Lanthanide Ion Binding Research Articles

A De Novo Metalloenzyme for Cerium Photoredox Catalysis.

Cerium photoredox catalysis has emerged as a powerful strategy to activate molecules under mild conditions. Radical intermediates are formed using visible light and simple complexes of the earth-abundant lanthanide. Here, we report an artificial photoenzyme enabling this chemistry inside a protein. We utilize a de novo designed protein scaffold that tightly binds lanthanide ions in its central cavity. Upon visible-light irradiation, the cerium-dependent enzyme catalyzes the radical C-C bond cleavage of 1,2-diols in aqueous solution. Protein engineering led to variants with improved photostability and metal binding behavior. The photoenzyme cleaves a range of aromatic and aliphatic substrates, including lignin surrogates. Surface display of the protein scaffold on Escherichia coli facilitates whole-cell photobiocatalysis. Furthermore, we show that also natural lanthanide-binding proteins are suitable for this approach. Our study thus demonstrates a new-to-nature enzymatic photoredox activity with broad catalytic potential.

Lanthanide complexes of monosubstituted Calix[4]arene-ligands: Synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties of [Ln2(L)2(MeOH)4] (Ln = La, Gd, Tb, Tm) (H3L = mono-O-propargyl-calix[4]arene)

The ability of the propargylated calix[4]arene ligand H3L (= 25-(2-propynyloxy)-26,27,28-trihydroxy-calix[4]arene) to bind lanthanide ions has been studied. The triply deprotonated ligand was found to support dinuclear neutral complexes of composition [Ln2L2(MeOH)4] (Ln= La (1), Gd (2), Tb (3), Tm (4)). Spectroscopic data for 1–4 as well as X-ray crystallographic analysis of single crystals of 1∙(MeOH)2 and 2∙(MeOH)2 reveal that two [LnL] entities dimerize via two phenolato groups to generate a centrosymmetric (MeOH)2O3Ln(μ-O)2LnO3(OHMe)2 core structure. The Ln3+ ions reside in a distorted mono-capped octahedral coordination environment. Squid magnetic measurements for the Gd3+ and Tb3+ complexes agree with the formulation as dinuclear compounds, and reveal the presence of very weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions (J < 0.1 cm−1). The ability of the La3+ complex to react with azides in a click reaction is also demonstrated.

Lanmodulin's EF 2-3 Domain: Insights from Infrared Spectroscopy and Simulations.

Lanmodulins are small, ∼110-residue proteins with four EF-hand motifs that demonstrate a picomolar affinity for lanthanide ions, making them efficient in the recovery and separation of these technologically important metals. In this study, we examine the thermodynamic and structural complexities of lanthanide ion binding to a 41-residue domain, EF 2-3, that constitutes the two highest-affinity metal-binding sites in the lanmodulin protein from Methylorubrum extorquens. Using a combination of circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we characterize the metal binding capabilities of EF 2-3. ITC demonstrates that binding occurs between peptide and lanthanides with conditional dissociation constants (Kd) in the range 20-30 μM, with no significant differences in the Kd values for La3+, Eu3+, and Tb3+ at pH 7.4. In addition, CD spectroscopy suggests that only one binding site of EF 2-3 undergoes a significant conformational change in the presence of lanthanides. 2D IR spectroscopy demonstrates the presence of both mono- and bidentate binding configurations in EF 2-3 with all three lanthanides. MD simulations, supported by Eu3+ luminescence measurements, explore these results, suggesting a competition between water-lanthanide and carboxylate-lanthanide interactions in the EF 2-3 domain. These results underscore the role of the core helical bundle of the protein architecture in influencing binding affinities and communication between the metal-binding sites in the full-length protein.

Vibrational anisotropy decay resolves rare earth binding induced conformational change in DTPA.

Elucidating the relationship between metal-ligand interactions and the associated conformational change of the ligand is critical for understanding the separation of lanthanides via ion binding. Here we examine DTPA, a multidentate ligand that binds lanthanides, in its free and metal bound conformations using ultrafast polarization dependent vibrational spectroscopy. The polarization dependent pump-probe spectra were analyzed to extract the isotropic and anisotropic response of DTPA's carbonyl groups in the 1550-1650 cm-1 spectral region. The isotropic response reports on the population relaxation of the carbonyl stretching modes. We find that the isotropic response is influenced by the identity of the metal ion. The anisotropy decay of the carbonyl stretching modes reveals a faster decay in the lanthanide-DTPA complexes than in the free DTPA ligand. We attribute the anisotropy decay to energy transfer among the different carbonyl sites - where the conformational change results in an increased coupling between the carbonyl sites of metal-bound DTPA complexes. DFT calculations and theoretical simulations of energy transfer suggest that the carbonyl sites are more strongly coupled in the metal-bound conformations compared to the free DTPA. The stronger coupling in the metal bound DTPA conformation leads to efficient energy transfer among the different carbonyl sites. Comparing the rate of anisotropy decay across the series of metal bound DTPA complexes we find that the anisotropy is sensitive to the charge density of the central metal ion, and thus can serve as a molecular scale reporter for lanthanide ion binding.

Genetic Modification of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans for Rare-Earth Element Recovery under Acidic Conditions.

As global demands for rare-earth elements (REEs) continue to grow, the biological recovery of REEs has been explored as a promising strategy, driven by potential economic and environmental benefits. It is known that calcium-binding domains, including helix-loop-helix EF hands and repeats-in-toxin (RTX) domains, can bind lanthanide ions due to their similar ionic radii and coordination preference to calcium. Recently, the lanmodulin protein from Methylorubrum extorquens was reported, which has evolved a high affinity for lanthanide ions over calcium. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a chemolithoautotrophic acidophile, which has been explored for use in bioleaching for metal recovery. In this report, A. ferrooxidans was engineered for the recombinant intracellular expression of lanmodulin. In addition, an RTX domain from the adenylate cyclase protein of Bordetella pertussis, which has previously been shown to bind Tb3+, was expressed periplasmically via fusion with the endogenous rusticyanin protein. The binding of lanthanides (Tb3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, and La3+) was improved by up to 4-fold for cells expressing lanmodulin and 13-fold for cells expressing the RTX domains in both pure and mixed metal solutions. Interestingly, the presence of lanthanides in the growth media enhanced protein expression, likely by influencing protein stability. Both engineered cell lines exhibited higher recoveries and selectivities for four tested lanthanides (Tb3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, and La3+) over non-REEs (Fe2+ and Co2+) in a synthetic magnet leachate, demonstrating the potential of these new strains for future REE reclamation and recycling applications.

Red emissive β-diketonate Ln(III) complexes for displays: Preparation, spectroscopic and optical investigations

Photophysical and optoelectronic characteristics of a series of ternary lanthanide (Eu, Sm) complexes with diacetylmethane (DAM) and substituted 2,2′-bipyridine derivatives as auxiliary ligands were examined thoroughly by various characterization techniques. Optical and electronic band gap analyses suggest the conducting nature of complexes. Vibrational spectral analysis affirms the binding of lanthanide ions with oxygen and nitrogen atoms of DAM and heteroaromatic auxiliary ligand respectively. Photoluminescence emission spectra indicate that the prepared trivalent complexes give red emission which is further confirmed by Commission Internationale de l′ Eclairage (CIE) color coordinates. Color purity value of complexes shows their luminous nature. Red light emitting materials have found good significance in solid state electronics, flat panel displays and organic light emitting devices (OLEDs).

Linear Mn(II)4Ln(III)2 (Ln = Gd, Dy, Tb) heterometallic complexes from a ditopic hydrazone ligand: Slow magnetic relaxation in Mn4Dy2 complex

L4 (C13H12N6O2), a ditopic ligand containing a carbohydrazide with terminal pyridyl moieties, has been successfully used to prepare a new class of heterometallic hexanuclear Mn4Ln2 systems. The reaction of L4 with Ln(NO3)3∙6H2O produced three linear heterometallic compounds with the general formula [Mn4Ln2(L4)4(CH3O)2(H2O)6Cl6][Cl]∙2H2O (Ln = Gd (1), Dy (2), Tb (3)). Monodeprotonated L4 binds lanthanide ions via Ndiazine and Ohydrazone donors in these complexes, while CH3O–, water, and chloride ions occupy the remaining vacant coordination sites. dc magnetic studies have confirmed that ferromagnetic exchange interactions are present in all three complexes with Curie temperatures of 2.32 K, 1.2 K, and 2.21 K, respectively, for 1, 2, and 3. In complex 1, the exchange coupling values between the two Mn(II)-Gd(III) and Mn(II)-Mn(II) pairs were found to be +0.11 and +0.58 cm−1, respectively, with a Lande g-factor of 2.01 for Mn(II) in this complex. ac studies reveal the slow relaxation of magnetization in complex 2 with an energy barrier of 1.5 K, while complexes 1 and 3 have not shown this feature.

E3 Ubiquitin Ligase SPL2 Is a Lanthanide-Binding Protein.

The SPL2 protein is an E3 ubiquitin ligase of unknown function. It is one of only three types of E3 ligases found in the outer membrane of plant chloroplasts. In this study, we show that the cytosolic fragment of SPL2 binds lanthanide ions, as evidenced by fluorescence measurements and circular dichroism spectroscopy. We also report that SPL2 undergoes conformational changes upon binding of both Ca2+ and La3+, as evidenced by its partial unfolding. However, these structural rearrangements do not interfere with SPL2 enzymatic activity, as the protein retains its ability to auto-ubiquitinate in vitro. The possible applications of lanthanide-based probes to identify protein interactions in vivo are also discussed. Taken together, the results of this study reveal that the SPL2 protein contains a lanthanide-binding site, showing for the first time that at least some E3 ubiquitin ligases are also capable of binding lanthanide ions.

Predicting lanthanide coordination structures in solution with molecular simulation.

The chemical and physical properties of lanthanide coordination complexes can significantly change with small variations in their molecular structure. Further, in solution, coordination structures (e.g., lanthanide-ligand complexes) are dynamic. Resolving solution structures, computationally or experimentally, is challenging because structures in solution have limited spatial restrictions and are responsive to chemical or physical changes in their surroundings. To determine structures of lanthanide-ligand complexes in solution, a molecular simulation approach is presented in this chapter, which concurrently considers chemical reactions and molecular dynamics. Lanthanide ion, ligand, solvent, and anion molecules are explicitly included to identify, in atomic resolution, lanthanide coordination structures in solution. The computational protocol described is applicable to determining the molecular structure of lanthanide-ligand complexes, particularly with ligands known to bind lanthanides but whose structures have not been resolved, as well as with ligands not previously known to bind lanthanide ions. The approach in this chapter is also relevant to elucidating lanthanide coordination in more intricate structures, such as in the active site of enzymes.

Tight and specific lanthanide binding in a de novo TIM barrel with a large internal cavity designed by symmetric domain fusion

De novo protein design has succeeded in generating a large variety of globular proteins, but the construction of protein scaffolds with cavities that could accommodate large signaling molecules, cofactors, and substrates remains an outstanding challenge. The long, often flexible loops that form such cavities in many natural proteins are difficult to precisely program and thus challenging for computational protein design. Here we describe an alternative approach to this problem. We fused two stable proteins with C2 symmetry-a de novo designed dimeric ferredoxin fold and a de novo designed TIM barrel-such that their symmetry axes are aligned to create scaffolds with large cavities that can serve as binding pockets or enzymatic reaction chambers. The crystal structures of two such designs confirm the presence of a 420 cubic Ångström chamber defined by the top of the designed TIM barrel and the bottom of the ferredoxin dimer. We functionalized the scaffold by installing a metal-binding site consisting of four glutamate residues close to the symmetry axis. The protein binds lanthanide ions with very high affinity as demonstrated by tryptophan-enhanced terbium luminescence. This approach can be extended to other metals and cofactors, making this scaffold a modular platform for the design of binding proteins and biocatalysts.

Lanthanide-Binding Tags for 3D X-ray Imaging of Proteins in Cells at Nanoscale Resolution.

We report the application of lanthanide-binding tags (LBTs) for two- and three-dimensional X-ray imaging of individual proteins in cells with a sub-15 nm beam. The method combines encoded LBTs, which are tags of minimal size (ca. 15-20 amino acids) affording high-affinity lanthanide ion binding, and X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM). This approach enables visualization of LBT-tagged proteins while simultaneously measuring the elemental distribution in cells at a spatial resolution necessary for visualizing cell membranes and eukaryotic subcellular organelles.

Colorimetric identification of lanthanide ions based on two carboxylic acids as an artificial tongue.

We report a colorimetric array, which consists of two carboxylic acids (quinolinic acid (QA), tannic acid (TCA)) as the sensor element and Eriochrome Black T (EBT) as the colorimetric signal readout. The assay is based on coordination binding between lanthanide ions and EBT, and between lanthanide ions and the carboxylic acids. The competitive binding of lanthanide ions with the carboxylic acids and EBT leads to the change in absorbance and color of the solutions. To test the efficacy of our sensor array, the sensor array was exposed to five target lanthanide ions (La3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+ and Yb3+) with diverse concentrations (10, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 nM). Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) results show that the sensor array can identify the five lanthanide ions, with a low discrimination limit of 10 nM. More importantly, the sensor array realizes fast discrimination of lanthanide ions in river samples, showing potential in environmental monitoring.

Complexation and solvent extraction behaviour towards lanthanide ions with quercetin

The complexation behaviour towards lanthanide (Ln) ions with quercetin (Q) was evaluated both in homogeneous phase and in liquid-liquid extraction process. As confirmed by UV–vis, fluorescence techniques and 1H NMR titration, Q can bind lanthanide ions through 4‑carbonyl and 3-hydroxyl of ring C with the stoichiometric ratio of 2:1 (Q:metal) in methanol solution. The binding constants for Q and Eu(III) (K1 = (3.87 ± 0.20) × 104 M−1, K2 = (2.56 ± 0.15) × 103 M−1) are slightly higher than that of Q-La(III) (K1 = (2.01 ± 0.15) × 104 M−1, K2 = (1.53 ± 0.12) × 103 M−1) and Q-Yb(III) (K1 = (1.73 ± 0.12) × 104 M−1, K2 = (1.25 ± 0.22) × 103 M−1). Solvent extraction revealed that the extractability of Ln(III) was relevant to the acidity and salinity of aqueous phase and extraction efficiency was Eu(III) > La(III) > Yb(III) at the same acidity.

Multicolor Luminescence from Conjugates of Genetically Encoded Elastin-like Polymers and Terpyridine-Lanthanides

Functional hybrid materials with optically active metal-ligand moieties embedded within a polymer matrix have a great potential in (bio)materials science, including applications in light-emitting diode devices. Here, we report a simple strategy to incorporate terpyridine derivatives into the side chains of elastin-like polymers (ELPs). The further binding of trivalent lanthanide ions with the terpyridine ligands generated an array of photoluminescence ranging from the visible to the near-infrared regions. Lastly, as thin films, these ELP-based optical materials also exhibited distinct morphologies that depend upon the temperature of the aqueous solutions from which the hybrid polymers were spin coated or drop cast.

Lanthanide Terpyridine‐Based Assemblies: Towards Dual Luminescent Probes

AbstractA tetrahedral shape‐persistent molecule equipped with four terpyridine ligands can form an oligomeric structure upon complexation with metal ions, in which two terpyridine units are intermolecularly connected via a metal ion. The most interesting results were obtained upon binding of lanthanide ions, whose luminescence is sensitized by the ligand. In particular, dual luminescent probes were obtained upon concomitant complexation of two different lanthanide ions, such as EuIII and NdIII.

Visualizing the Inter-Domain Motions of a Pathogenic Protein using Sparse RDC Data

SpA-N is the N-terminal half of Staphylococcal protein A and it is composed of five protein binding domains. The five domains could bind to antibody, TNFR1 and von Willebrand factor and facilitate the evasion of Staphylococcus aureus into the human immune system. The functional plasticity is suggested to be the result of structural flexibility. Heteronuclear spin relaxation experiments demonstrated that the five domains of SpA-N are connected by four flexible linkers. In order to obtain additional dynamic information, we constructed a di-domain mimic of SpA-N with a lanthanide binding tag and measured residual dipolar couplings (RDCs). The di-domain construct can bind lanthanide ions and consequently be aligned in the presence of a strong magnetic field. By using different combinations of lanthanide ions and protein constructs, we obtained two orthogonal alignments, which have enough information content to determine a model with maximally 10 parameters. In addition, we designed a de novo method to extract dynamic information from RDCs. Instead of determining conventional structure ensembles, our method determines an inter-domain orientation distribution to describe the structure of a flexible protein using continuous probability distributions. By using continuous models, orientation distributions can be parameterized by a small number of variables and still remain general enough to describe a broad spectrum of inter-domain motions. As a result, the method can avoid the over-fitting problem even with sparse data. Because no force field is applied, the generated distribution is purely determined by RDC data and least biased. Using the method, we determined the inter-domain orientation distribution of the di-domain construct with only two orthogonal alignments. A strong correlation was observed in the distribution and conformations were well populated in a limited region.

Synthesis and trivalent lanthanide ion complexation studies of new macrocyclic receptors based lactam ionophores

This study is the first report on the design, synthesis and photophysical properties of three new macrocyclic receptors based receptors containing two amide bridges. Their binding properties towards trivalent lanthanide ions such as La3+, Gd3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Er3+ and Yb3+ were investigated by using spectroscopic techniques. With respect to emission intensity changes upon trivalent lanthanide ion complexation, macrocyclic receptors based lactam ionophores showed higher selectivity towards Yb3+ and/or Er3+ ion over other ions. Presence of proximal two amide groups in macrocyclic lactam receptors having different cavity size were observed to play an important role in exhibiting its lanthanide ion binding.

Fe(III)–resorcylate as a spectrophotometric probe for phospholipid–cation interactions

A simple spectrophotometric microplate assay that allows quantification of the interaction between phospholipids and metal ions or other small cationic compounds has been developed. The assay is based on the competition of the phospholipids for the Fe3+ ion in the purple-colored Fe(III)–γ-resorcylate complex and for other cations. To compare the binding affinities of several cation–phospholipid interactions, K0.5 values were derived from binding curves constructed by determination of the absorbance of the Fe(III)–γ-resorcylate at 490nm as a function of the cation concentration. The assay was used to analyze the binding of lanthanide ions, calcium ions, and amines (hydrochlorides of ethanolamine, spermidine, and hexyltrimethylammonium chloride) to small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) and mixed micelles containing anionic lipids such as phosphatidic acid and phosphatidyl-p-nitrophenol. The method was evaluated by fluorescence measurements with Eu3+ ions as tracer. Lanthanide ions such as La3+ and Ce3+ ions showed K0.5 values smaller by one to two orders of magnitude compared with Ca2+ ions. In the presence of increasing amounts of detergents such as Triton X-100, the method also reflected transitions from SUVs to micelles. The binding capacity for metal ions was higher for phospholipid-containing micelles than for the corresponding SUVs.

Macrocyclic Bis(phenanthroline‐pyrrole): A Convenient One‐Pot Synthesis, Structure(s), Spectroscopic, and Redox Properties, and the Binding of Amine Guests, Protons, and Lanthanide Ions

This paper reports a convenient, one-pot, easily scalable and readily modifiable synthesis of a novel large-ring bis(1,10-phenanthrolinyl-2,5-pyrrole) macrocycle, H2LMC, and describes its spectroscopic and electrochemical properties, protonation, cooperative amine binding, electrocatalysis of the oxidation of primary amines, photosensitization of the decomposition of dichloromethane, and the first lanthanide complexes of the hexaaza-dianion LMC(2-) including the novel dimer, [(NO3)(LMC)Eu(μ-OH)Eu(LMC )(H2 O)2]·2py.

Enhancement of Anion Binding in Lanthanide Optical Sensors

In the design of molecular sensors, researchers exploit binding interactions that are usually defined in terms of topology and charge complementarity. The formation of complementary arrays of highly cooperative, noncovalent bonding networks facilitates protein-ligand binding, leading to motifs such as the "lock-and-key". Synthetic molecular sensors often employ metal complexes as key design elements as a way to construct a binding site with the desired shape and charge to achieve target selectivity. In transition metal complexes, coordination number, structure and ligand dynamics are governed primarily by a combination of inner-sphere covalent and outer-sphere noncovalent interactions. These interactions provide a rich variable space that researchers can use to tune structure, stability, and dynamics. In contrast, lanthanide(III)-ligand complex formation and ligand-exchange dynamics are dominated by reversible electrostatic and steric interactions, because the unfilled f shell is shielded by the larger, filled d shell. Luminescent lanthanides such as terbium, europium, dysprosium, and samarium display many photophysical properties that make them excellent candidates for molecular sensor applications. Complexes of lanthanide ions act as receptors that exhibit a detectable change in metal-based luminescence upon binding of an anion. In our work on sensors for detection of dipicolinate, the unique biomarker of bacterial spores, we discovered that the incorporation of an ancillary ligand (AL) can enhance binding constants of target anions to lanthanide ions by as much as two orders of magnitude. In this Account, we show that selected ALs in lanthanide/anion systems greatly improve sensor performance for medical, planetary science, and biodefense applications. We suggest that the observed anion binding enhancement could result from an AL-induced increase in positive charge at the lanthanide ion binding site. This effect depends on lanthanide polarizability, which can be established from the ionization energy of Ln(3+) → Ln(4+). These results account for the order Tb(3+) > Dy(3+) > Eu(3+) ≈ Sm(3+). As with many lanthanide properties, ranging from hydration enthalpy to vaporization energy, this AL-induced enhancement shows a large discrepancy between Tb(3+) and Eu(3+) despite their similarity in size, a phenomenon known as the "gadolinium break". This discrepancy, based on the unusual stabilities of the Eu(2+) and Tb(4+) oxidation states, results from the half-shell effect, as both of these ions have half-filled 4f-shells. The high polarizability of Tb(3+) explains the extraordinarily large increase in the binding affinity of anions for terbium compared to other lanthanides. We recommend that researchers consider this AL-induced enhancement when designing lanthanide-macrocycle optical sensors. Ancillary ligands also can reduce the impact of interfering species such as phosphate commonly found in environmental and physiological samples.