Induced Circular Dichroism Spectra Research Articles

Advantages of Induced Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy for Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Solution-Phase Cyclodextrin Host-Guest Complexes.

The presence of a chiral or chirally perturbed chromophore in the molecule under investigation is a fundamental requirement for the appearance of a circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. For native and for most of the substituted cyclodextrins, this condition is not applicable, because although chiral, cyclodextrins lack a chromophore group and therefore have no characteristic CD spectra over 220 nm. The reason this method can be used is that if the guest molecule has a chromophore group and this is in the right proximity to the cyclodextrin, it becomes chirally perturbed. As a result, the complex will now provide a CD signal, and this phenomenon is called induced circular dichroism (ICD). The appearance of the ICD spectrum is clear evidence of the formation of the complex, and the spectral sign and intensity is a good predictor of the structure of the complex. By varying the concentration of cyclodextrin, the ICD signal changes, resulting in a saturation curve, and from these data, the stability constant can be calculated for a 1:1 complex. This article compares ICD and NMR spectroscopic and molecular modeling results of cyclodextrin complexes of four model compounds: nimesulide, fenbufen, fenoprofen, and bifonazole. The results obtained by the different methods show good agreement, and the structures estimated from the ICD spectra are supported by NMR data and molecular modeling.

Spectroscopic and Computational pH Study of NiII and PdII Pyrrole-Imine Chelates with Human Serum Albumin.

Human serum albumin (HSA) efficiently transports drugs in vivo: most are organic. Therefore, it is important to delineate the binding of small molecules to HSA. Here, for the first time, we show that HSA binding depends not only on the identity of the d8 metal ion, NiII or PdII, of their complexes with bis(pyrrole-imine), H2PrPyrr, but on the pH level as well. Fluorescence quenching data for native and probe-bound HSA showed that sites close to Trp-214 (subdomain IIA) are targeted. The affinity constants, Ka, ranged from ~3.5 × 103 M-1 to ~1 × 106 M-1 at 37 °C, following the order Pd(PrPyrr) > Ni(PrPyrr) at pH levels of 4 and 7; but Ni(PrPyrr) > Pd(PrPyrr) at a pH level of 9. Ligand uptake is enthalpically driven, dependent mainly on London dispersion forces. The induced CD spectra for the protein-bound ligands could be simulated by hybrid QM:MM TD-DFT methods, allowing us to delineate the binding site of the ligands and to prove that the metal chelates neither decompose nor demetallate after uptake by HSA. The transport and delivery of the metal chelates by HSA in vivo is therefore feasible.

Complexities of the Interaction of NiII, PdII and PtII Pyrrole‐Imine Chelates with Human Serum Albumin**

AbstractHuman serum albumin (HSA) efficiently transports drugs in vivo: most are organic. Here, HSA binding affinity and site specificity are shown to depend on the identity of the d8 metal ion in NiII, PdII and PtII chelates of the bis(pyrrole‐imine) ligand H2PrPyrr. Fluorescence quenching data for native and probe‐bound HSA showed sites close to Trp‐214 (subdomain IIA) are targeted. The Stern‐Volmer constants, KSV, ranged from 104 M−1 to 105 M−1 while the affinity constants, Ka, ranged from ∼3.5×103 M−1 to ∼1×106 M−1 at 37 °C, following the order Pd(PrPyrr) > Pt(PrPyrr) > Ni(PrPyrr) > H2PrPyrr. Ligand uptake is enthalpically driven, hinging mainly on London dispersion forces. Induced CD spectra for the protein‐bound ligands could be simulated by hybrid QM:MM TD‐DFT methods, proving that the metal chelates neither decompose nor demetallate after uptake by HSA. Transport and delivery of the metal chelates by HSA in vivo could therefore be feasible.

Probing the Tl+-induced structural transformation of G-rich DNA to G-quadruplex with a label‐free thioflavin T-based biosensor

More than 700,000 G-rich sequences in the human genome are able to form G-quadruplex (G4). Since G4 is closely relevant to a variety of essential biological regulatory processes, identification of these G-rich DNAs (G-rich → G4) is thus important for DNA-involved interactions, e.g., metal ions and small molecules. Circular dichroism (CD) and NMR are the dominated tools for studying G4 DNA-based interactions, but suffers from low sensitivity. Herein, with toxic Tl+ as the model inducer, we demonstrated that thioflavin T (ThT), a typical label-free G4 dye, could be explored for highly sensitive probing of Tl+-induced structural transformation of G-rich DNAs to G4. With several model G4-forming DNAs, it was found that the Tl+-induced CD spectra developments correlated well with its fluorescence modulation on ThT (ThT-DNA → ThT-DNA-Tl+). In other words, the Tl+-induced structural change (Free State → G4) could be well probed with the ThT fluorescence change. For typical non-G4-forming DNAs, no appreciable ThT fluorescence modulation was received. To further increase the accuracy of picking up G4-forming DNAs from unknown samples, the photophysical parameters (absorption, fluorescence emission, and fluorescence lifetime) change of ThT before and after Tl+ modulation were integrated to develop a two-step linear discrimination analysis (LDA) protocol, with cross-validation accuracy of over 90%. After picking up G4-forming DNAs from the unknown samples, the Tl+-induced structural transformation of G4 DNAs could be thus evaluated.

Chlorine Atoms of an Aripiprazole Molecule Control the Geometry and Motion of Aripiprazole and Deschloro-aripiprazole in Subdomain IIIA of Human Serum Albumin.

Aripiprazole (ARP), an antipsychotic drug, binds more strongly to human serum albumin (HSA) than the other ARP derivatives. In addition, the signs for the extrinsic Cotton effects for HSA complexed with ARP or deschloro-ARP are reversed. In this study, we report on a structural–chemical approach using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations. The objective was to examine the relationship between the induced CD spectra and the structural features of the HSA complexes with ARP or deschloro-ARP. The intensity of the induced CD spectra of the HSA complexes with ARP or deschloro-ARP was reduced with increasing temperature. We determined the crystal structure of the HSA complexed with deschloro-ARP in this study and compared it to HSA complexed with ARP that we reported previously. The comparison of these structures revealed that both ARP and deschloro-ARP were bound at the site II pocket in HSA and that the orientation of the molecules was nearly identical. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the molecular motions of ARP and deschloro-ARP within the site II pocket were different from one another and the proportion of stacking interaction formations of Tyr411 with the dihydroquinoline rings of ARP and deschloro-ARP was also different. These findings indicate that the induced CD spectra are related to the molecular motions and dynamic interactions of ARP and deschloro-ARP in HSA and may help to understand the molecular recognition and motion that occurs within the binding site for the other HSA ligands more clearly.

Fluorescent Analogues of FRH Peptide: Cu(II) Binding and Interactions with ds-DNA/RNA

Four novel peptidoids, derived from the Phe-Arg-His (FRH) peptide motif, were prepared by replacing the histidine heterocycle with triazole and consequent triazole-fluorophore (coumarin) extension and also replacing arginine with less voluminous lysine. So the constructed Phe-Lys-Ala(triazole) (FKA(triazole)) peptidoids bind Cu2+ cations in water with a strong, nanomolar affinity comparable to the parent FRH and its known analogs, demonstrating that triazole can coordinate copper similarly as histidine. Moreover, even short KA(triazole)coumarin showed submicromolar affinity to Cu2+. Only FKA(triazole)coumarin with free amino groups and its shorter analog KA(triazole)coumarin showed strong induced CD spectra upon Cu2+ cation binding. Thus, KA(triazole)coumarin can be considered as the shortest peptidoid sequence with highly sensitive fluorescent and chiral CD response for Cu2+ cation, encouraging further studies with other metal cations. The FKA(triazole) coumarin peptidoids show biorelevant, 10 µM affinity to ds-DNA and ds-RNA, binding within DNA/RNA grooves. Intriguingly, only peptidoid complexes with Cu2+ strongly stabilize ds-DNA and ds-RNA against thermal denaturation, suggesting significant interactions of Cu2+ cation within the DNA/RNA binding site.

Two new diterpenoids from the stems of Rhododendron dauricum as GABAA receptor agonists

Two new diterpenoids, dauricumins A (1) and B (2), together with two known aromatic meroterpenoids (3 and 4), were isolated from the petroleum ether soluble fraction of the stems from Rhododendron dauricum through an HPLC-MS-SPE-NMR combination strategy. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were elucidated by ECD calculations and [Rh2 (OCOCF3)4]-induced CD spectrum analysis. In a membrane potential FLIPR assay, confluentin (4) showed an agonistic effect on GABAA receptor (EC50 = 20 µM).

Flavylium Dye as pH-Tunable Fluorescent and CD Probe for Double-Stranded DNA and RNA

The interaction of 4′-(N,N-dimethylamino)-6-hydroxyflavylium cation with double stranded (ds-) DNA/RNA was studied by UV/Vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism (CD), and also steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopies at neutral and weakly acidic conditions. At pH 5, the studied molecule, in its flavylium cationic form, showed considerable binding affinities (5 < logKs < 6) for all ds-DNA/RNA, contrary to chalcones forms (dominant at pH 7), which did not show binding to polynucleotides. Flavylium cation intercalated into ds-DNAs at variance to dominant groove aggregation within ds-RNA, which was reported by RNA-specific bisignate induced CD spectrum (ICD) bands. The intrinsically negligible fluorescence of flavylium was strongly increased upon the addition of DNA or RNA, whereby both the fluorescence intensity and emission lifetimes of complexes differed considerably: the strongest emission increase was observed for AU-RNA (detection limit estimated to 10 nM) followed by AT-DNAs and the much weaker effect of GC-DNAs. Both fluorescence sensitivity on the ds-DNA/RNA secondary structure and sequence-selective ICD bands make the flavylium–chalcones system an intriguing pH-switchable new probe for distinguishing between various polynucleotide sequences.

Optically Active Polymers with Cationic Units Connected through Neutral Spacers: Helical Conformation and Chirality Transfer to External Molecules

Cationic chiral polymers consisting of a chiral “Arg monomeric unit” consisting of two l-arginine moieties joined together through an oxyhexane-1,6-diyloxy spacer unit and achiral “Sp monomeric unit” based on the spermine moiety where the two units are connected through a 1,4-dioxobutane-1,4-diyl spacer unit (“C2 monomeric unit”) were prepared in the cationic form as a salt of p-toluenesulfonic acid. Polymer conformation could not be directly deduced from circular dichroism (CD) spectra based on the amide group bands (200–240 nm), which are generally used to quantify α-helical, β-sheet, and random coil residues because of spectral overlapping with the p-toluenesulfonate bands. On the other hand, a helical conformation was proposed on the basis of the relation between CD intensity and Arg monomeric unit ratio of polymers, while the proposed conformation may not be highly ordered but rather fragmented and partial. The helix-forming propensity of a polymer consisting of a higher Arg monomeric unit ratio was supported by MD simulations in water and in vacuum. The copolymer consisting of 100% Arg monomeric units [poly(Arg100-C2)], the one consisting of 42% Arg monomeric units and 58% Sp monomeric units [poly(Arg50-C2–Sp50-C2)], and the one consisting of 20% Arg monomeric units and 80% Sp monomeric units [poly(Arg25-C2–Sp75-C2)] exhibited chirality transfer to methyl orange (MO), where transfer was most efficient with poly(Arg50-C2–Sp50-C2). Chirality transfer efficiency also remarkably varied depending on the standing time of polymer solution in H2O before it is mixed with MO, the time after mixing, and the concentration of the polymer. Theoretical calculations of absorbance and CD spectra of polymer–MO complexes suggested that the induced CD spectra mostly having bisignet spectral patterns are not based on exciton coupling between two MO molecules bound to the polymer chain but are composed of independent excitation bands. The design of chiral macromolecules introduced in this work based on a chain composed of charged chiral and achiral units separated by neutral achiral linker (spacer) units has not been studied from a view of chiral polymeric materials. Such a design of polymer chain may be applicable to a wider variety of chemical structures and will largely widen the scope of optically active polymers with helical conformation.

Effects of Oxidation of Human Serum Albumin on the Binding of Aripiprazole.

Aripiprazole (ARP) is one of antipsychotics and binds to human serum albumin (HSA) with a high affinity. In this study, we investigated the binding characteristics of ARP to oxidized HSA as observed in chronic disease conditions. Oxidized HSAs were prepared using chloramine-T (CT-HSA) or metal-catalyzed oxidation system (MCO-HSA) in vitro, respectively. An increase in the carbonyl content was confirmed in oxidized HSAs. From the results of circular dichroism (CD) and tryptophan fluorescence spectra, no significant structural change of oxidized HSAs was observed. These results indicate that prepared HSAs are mildly oxidized and well reflects the status of HSA during chronic diseases. However, oxidized HSAs were observed to have a significant decrease in binding to ARP. The results of the induced CD spectrum suggested that ARP bound to oxidized HSAs with a similar orientation. These results suggest that oxidation of HSA during chronic disease state significantly affected the microenvironment of the binding site for ARP and binding capacity of HSA to ARP.

Structural effect of fluorophore on phenylboronic acid fluorophore/cyclodextrin complex for selective glucose recognition

Based on the design of the fluorescent site of a fluorescent probe, we have created a unique system that changes its twisting response to sugar. Two probes were synthesized, in which phenylboronic acid and two kinds of aromatic fluorescent site (pyrene or anthracene) were conjugated by an amide bond. In the fluorescence measurement of pyrene-type probe 1, dimer fluorescence was observed at high pH. In induced circular dichroism (ICD) experiments, a response was observed only in the presence of glucose and γ-cyclodextrin, and no response was seen with fructose. On the other hand, in the fluorescence measurement of anthracene-type probe 2, dimer fluorescence was observed in the presence of both glucose and galactose, and the fluorescence was different from the case of fructose. When the ICD spectra of these inclusion complexes were measured, an inversion of the Cotton effect, which indicates a change in the twisted structure, was observed in galactose and glucose. These differences in response to monosaccharides may originate in the interaction between the fluorescent site and the cyclodextrin cavity.

Methyl divanillate: redox properties and binding affinity with albumin of an antioxidant and potential NADPH oxidase inhibitor.

Vanillic acid is a widely used food additive (flavouring agent, JECFA number: 959) with many reported beneficial biological effects. The same is true for its ester derivative (methyl vanillate, JECFA number: 159). Based on the increasing evidence that diapocynin, the dimer of apocynin (NADPH oxidase inhibitor), has some improved pharmacological properties compared to its monomer, here the dimer of methyl vanillate (MV), i.e., methyl divanillate (dimer of methyl vanillate, DMV) was synthesized and studied in the context of its redox properties and binding affinity with human serum albumin (HSA). We found that the antioxidant potency of DMV was significantly increased compared to MV. In this regard, the reduction of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical by DMV was 30-fold more effective compared to MV. Ferric ion reduction was 4-fold higher and peroxyl radical reduction was 2.7-fold higher. The interaction with HSA was significantly improved (Stern–Vomer constants, 3.8 × 105 mol−1 L and 2.3 × 104 mol−1 L, for DMV and MV, respectively). The complexation between DMV and HSA was also evidenced by induced circular dichroism (ICD) signal generation in the former due to its fixation in the asymmetric protein pocket. Density-functional calculations (TD-DFT) showed that the ICD spectrum was related to a DMV conformation bearing a dihedral angle of approximately −60°. Similar dihedral angles were obtained in the lowest and most populated DMV cluster poses obtained by molecular docking simulations. The computational studies and experimental displacement studies revealed that DMV binds preferentially at site I. In conclusion, besides being a powerful antioxidant, DMV is also a strong ligand of HSA. This is the first study on the chemical and biophysical properties of DMV, a compound with potential beneficial biological effects.

Induced CD of iron(ii) clathrochelates: sensing of the structural and conformational alterations of serum albumins.

An ability of inherently achiral macrobicyclic metal complexes iron(ii) clathrochelates to acquire an induced CD (ICD) output in the visible spectral range upon interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was recently discovered. In the present work, the CD-reporting properties of iron(ii) clathrochelates to proteins and the thermodynamic parameters of their binding to albumins are evaluated. It is shown that iron(ii) clathrochelates functionalized by six ribbed carboxyphenylsulfide groups are able to discriminate between serum albumins of relative structure (here human and bovine albumins) by giving distinct ICD spectra. Besides, by the variation of the shape and intensity of CD bands, these cage metal complexes reflect the pH-triggered alterations of the tertiary structure of albumins. The constitutional isomerism (ortho-, meta- or para-isomers) of terminal carboxyphenylsulfide groups of iron(ii) clathrochelates strongly affects both the character of their ICD output upon binding with proteins and the parameters of the formed guest-host associates. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, it was determined that cage metal complexes bearing meta- and ortho-isomers of carboxyphenylsulfide groups possess higher association constants (Ka ∼ 2 × 104 M-1) and clathrochelate-to-BSA binding ratios (n = 2) than the para-isomer (Ka ∼ 5 × 103 M-1, n = 1). The iron(ii) clathrochelates are suggested to be potential molecular three-dimensional scaffolds for the design of CD-sensitive reporters able to recognize specific elements of protein surfaces.

Theoretical Investigation of Single-Molecule Sensing Using Nanotube-Enhanced Circular Dichroism.

First-principles calculations have been used to investigate the potential use of circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in single-molecule sensing. Using a real-space implementation of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), several systems involving single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and small molecules have been studied to evaluate their CD response. Large induced CD (ICD) effects, differing for each test molecule, were observed in all SWCNT-molecule complexes. As the SWCNT used in this study shows no intrinsic CD response, the ICD spectra are the result of interaction with the small molecules. This finding is general and independent of the (a)chiral nature of the adsorbed molecule. Our results indicate that it is possible to design a system that uses SWCNT for detection of molecules using the change in CD spectrum of the system induced by adsorption of the molecule onto the SWCNT surface.

Isomer-Specific Induced Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of Jet-Cooled Phenol Complexes with (-)-Methyl l-Lactate.

Induced circular dichroism (ICD) is the CD observed in the absorption of an achiral molecule bound to a transparent chiral molecule through noncovalent interactions. ICD spectroscopy has been used to probe the binding between molecules, such as protein-ligand interactions. However, most ICD spectra have been measured in solution, which only exhibit the averaged CD values of all conformational isomers in solution. Here, we obtained the first isomer-selective ICD spectra by applying resonant two-photon ionization CD spectroscopy to jet-cooled phenol complexes with (-)-methyl l-lactate (PhOH-(-)ML). The well-resolved CD bands in the spectra were assigned to two conformers, which contained different types of hydrogen-bonding interactions between PhOH and (-)ML. The ICD values of the two conformers have different signs and magnitudes, which were explained by differences both in the geometrical asymmetries of PhOH bound to (-)ML and in the electronic coupling strengths between PhOH and (-)ML.

Synthesis of Chiral Schiff Base Metal Complex Inducing CD and Elucidation of Structure of Adsorption on Surface of Gold Nanoparticles

We have prepared supramolecular systems of chiral Schiff base Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) complexes and colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNP) of 10 nm diameters. They demonstrated that direct adsorption of chiral Schiff base metal complex on the surface of AuNP owing to observation of clear induced CD spectra for the first time. We observed and discussed induced CD bands on AuNP from chiral Schiff base Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) complexes.

Penicillars A⿿E from the marine animal endogenic fungus Penicillium sp. SCS-KFD08

Five new compounds named penicillars A⿿E were isolated from the fermentation broth of Penicillium sp. SCS-KFD08 associated with the marine animal Sipunculus nudus from the Haikou bay of China. Their planar structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously elucidated by spectroscopic data, Mo2(OAc)4 induced CD spectrum analysis along with quantum ECD calculation. Among them, compounds 2 and 3, at a concentration of 50μg/mL, showed weak inhibitory activity against AChE with inhibition rates of 19.5% and 21.3%, respectively.

Chiral Recognition of 2-Alkylalcohols with Magnetic Circular Dichroism Measurement of Porphyrin J-Aggregate on Silica Gel Plate.

Simple chiral recognition method of 2-alkylalcohols on a silica gel plate was proposed by using the induced circular dichroism (ICD) of J-aggregates of diprotonated tetraphenylporphyrin and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrometry. To the silica gel on a glass slide including a chiral 2-alkylalcohol and 4 M sulfuric acid, the porphyrin in toluene was added and mixed. Then, the glass slide was used for in situ MCD measurement. The observed ICD spectra could recognize well the chirality of the alcohols and the ICD intensity normalized by the MCD intensity of the J-aggregate correlated linearly to the amount of the chiral alcohols in the silica gel.

Central-to-Axial Chirality Transfer-Induced CD Sensor for Chiral Recognition and ee Value Detection of 1,2-DACH Enantiomers

The paper is mainly focused on the induced circular dichroism (ICD) based on central-to-axial chirality transfer for direct chiral recognition and ee value detection of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (1,2-DACH) enantiomers. A novel achiral polymer sensor with potential axial chirality feature is designed and synthesized. This conjugated polymer incorporating biphenol moiety can bind chiral 1,2-DACH substrates via intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions, which could result in the detectable exciton-coupled circular dichroism (CD) spectrum due to the chirality transfer from an enantiopure building block to a dynamically racemic 1,1′-biphenyl-2,2′-diol moiety in the polymer chain backbone. The linear regression analysis of ICD sensing shows an excellent agreement between CD intensity and concentration of chiral 1,2-DACH, which indicates this biphenol-based achiral polymer can be used as a chiral sensor for direct recognition and ee value detection of 1,2-DACH enantiomers by using ICD spectra of achiral polymer sensor.

Albumin-induced circular dichroism in Congo red: Applications for studies of amyloid-like fibril aggregates and binding sites

Congo red (CR), one of the most commonly used dyes for the identification of amyloid fibril aggregates, is also a ligand of native bovine serum albumin (BSA). Induced circular dichroism (ICD) is a phenomenon observed when a chiral compound induces chirality in an achiral one. Here, we study the spectral properties and analytical applications of ICD in Congo red provoked by its interaction with BSA. The complex BSA:CR displays a strong ICD spectrum with a positive band at 412nm and two negative bands at 356 and 490nm. The use of site I and site II albumin ligands as warfarin and ibuprofen, respectively, provoked different alterations in the Congo red ICD spectrum. The BSA binding sites were modified by oxidation and the ICD signal was sensitive to this alteration. The thermal treatment of the BSA:CR complex (30–90°C) was monitored by ICD at 490nm and showed a sigmoidal pattern typical of phase transition in proteins. The altered ICD spectrum is consistent with the formation of amyloid-like fibril aggregates in BSA, which was confirmed by thioflavin T and Rayleigh scattering assays. In conclusion, the ICD provoked by the binding of Congo red to albumin may represent a new spectroscopic technique for studying alterations in the structure of albumin regarding its binding sites and the formation of amyloid aggregates.