations of the external magnetic field with respect to the helical axes of the fibers. The g-values ($\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{}}\text{=2.21}$, g_⊥ =2.04) and the hyperfine constant ($\text{A}{}_{\mathrm{}}\text{=175}\text{G}$) are consistent with values expected for Cu(II) chelated to a square planar array of ligands. In the oriented fibers, the square planar arrays do not all have the same orientations with respect to the fiber axes. At room temperature the chelated ions have rotational freedom in which the normal to the planar array has almost complete freedom of rotation about axes perpendicular to the DNA fiber axes. The normal maintains an angle of 75° with respect to the axis, in the plane of the basepair, about which it rotates. Nine superhyperfine peaks on the high field side of the EPR spectrum were partially resolved. The number and splitting (12 G) of these superhyperfine peaks indicate that four nitrogen atoms are chelated to Cu(II) in a square planar array. These data on Cu(II)-bleomycin bound to DNA give information on the orientation of the metal-containing portion of bleomycin which lies outside the double helix.     

Kinetics of EPR signal IIvf in chloroplast Photosystem II

The risetime of EPR signal II_vf (S II_vf) has been measured in oxygen-evolving Photosystem II particles from spinach chloroplasts at pH 6.0. The EPR signal shows an instrument-limited rise upon induction ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{? 3 μ}\text{s}$). These data are consistent with a model where the species Z responsible for S II_vf is the immediate electron donor to P-680⁺ in spinach chloroplasts. A new, faster decay component of S II_vf has also been detected in these experiments.     

Mithramycin forms a stable dimeric complex by chelating with Fe(II): DNA-interacting characteristics, cellular permeation and cytotoxicity

Mith (mithramycin) forms a 2:1 stoichiometry drug–metal complex through the chelation with Fe(II) ion as studied using circular dichroism spectroscopy. The binding affinity between Mith and Fe(II) is much greater than other divalent metal ions, including Mg(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II). The [(Mith)₂–Fe(II)] complex binds to DNA and induces a conformational change of DNA. Kinetic analysis of surface plasmon resonance studies revealed that the [(Mith)₂–Fe(II)] complex binds to DNA duplex with higher affinity compared with the [(Mith)₂–Mg(II)] complex. A molecular model of the Mith-DNA–Metal(II) complex is presented. DNA-break assay showed that the [(Mith)₂–Fe(II)] complex was capable of promoting the one-strand cleavage of plasmid DNA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Intracellular Fe(II) assays and fluorescence microscopy studies using K562 indicated that this dimer complex maintains its structural integrity and permeates into the inside of K562 cells, respectively. The [(Mith)₂–Fe(II)] complex exhibited higher cytotoxicity than the drug alone in some cancer cell lines, probably related to its higher DNA-binding and cleavage activity. Evidences obtained in this study suggest that the biological effects caused by the [(Mith)₂–Fe(II)] complex may be further explored in the future.     

An invitro characterization of interstrand cross-links in DNA exposed to the antitumor drug cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)

The $\text{cis}$-isomer of the antitumor drug dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) [$\text{cis}$-Pt(II)] was tested for its abilty to introduce nicks (single-strand breaks) into supercoiled PM2 DNA. Whereas incubations up to 24 h show no indication of $\text{cis}$-Pt(II)-treated DNA having single-strand breaks, DNA interstrand cross-links were detected in the first 15 min of incubation. Furthermore, the formation of DNA interstrand cross-links was $\text{both}$ inhibited and fully reversed after incubation with 2 mM thiourea.     

The 520 nm absorbance changes in Scenedesmus obliquus and its relation to Photosystem I

The kinetics (region of seconds) of the light-induced 520 nm absorbance change and its dark reversal have been studied in detail in the wild type and in some pigment and photosynthetic mutants of Scenedesmus obliquus. The following 5 lines of evidence led us to conclude that the signal is entirely due to the photosystem I reaction modified by electron flow from Photosystem II.Gradual blocking of the electron transport with 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea resulted in diminution and ultimate elimination of the biphasic nature of the signal without reducing the extent of the absorbance change or of the dark kinetics. On the contrary, blocking electron flow at the oxidizing side of plastoquinone with 2, $\text{5-}\text{dibromo}\text{-3-}\text{methyl}\text{-6-}\text{isoprophyl}\text{-p-}\text{benzoquinone}$ or inactivating the plastocyanin with KCN, prolonged the dark reversal of the absorbance change apart from abolishing the biphasic nature of the signal.Action spectra clearly indicate that the main signal (I) is due to electron flow in Photosystem I and that its modification (Signal II) is due to the action of Photosystem II.Signal I is pH independent, whereas Signal II demonstrates a strong pH dependence, parallel to the O₂-evolving capacity of the cells.Chloroplast particles isolated from the wild type Scenedesmus cells demonstrated in the absence of any added artificial electron donor or acceptor and also under non-phosphorylation conditions the 520 nm absorbance change with approximately the same magnitude as whole cells. The dark kinetics of the particles were comparatively slower. Removal of plastocyanin and other electron carriers by washing with Triton X-100 slowed down the kinetics of the dark reversal reaction to a greater extent. A similar positive absorbance change at 520 nm and slow dark reversal was also observed in the Photosystem I particles prepared by the Triton method.Mutant C-6E, which contains neither carotenoids nor chlorophyll $\text{b}$ and lacks Photosystem II activity, demonstrates a normal signal I of the 520 nm absorbance change. This latter result contradicts the postulate that carotenoids are the possible cause of the 520 nm absorbance change.     

Determination of metal-metal distances in E. coli glutamine synthetase by EPR.

This paper reports the first determination of the distance between the two metal ions (per subunit) of $\text{E. coli}$ glutamine synthetase. When Mn(II) is bound at the n₁ metal ion site its EPR spectrum is diminished in intensity but not broadened as Cr(III)-ATP or Cr(III)-ADP is bound to the enzyme. A paramagnetic spin-spin interaction is responsible for this phenomenon and a metal-metal distance of ～7 Å is calculated for enzyme - Mn(II) - Cr(III)-ATP and ～6Å for enzyme - Mn(II) - Cr(III)-ADP. The metal-metal distance changes slightly when substrates or inhibitors are also bound to the enzyme demonstrating induced conformational changes in the protein at the metal ion sites.     

Photosystem II energy coupling in chloroplasts with H2O2 as electron donor

NH₂OH-treated, non-water-splitting chloroplasts can oxidize H₂O₂ to O₂ through Photosystem II at substantial rates (100–250 μequiv · h^?1 · mg^?1 chlorophyll with 5 mM H₂O₂) using 2,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone as an electron acceptor in the presence of the plastoquinone antagonist dibromothymoquinone. This H₂O₂ → Photosystem II → dimethylquinone reaction supports phosphorylation with a $\text{P}\text{e}{}_2$ ratio of 0.25–0.35 and proton uptake with $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{e}$ values of 0.67 (pH 8)–0.85 (pH 6). These are close to the $\text{P}\text{e}{}_2$ value of 0.3–0.38 and the $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{e}$ values of 0.7–0.93 found in parallel experiments for the H₂O → Photosystem II → dimethylquinone reaction in untreated chloroplasts. Semi-quantitative data are also presented which show that the donor → Photosystem II → dibromothymoquinone (→O₂) reaction can support phosphorylation when the donor used is a proton-releasing reductant (benzidine, catechol) but not when it is a non-proton carrier (I^?, ferrocyanide).     

Substitution effect on new Co(II) addition compounds with salicylaldehydes and the nitrogenous bases phen or neoc: Crystal and molecular structures of [Co(5-NO2-salicylaldehyde)2(phen)], [Co(5-CH3-salicylaldehyde)2(neoc)] and [Co(5-Cl-salicylaldehyde)2(neoc)]

The cobalt(II) addition compounds [Co(X-salo)₂(Y)], where X-salo is the anion of substituted salicylaldehydes (X = 3-OCH₃, 5-CH₃, 5-Cl, 5-NO₂ and Y = the neutral 1,10 phenanthroline or neocuproine), were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectral (IR, UV-Vis) data. Theoretical calculations (DFT, ZINDO, TD DFT) with gaussian 03 for the prediction of the electronic spectrum for the compounds, gave good correlation with the experimental one in the solid state and in solution. The cyclic voltammetry study in CH₃CN gave all the expected waves for the redox processes of the metal Co(II) and the ligands phen or neoc and salicylaldehydes. The X-ray diffraction study of three compounds [Co(5-NO₂-salo)₂(phen)], [Co(5-CH₃-salo)₂(neoc)] and [Co(5-Cl-salo)₂(neoc)] verified their analogous proposed octahedral arrangement of the ligands around the cobalt(II) atom.     

The collagen of chick embryonic notochord

Notochords, isolated from 2 $\text{1}\text{2}$ day chick embryos, were cultured in the presence of ³H proline and the labeled proteins co-purified with chick skin carrier collagen. The purified material, most of which eluted from CM-cellulose as a single peak in the region of the carrier collagen α1 chain, contained 41% of the incorporated proline as hydroxyproline and from gel filtration measurements had a molecular weight of approximately 100,000 daltons. When the material was chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose with carrier α1 chains from both skin [α1 (I)] and cartilage [α1 (II)], it eluted predominantly with the cartilage chains.     

On the purification of nitrite reductase from Thiobacillus denitrificans and its reaction with nitrite under reducing conditions.

Nitrite reductase (cytochrome $\text{cd}$) from $\text{T. denitrificans}$ has been crystallized in high yield in three simple and rapid steps. The spectral absorption ratio at 408 to 280 nm was 1.52. Light absorption spectra in the oxidized and reduced states were virtually identical to those of nitrite reductase from $\text{P. aeruginosa}$. EPR spectroscopy of nitrite reductase at 12° showed a low-spin ferric heme resonance with g-values at 2.52, 2.45 and 1.73 assigned to the d-heme. Reaction of nitrite reductase with nitrite in the presence of the reducing systems [(ascorbate + PMS) or sulfide] resulted in the formation of nitric oxide (confirmed by gas chromatography) which reacted with both $\text{c}$- and $\text{d}$-hemes of nitrite reductase yielding an EPR-detectable enzyme-NO complex with g-values at 2.07, 2.04 and 1.99 and a ¹⁴N hyperfine splitting constant of 22.5 gauss. The amount of nitric oxide produced enzymatically with sulfide as electron donor was only 5% of that found when ascorbate plus PMS served as reductant.To our knowledge the detection of the unique enzyme-NO complex is the first definitive EPR evidence for the mandatory liganding of nitric oxide with pure nitrite reductase during nitrite reduction.     

Covalent modification of chloroplast Photosystem II polypeptides by p-nitrothiophenol

Illumination of the chlorophyll $\text{a}\text{b}$ light-harvesting complex in the presence of $\text{p-}\text{nitrothio}\text{[}{}^{14}\text{C]phenol}$ caused quenching of fluorescence emission at 685 nm (77 K) relative to 695 nm and covalent modification of light-harvesting complex polypeptides. Fluorescence quenching saturated with one p-nitrothiophenol bound per light-harvesting complex polypeptide (10–13 chlorophylls); $\text{1}\text{2}$ maximal quenching occurred with one p-nitrothiophenol bound per light-harvesting complex polypeptides (190–247 chlorophylls). This result provides direct evidence for excitation energy transfer between light-harvesting complex subunits which contain 4–6 polypeptides plus 40–78 chlorophylls per complex.Illumination of chloroplasts or Photosystem II (PS II) particles in the presence of $\text{p-}\text{nitrothio}\text{[}{}^{14}\text{C]phenol}$ caused inhibition of PS II activity and labeling of several polypeptides including those of 42–48 kilodaltons previously identified as PS II reaction center polypeptides. In chloroplasts, inhibition of oxygen evolution accelerated p-nitrothiophenol modification reactions; DCMU or donors to PS II decreased p-nitrothiophenol modification. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that accumulation of oxidizing equivalents on the donor side of PS II creates a ‘reactive state’ in which polypeptides of PS II are susceptible to p-nitrothiophenol modification.     

A cobalt porphyrin containing protein reducible by hydrogenase isolated from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (Norway)

A cobalt-porphyrin containing protein has been isolated from the sulfate-reducer $\text{Desulfovibrio desulfuricans}$ (Norway). This violet-colored protein has a molecular weight of approx. 13,000 daltons and contains 1 cobalt atom/molecule. The apo-protein was estimated to contain 104 amino-acid residues giving a molecular weight of 11,000 daltons. The UV-visible absorption spectrum of the protein exhibiting maxima at 588,418 and 280 nm with a shoulder at 550 nm is characteristic of metalloporphyrin proteins. The molar extinction coefficients of the cobalt-protein at 588, 418 and 280 nm are 31,330 , 64,670 and 17,200 respectively and its absorbance ratio $\text{A}{}_{280}\text{A}{}_{588}$ is 0.54. The protein is reduced by dithionite giving a blue-colored reduced form. Important spectral modifications of the chromophore occurred during the reduction including a shift of the Soret peak from 418 to 381 nm and a shift of the α band in the opposite direction from 588 to 593.5 nm. The Co-protein was slowly reduced by the hydrogenase from $\text{D.desulfuricans}$ under hydrogen in the presence of cytochrome C₃. The reported data suggest that the redox states of the cobalt center of this new electron carrier correspond to the Co(III) and Co(II) states.     

Interaction of the high-spin Fe atom in the photosystem II reaction center with the quinones QA and QB in purified oxygen-evolving PS II reaction center complex and in PS II particles

EPR signals in the high-spin region were studied at 10 K in photosystem II (PS II) particles and in a purified oxygen-evolving PS II reaction center complex under oxidizing conditions. PS II particles showed EPR peaks at g = 8.0 and 5.6, confirming the recent report by Petrouleas and Diner [(1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 849, 264-275]. Addition of 3-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) or o-phenanthroline shifted the peaks to be closer to g = 6.0 depending on the medium pH. On the other hand, the PS II reaction center complex showed peaks at g = 6.1 and 7.8, and at g = 6.1 and 6.4, in the absence and presence of o-phenanthroline, respectively. All these peaks were found to be decreased by the illumination at 10 K. These results suggest that the high-spin signals are due to Q₄₀₀, Fe(III) atom interacting with the PS II primary electron acceptor quinone Q_A as reported and that the Fe atom also interacts with the secondary acceptor quinone Q_B. This interaction seems to induce the highly asymmetric ligand coordination of the Fe atom and to be affected by DCMU and o-phenanthroline in a somewhat different manner.     

Picosecond kinetics in reaction centers of Rps. sphaeroides and the effects of ubiquinone extraction and reconstitution.

Following picosecond light activation, the bacteriochlorophyll and bacteriopheophytin complement of $\text{Rps.}\text{sphaeroides}$ reaction centers depleted of ubiquinone behaves as though it has no primary electron acceptor; the excited intermediary $\text{BChl}\text{BPh}{}^2$ state formed in <10 ps lasts >1 ns. Addition of ubiquinone-10 reconstitutes the very rapid electron transfer rates from the excited intermediary $\text{BCh}\text{BPh}$ state to ubiquinone; the kinetics and rate are similar to that encountered in the untreated reaction centers. Interpretation of the data presented suggests that ubiquinone is the immediate electron acceptor from BPh^?. This is consistent with the model for the primary reactions leading to [(BChl)₂^?BPh]Q^?.     

Photosystem II reactions in oxidant-treated chloroplast fragments.

Treatment of Photosystem II fragments with the oxidant K₂IrCl₆ destroys approximately 50% of the bulk chlorophyll and results in fragments that are twofold enriched in P680 (the Photosystem II reaction-center chlorophyll) and cytochrome b₅₅₉. The fragments retain a fully competent reaction center, as evidenced by P680 photooxidation and subsequent reduction in a back reaction with the primary electron acceptor ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 5}\text{ms}$ at 25 dgK). The K₂IrCl₆-treated fragments contain no photoactive or chemically detectable C-550 and do not exhibit any variable fluorescence. These results imply that the Photosystem II primary electron acceptor is unaffected by oxidant treatment. It therefore may be concluded that neither C-550 nor the fluorescence quencher, Q, functions as the primary electron acceptor of Photosystem II.     

Variation of the electron population by four units in the cluster series [(η-Cp′)3Mo3S4Co(L)] (L = I, CO, PPh3, NO; n = 0, 1)

The versatility of cuboidal Mo₃S₄Co clusters for the preparation of complexes with different numbers of valence shell electrons (VSE) in the cluster is described. The reaction of the geometrically incomplete cuboidal cluster salt [(η⁵-Cp′)₃Mo₃S₄][pts] (pts = p-toluenesulfonate) with one molar equivalent of [Co₂(CO)₈] afforded almost quantitatively the electroneutral 60 VSE cluster [(η⁵-Cp′)₃Mo₃S₄Co(CO)] (1), which previously has been prepared in low yield by Curtis et al. in autoclave syntheses [M.D. Curtis, U. Riaz, O.J. Curnow, J.W. Kampf, Organometallics 14 (1995) 5337]. Cluster 1 was also obtained in high yield by reaction of [(η⁵-Cp′)₃Mo₃S₄][pts] with [(η⁵-Cp^∗)Co(CO)₂]. Reaction of [(η⁵-Cp′)₃Mo₃S₄][pts] with two molar equivalents of [Co(I)(CO)₃(PPh₃)] led to a complex mixture of products, of which the electron deficient 58 VSE cluster salt [(η⁵-Cp′)₃Mo₃S₄Co(I)][Co(I)₃(thf)] ([2][Co(I)₃(thf)]) was isolated as single crystals. In the crystal structures of 1 and [2][Co(I)₃(thf)], the Co-Mo bond lengths are almost identical, indicating a delocalization of the electron deficiency in [2]⁺. The reduced form of [2]⁺, [(η⁵-Cp′)₃Mo₃S₄Co(I)] (2), was prepared by oxidative substitution of the carbonyl ligand in 1 by I₂. Further reactions of 1 with PPh₃ and NO leading to the 60 and 61 VSE cluster complexes [(η⁵-Cp′)₃Mo₃S₄Co(PPh₃)] (3) and [(η⁵-Cp′)₃Mo₃S₄Co(NO)] (4), respectively, enabled the preparation of Mo₃S₄Co clusters in altogether four different oxidation states.     

Urinary excretion of a novel hexasaccharide and glycopeptide analogue in fucosidosis.

Repeated Biogel P6 chromatography of the urine from a patient with fucosidosis yielded several fractions containing fucosyloligosaccharides and glycopeptides. Two of these were shown by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-n.m.r.) spectroscopy and permethylation analysis to have the following structures respectively: (I) αfuc (1→3) [βgal (1→4)] βglcNAc (1→2) αman ($\text{1→}\text{3}\text{6}$) βman (1→4) glcNAc and (II) αfuc (1→3) [βgal (1→4)] βglcNAc (1→2) αman ($\text{1→}\text{3}\text{6}$) βman (1→4) βglcNAc (1→4) [αfuc ($\text{1→}\text{3}\text{6}$)] βglcNAc-Asn.