Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Signals Research Articles

Pulsed Electron-Nuclear Double Resonance in the Fourier Regime.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy provides atomic-level molecular structural information. However, in molecules containing unpaired electron spins, NMR signals are difficult to measure directly. In such cases, data is obtained using the electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) method, where nuclei are detected through their interaction with nearby unpaired electron spins. Unfortunately, electron spins spread the ENDOR signals, which challenges current acquisition techniques, often resulting in low spectral resolution that provides limited structural details. Here, we show that by using miniature microwave resonators to detect a small number of electron spins, integrated with miniature NMR coils, one can excite and detect a wide bandwidth of ENDOR data in a single pulse. This facilitates the measurement of ENDOR spectra with narrow lines spread over a large frequency range at much better spectral resolution than conventional approaches, which helps reveal details of the paramagnetic molecules' chemical structure that were not accessible before.

Light-induced defect creation processes and light-induced defects in hydrogenated amorphous silicon

We have proposed a model of light-induced defect creation processes and light-induced defects. Recently, important results using pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) by Fehr et al. [M. Fehr, A. Schnegg, C. Teutloff, R. Bittl, O. Astakhov, F. Finger, B. Rech, K. Lips, Phys. Status Solidi A 207, 552 (2010)] have been reported, so that these results are interpreted on the basis of our model. Fehr et al. have observed ENDOR signals due to hydrogen nuclei distributed around a dangling bond. The ENDOR spectra due to hydrogen nuclei being located with distance of r from the dangling bond have been calculated, taking into accounts the dipolar interaction, and also the Fermi-type contact hyperfine interaction for the H-related dangling bond (HDB) that is a dangling bond having hydrogen at a nearby site. The typical features of the observed ENDOR spectra are that the spectrum has a shoulder at the low frequency side from the natural NMR frequency of hydrogen and it has a dip in the central part. The calculated ENDOR spectrum of HDB exhibits such a shoulder. This is consistent with our model of light-induced defects such as HDB. The ENDOR spectra with various values of r are calculated. In this paper, we also deal with the distant ENDOR precisely, using the theory of distant ENDOR by Lambe et al. [J. Lambe, N. Laurance, K.C. McIrvine, R.W. Terhune, Phys. Rev. 122, 1161 (1961)]. The calculated distant ENDOR spectrum shows a dip in the central part. Concerning the dip, Fehr et al. attribute the dip to be due to the suppression of the matrix ENDOR line (this is called the artifact). Thus, it is not obvious whether the dip is due to such an artifact or the central part of the distant ENDOR spectrum.

Influence of the Chemical Modification of the Nanodiamond Surface on Electron Paramagnetic Resonance/Electron-Nuclear Double Resonance Spectra of Intrinsic Nitrogen Defects

A high-frequency/high-magnetic field (94 GHz/3.3 T) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) study of monocrystalline nanodiamonds (ND) is carried out. Influence of the hydrogen and fluorine modification of the ND surface on EPR and ENDOR signals from the superficial and bulk paramagnetic centers is observed. The effect shows that the ND bulk paramagnetic centers could serve as the intrinsic probe of ND surface modification despite deep localization, shielding from the environment and two-layered surface of the diamond nanoparticle.

Magnetic structure of manganese cluster in photosystem II investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance.

The electronic structure of manganese (Mn) cluster in photosystem II was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. In order to determine the spin density distribution in magnetically coupled Mn in the S2 state Mn cluster, pulsed electron–electron double resonance (PELDOR) measurement was performed. The local environment of the Mn cluster was investigated by electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR). Using spin projections determined by PELDOR, ENDOR signals were assigned to the water molecules ligated to the Mn cluster. The location of a high-affinity Mn2+ site in apo-photosystem II, which is the initial site of photoactivation of the Mn cluster, was determined by PELDOR.

ESR分光法による光化学系IIの酸素発生系Mnクラスターの構造解析

Electronic structure of Manganese cluster in photosystem II was investigated by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Spin projections on Mn ions in S2 state manganese cluster were determined by Pulsed Electron-Electron Double Resonance (PELDOR). Protons surrounded manganese cluster were detected by Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR). Based on obtained spin projections, ENDOR signals were assigned to the water molecules ligated to manganese cluster. PELDOR technique was applied to the determination of the high affinity Mn2+ site in apo-photosystem II, which is the key site of photo-activation process of manganese cluster.

EPR and ENDOR Investigation of Rhodosemiquinone in Bacterial Reaction Centers Formed by B-Branch Electron Transfer

In photosynthetic bacteria, light-induced electron transfer takes place in a protein called the reaction center (RC) leading to the reduction of a bound ubiquinone molecule, Q(B), coupled with proton binding from solution. We used electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) to study the magnetic properties of the protonated semiquinone, an intermediate proposed to play a role in proton coupled electron transfer to Q(B). To stabilize the protonated semiquinone state, we used a ubiquinone derivative, rhodoquinone, which as a semiquinone is more easily protonated than ubisemiquinone. To reduce this low-potential quinone we used mutant RCs modified to directly reduce the quinone in the Q(B) site via B-branch electron transfer (Paddock et al. in Biochemistry 44:6920-6928, 2005). EPR and ENDOR signals were observed upon illumination of mutant RCs in the presence of rhodoquinone. The EPR signals had g values characteristic of rhodosemiquinone (g(x) = 2.0057, g(y) = 2.0048, g(z) ∼ 2.0018) at pH 9.5 and were changed at pH 4.5. The ENDOR spectrum showed couplings due to solvent exchangeable protons typical of hydrogen bonds similar to, but different from, those found for ubisemiquinone. This approach should be useful in future magnetic resonance studies of the protonated semiquinone.

Room Temperature Solution ENDOR of some Super Stable Fluorocarbon Radicals

Room temperature fluorine electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) has been successfully observed for several superstable fluorocarbon radicals ·C(C2F4R)(i-C3F7)2 in solution. Three radicals were employed in which CF3, F, and O-c-C6F10SO3C2F5 were introduced as R, and all the hyperfine couplings (hfcs) obtained by ENDOR were assigned with the help of ESR simulation and ab initio MO calculation. In case of ·C(i-C3F7)3 large 13C and considerable β-fluorine couplings suggest the nonplaner arrangement for the central and three carbons at the β-position, in spite of the fact that all the methyl fluorine show the same hfc. Therefore, a rapid puckering motion along the C3 axis together with the methyl rotation should average the hfc’s of the 18 fluorine nuclei to give the same value. When one of the CF3 groups is substituted with an F nucleus, the five CF3 groups give two hfc values, suggesting some dynamics still exists for the molecular frame. When a large group, O-c-C6F10SO3C2F5, is substituted for CF3, all the five CF3 groups become nonequivalent and the ENDOR signal becomes intensive and sharp even at 290 K, indicating that the molecular frame becomes rigid. The relation between the ENDOR spectra of these systems and the intramolecular dynamics is discussed.

Evidence for Conformational Movement and Radical Mechanism in the Reaction of 4-Thia-l-lysine with Lysine 5,6-Aminomutase

We demonstrate that the steady state reaction of lysine 5,6-aminomutase with substrate analogue 4-thia-l-lysine generates a radical intermediate, which accumulates in the enzyme to an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detectable level. EPR line width narrowing of approximately 1 mT due to [4'-(2)H] labeling of the pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), an isotropic hyperfine coupling of 40 MHz for the proton at C4' of PLP derived from (2)H electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) measurement, and spin density delocalization onto the (31)P of PLP realized from observations of the (31)P ENDOR signal provide unequivocal identification of the radical as a substrate-PLP-based species. X- and Q-band EPR spectra fittings demonstrate that this radical is spin coupled with the low spin Co(2+) in cob (II) alamin and the distance between the two species is about 10 A. These results provide direct evidence for the active site motion upon substrate binding, bringing the adenosylcobalamin to the proximity of substrate-PLP for subsequent H-atom abstraction and for the notion that lysine 5,6-aminomutase functions by a radical mechanism. Observation of (2)H-ENDOR signal also provides a reliable hyperfine coupling constant for future comparison with quantum-mechanical-based calculations to gain further insight into the molecular structure of this steady state radical intermediate.

Electron spin resonance and electron nuclear double resonance of photogenerated polarons in polyfluorene and its fullerene composite

Electron spin resonance (ESR) and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) of photogenerated polarons in poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) and its composite with fullerene $({\text{C}}_{60})$ using variable photoexcitation energy up to 4.1 eV are reported. For PFO, a light-induced ESR (LESR) signal $(g=2.003)$ is observed below 60 K, and its transient response and excitation spectrum indicate that the observed spins are photogenerated polarons on PFO. For the ${\text{PFO-C}}_{60}$ composite, two LESR signals of photogenerated positive polarons on PFO $({g}_{1}=2.003)$ and radical anions on ${\text{C}}_{60}$ $({g}_{2}=1.999)$, respectively, are observed below 120 K, which are caused by photoinduced electron transfer from PFO to ${\text{C}}_{60}$. A remarkable enhancement of the LESR signals in the excitation spectrum at $\ensuremath{\sim}2.8\text{ }\text{eV}$ is observed compared with the case of pure PFO. The bimolecular-recombination kinetics of photogenerated charge carriers in the composite are confirmed by the dependence of the LESR on excitation-light intensity and by the decay dynamics. Light-induced ENDOR (LENDOR) signals are clearly observed for excitation around 2.8 eV owing to the highly efficient photoinduced electron transfer in the composite. Broad LENDOR shifts directly reflect the spin-density distribution of the polarons in PFO. We have determined its maximum shift using LENDOR-induced ESR, and have evaluated the maximum spin density on the carbon site coupled to the proton as 0.032. This value is consistent with the theoretical result obtained by Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) model, where the spatial extent of the polarons is calculated as $\ensuremath{\sim}3$ monomer units of PFO. The calculated LESR spectra of PFO based on the PPP model are consistent with the experimental spectra, which confirm the above spatial extension of the polaron in PFO.

A W-band pulsed EPR/ENDOR study of CoIIS4 coordination in the Co[(SPPh2)(SPiPr2)N]2 complex

Spin-echo detection at 95 GHz enables an electron-paramagnetic-resonance study of a cobalt complex with a bio-mimetic coordination of the transition metal by four sulfur atoms. A magnetically diluted single crystal of the complex has been investigated in great detail. Electron-nuclear double-resonance signals were observed of ligand nuclei and complete hyperfine tensors of the distinct phosphorus nuclei were derived, assigned and discussed.

Integrated Paramagnetic Resonance of High-Spin Co(II) in Axial Symmetry: Chemical Separation of Dipolar and Contact Electron−Nuclear Couplings

Integrated paramagnetic resonance, utilizing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), NMR, and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), of a series of cobalt bis-trispyrazolylborates, Co(Tp ( x )) 2, are reported. Systematic substitutions at the ring carbons and on the apical boron provide a unique opportunity to separate through-bond and through-space contributions to the NMR hyperfine shifts for the parent, unsubstituted Tp complex. A simple relationship between the chemical shift difference (delta H - delta Me) and the contact shift of the proton in that position is developed. This approach allows independent extraction of the isotropic hyperfine coupling, A iso, for each proton in the molecule. The Co..H contact coupling energies derived from the NMR, together with the known metrics of the compounds, were used to predict the ENDOR couplings at g perpendicular. Proton ENDOR data is presented that shows good agreement with the NMR-derived model. ENDOR signals from all other magnetic nuclei in the complex ( (14)N, coordinating and noncoordinating, (11)B and (13)C) are also reported.

Structural basis for VO2+ inhibition of nitrogenase activity (A): 31P and 23Na interactions with the metal at the nucleotide binding site of the nitrogenase Fe protein identified by ENDOR spectroscopy

We previously reported the vanadyl hyperfine couplings of VO(2+)-ATP and VO(2+)-ADP complexes in the presence of the nitrogenase Fe protein from Klebsiella pneumoniae (Petersen et al. in Biochemistry 41:13253-13263, 2002). It was demonstrated that different VO(2+)-nucleotide coordination environments coexist and are distinguishable by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Here orientation-selective continuous-wave electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectra have been investigated especially in the low-radio-frequency range in order to identify superhyperfine interactions with nuclei other than protons. Some of these resonances have been attributed to the presence of a strong interaction with a 31P nucleus although no resolvable superhyperfine structure due to 31P or other nuclei was detected in the EPR spectra. The superhyperfine coupling component is determined to be about 25 MHz. Such a 31P coupling is consistent with an interaction of the metal with phosphorus from a directly, equatorially coordinated nucleotide phosphate group(s). Additionally, novel more prominent 31P ENDOR signals are detected in the low-frequency region. Some of these correspond to a relatively weak 31P coupling. This coupling is present with ATP for all pH forms but is absent with ADP. The ENDOR resonances of these weakly coupled 31P are likely to originate from an interaction of the metal with a nucleotide phosphate group of the nucleoside triphosphate and are attributed to a phosphorus with axial characteristics. Another set of resonances, split about the nuclear Zeeman frequency of 23Na, was detected, suggesting that a monovalent Na+ ion is closely associated with the divalent metal-nucleotide binding site. Na+ replacement by K+ unambiguously confirmed that ENDORs at radio frequencies between 3.0 and 4.5 MHz arise from an interaction with Na+ ions. In contrast to the low-frequency 31P signal, these resonances are present in spectra with both ADP and ATP, and for both low- and neutral-pH forms, although slight differences are detected, showing that these are sensitive to the nucleotide and pH.

The ups and downs of Feher-style ENDOR

A new transient variation of the “Feher-style” electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) method is examined. In this technique, the passage-mode electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal is monitored following the application of a pulsed radio frequency (RF). Continuous-wave and transient proton ENDOR experiments have been conducted on the nonheme iron center from the protein nitrile hydratase. These experiments show that the transient ENDOR signal response exhibits a complex response with multiple phases in the time evolution of the ENDOR signal. Both increases and decreases in the passage-mode EPR signals are observed at different times following the RF pulse that induces an ENDOR transition. A simple model based on a packet-shifting ENDOR mechanism for a nonadiabatic passage EPR signal is proposed. This model describes many of the features seen in the transient ENDOR experiments and provides new insight into the traditional Feher-style ENDOR measurements. This new model shows that a packet-shifting mechanism can account for many of the “negative ENDOR” effects commonly seen in Feher-style ENDOR, which suggests that more exotic ENDOR mechanisms may not be required to explain these observations.

An improved TM110 resonator for continuous-wave ENDOR studies at X-band

An improved TM110 resonator for continuous-wave and time-resolved electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) studies at X-band frequencies is described that has been designed with small samples and/or light excitation in mind. The filling factor is increased by reducing the resonator length to only 16 mm. The radio-frequency field is generated by either a conventional solenoid for stable samples or by a pair of coils for samples which require photoexcitation. This arrangement leaves the central volume of the resonator free for optimal sample illumination, which is achieved through a slit in the wall of the resonator. Microwave coupling is achieved by the incorporation of an iris in the top of the resonator, and magnetic field modulation is applied by external coils. The resonator’s high sensitivity is illustrated by a study of the temperature dependence of the continuous-wave ENDOR signal of the stable neutral flavin radical in DNA photolyase and an investigation of the photoexcited triplet state of free-base tetraphenylbacteriochlorin by time-resolved ENDOR.

Electronic Structure of Binuclear Mixed Valence Copper Azacryptates Derived from Integrated Advanced EPR and DFT Calculations

Binuclear, mixed valence copper complexes with a [Cu(+1)(.5), Cu(+1)(.5)] redox state and S = (1)/(2) can be stabilized with rigid azacryptand ligands. In this system the unpaired electron is delocalized equally over the two copper ions, and it is one of the very few synthetic models for the electron mediating Cu(A) site of nitrous oxide reductase and cytochrome c oxidase. The spatial and electronic structures of the copper complex in frozen solution were obtained from the magnetic interactions, namely the g-tensor and the (63,65)Cu, (14)N, (2)H, and (1)H hyperfine couplings, in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The magnetic interactions were determined from continuous wave (CW) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), pulsed electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), two-dimensional TRIPLE, and hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy (HYSCORE) carried out at W-band or/and X-band frequencies. The DFT calculated g and Cu hyperfine values were in good agreement with the experimental values showing that the structure in solution is indeed close to that of the optimized structure. Then, the DFT calculated hyperfine parameters were used as guidelines and starting points in the simulations of the various experimental ENDOR spectra. A satisfactory agreement with the experimental results was obtained for the (14)N hyperfine and quadrupole interactions. For (1)H the DFT calculations gave good predictions for the hyperfine tensor orientations and signs, and they were also successful in reproducing trends in the magnitude of the various proton hyperfine couplings. These, in turn, were very useful for ENDOR signals assignments and served as constraints on the simulation parameters.

Dynamic nuclear polarization and nuclear magnetic resonance in the vicinity of edge states of a 2DES in GaAs quantum wells

Nuclear magnetic resonance is detected via the in-plane conductivity of a two-dimensional electron system at unity Landau level filling factor in the regime of the quantum Hall effect in narrow and wide quantum wells. The NMR is spatially selective to nuclei with a coupling to electrons in the current carrying edge states at the perimeter of the 2DES. Interpretation of the electron-nuclear double resonance signals is facilitated by numerical simulations. A new RF swept method for conductivity-detected NMR is introduced which offers more efficient signal averaging. The method is applied to the study of electric quadrupole interactions, weakly allowed overtone transitions, and evaluation of the extent of electron wave function delocalization in the wide quantum well.

Determination of the g-matrix orientation in flavin radicals by high-field/high-frequency electron-nuclear double resonance

A high-microwave-frequency/high-magnetic-field pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) study performed at 94 GHz on the flavin semiquinone cofactor of Xenopus laevis (6-4) photolyase in its neutral radical state is presented. Although the principal values of the flavin radical's g-matrix are not fully resolved in the 94-GHz EPR spectrum in a nonoriented sample, the orientation of the principal axes of g is obtained by exploiting the orientation selection of the proton ENDOR signals from the methyl protons at C-8alpha and the deuteron ENDOR signals from D-5 in an enzyme sample in deuterated buffer. This procedure for assigning the orientation of g relative to the molecular frame makes use of commercially available ENDOR instrumentation without the necessity to perform single-crystal studies.

An organometallic intermediate during alkyne reduction by nitrogenase.

Nitrogenase is the metalloenzyme that catalyzes the nucleotide-dependent reduction of N(2), as well as reduction of a variety of other triply bonded substrates, including the alkyne, acetylene. Substitution of the alpha-70(Val) residue in the nitrogenase MoFe protein by alanine expands the range of substrates to include short-chain alkynes not reduced by the unaltered protein. Rapid freezing of the alpha-70(Ala) nitrogenase MoFe protein during reduction of the alkyne propargyl alcohol (HC triple bond CH(2)OH; PA) traps an S = (1)/(2) intermediate state of the active-site metal cluster, the FeMo-cofactor. We have combined CW and pulsed (13)C ENDOR (electron-nuclear double resonance) with two quantitative 35 GHz (1,2)H ENDOR techniques, Mims pulsed ENDOR and the newly devised "stochastic field-modulated" ENDOR, to study this intermediate prepared with isotopically substituted ((13)C, (1,2)H) propargyl alcohol in H(2)O and D(2)O buffers. These measurements allow the first description of a trapped nitrogenase reduction intermediate. The S = (1)/(2) turnover intermediate generated during the reduction of PA contains the 3-carbon chain of PA and exhibits resolved (1,2)H ENDOR signals from three protons, two strongly coupled (H(a)) and one weakly coupled (H(b)); H(a)(c) originates as the C3 proton of PA, while H(a)(s) and H(b) are solvent-derived. The two H(a) protons have identical hyperfine tensors, despite having different origins. The equality of the (H(a)(s), H(a)(c)) hyperfine tensors strongly constrains proposals for the structure of the cluster-bound reduced PA. Through consideration of model structures found in the Cambridge Structural Database, we propose that the intermediate contains a novel bio-organometallic complex in which a reduction product of propargyl alcohol binds as a metalla-cyclopropane ring to a single Fe atom of the Fe-S face of the FeMo-cofactor that is composed of Fe atoms 2, 3, 6, and 7. Of the two most attractive structures, one singly reduced at C3 (4), the other being the doubly reduced allyl alcohol product (6), we tentatively favor 6 because of the "natural" assignment it affords for H(b).

Improving W-band pulsed ENDOR sensitivity—random acquisition and pulsed special TRIPLE

Two approaches for improving the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of W-band pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectra are presented. One eliminates base-line problems while the other enhances the ENDOR effect. High field ENDOR spectra measured at low temperatures often suffer from highly distorted base-lines due to the heating effect of the RF pulses that causes some detuning of the cavity and therefore leads to a reduction in the echo intensity. This is a severe problem because it often masks broad and weak ENDOR signals. We show that it can be eliminated by recording the ENDOR spectrum in a random, rather than the standard sequential variation of the RF frequency. The S/N of the ENDOR spectrum can be significantly enhanced by the application of the pulse analog of the continuous wave (CW) special TRIPLE experiment. While this experiment is not applicable in the solid state at conventional X-band frequencies, at W-band it is most efficient. We demonstrate the efficiency of the special TRIPLE Davies and Mims experiments on single crystals and orientationally disordered systems.

14N Mines Pulsed-ENDOR of Proximal Histidine and Heme of Aquometmyoglobin and Fluormetmyoglobin

Previous <TEX>$^{19}F\;and\;^{1,2}H$</TEX> electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) study of fluorometmyoglobin (MbF) in frozen-solution state provided sensitive tools sensing subtle structural changes of the heme that are not obtainable from X-ray. [Fann et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 6019] Because of the intrinsic inhomogeneouse EPR line broadening effect of MbF in frozen-solution state, detection of the intrinsic inhomogeneouse EPR line broadening effect of MbF in frozen-solution state, detection of the electronic and geometrical changes of the heme ring itself and the proximal histidine by using <TEX>$^{14}N$</TEX> CW ENDOR was interfered. In the present study, hyperfine-sensitive <TEX>$^{14}N$</TEX> Mims ENDOR technique of pulsed-EPR was employed to probe the changes. With two different <TEX>$\tau$</TEX> values of 128 and 196 ns, <TEX>$^{14}N$</TEX> ENDOR signals of the heme and proximal histidine were completely resolved at <TEX>$g'_{II}(=g_e=2)$</TEX>. This study present that X-band <TEX>$^{14}N$</TEX> Mims ENDOR sequence can sensitively detect the small changes of the spin densities and p orbital populations of the proximal and the heme nitrogens, caused by ligand and pH variation of the distal site.