Magnesium spin state determines the energetics of an adenosinetriphosphate molecule

The molecular dynamics method (density functional theory) DFT:B3LYP (6-3IG** basis set, t = 310 K) was used to study interactions between a molecule of adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) (ATP subsystem) and the Mg(H₂O)₆]²⁺ magnesium cofactor (Mg subsystem) in an aqueous medium simulated by 78 water molecules in the singlet (S) and triplet (T) states. Potential energy surfaces (PESs) for the S (lowest in energy) and T states (highest in energy) are significantly separated in space. Motion along them directs the Mg complex either to oxygen atoms of the γ-β-phosphate groups (O1–O2) (S state of PES) or to oxygen atoms of the β-α-phosphate groups (O2–O3) (T state of PES). Chelation of the γ-β- and β-α-phosphates leads to formation of a stable low-energy (Mg(H₂O)₄-(OI-O2)ATP]^2?) complex or a metastable high-energy (Mg(H₂O)₂-(O2–O3)ATP]^2?) complex, respectively, which differ in number of water molecules surrounding the Mg atom. Intersection of two T PESs is accompanied by formation of an unstable state characterized by redistribution of spins between the Mg and ATP subsystems. This state, being sensitive to interaction with the Mg nuclear spin (²⁵Mg), induces an unpaired electron spin, which initiates the ATP cleavage by the ion-radical mechanism, yielding a reactive ion radical of adenosinemonophosphate (·AMP^?), which was earlier found experimentally by the method of chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP). Biological aspects of the results obtained are discussed.