Metal Chelation Site Research Articles

Stimulus-Responsive Prochelators for Manipulating Cellular Metals.

Metal ions are essential for a wide range of physiological processes, but they can also be toxic if not appropriately regulated by a complex network of metal trafficking proteins. Intervention in cellular metal distribution with small-molecule or peptide chelating agents has promising therapeutic potential to harness metals to fight disease. Molecular outcomes associated with forming metal-chelate interactions in situ include altering the concentration and subcellular metal distribution, inhibiting metalloenzymes, enhancing the reactivity of a metal species to elicit a favorable biological response, or passivating the reactivity of a metal species to prevent deleterious reactivity. The systemic administration of metal chelating agents, however, raises safety concerns due to the potential risks of indiscriminate extraction of metals from critical metalloproteins and inhibition of metalloenzymes. One can estimate that chelators capable of complexing metal ions with dissociation constants in the submicromolar range are thermodynamically capable of extracting metal ions from some metalloproteins and disrupting regular function. Such dissociation constants are easily attainable for multidentate chelators interacting with first-row d-block metal cations in relevant +1, + 2, and +3 oxidation states. To overcome this challenge of indiscriminate metal chelation, we have pursued a prodrug strategy for chelating agents in which the resulting "prochelator" has negligible metal binding affinity until a specific stimulus generates a favorable metal binding site. The prochelator strategy enables conditional metal chelation to occur preferentially in locations affected by disease- or therapy-associated stimuli, thereby minimizing off-target metal chelation. Our design of responsive prochelators encompasses three general approaches of activation: the "removal" approach operates by eliminating a masking group that blocks a potential metal chelation site to reveal the complete binding site under the desired conditions; the molecular "switch" approach involves a reversible conformational change between inactive and active forms of a chelator with differential metal binding affinity under specific conditions; and the "addition" approach adds a new ligand donor arm to the prochelator to constitute a complete metal chelation site. Adopting these approaches, we have created four categories of triggerable prochelators that respond to (1) reactive oxygen species, (2) light, (3) specific enzymes, and (4) biological regulatory events. This Account highlights progress from our group on building prochelators that showcase these four categories of responsive metal chelating agents for manipulating cellular metals. The creation and chemical understanding of such stimulus-responsive prochelators enables exciting applications for understanding the cell biology of metals and for developing therapies based on metal-dependent processes in a variety of diseases.

Metalated porous porphyrin polymers as efficient heterogeneous catalysts for cycloaddition of epoxides with CO2 under ambient conditions

We have successfully synthesized a porphyrin based porous organic polymer (POP-TPP) from free-radical polymerization of tetrastyrylporphyrin monomer under solvothermal conditions. Besides high surface area (1200m2/g) and high thermal stability, the obtained polymer features open metal chelating sites, and thus the catalytic activities of metalloporphyrins can be reasonably adjusted by introducing various metal ions. After metalation with Co3+, Zn2+, and Mg2+, the Co/POP-TPP, Zn/POP-TPP, and Mg/POP-TPP as heterogeneous catalysts are very active for cycloaddition of epoxides with CO2 to cyclic carbonates at ambient conditions with n-Bu4NBr as a nucleophilic additive. Particularly, under the relatively low CO2 concentration (15% in volume), the activity of heterogeneous Co/POP-TPP catalyst is even higher than that of the corresponding homogeneous Co/TPP catalyst. More importantly, there is no activity loss even if the Co/POP-TPP is recycled for 18 times. The excellent catalytic activity and superior recyclability of the obtained catalysts indicate that the porphyrin based porous organic polymer is a promising candidate for construction of efficient heterogeneous catalysts in the future.

2]Rotaxanes comprising a macrocylic Hamilton receptor obtained using active template synthesis: synthesis and guest complexation

A macrocyclic ring comprising multiple hydrogen-bonding sites as well as metal-chelating sites is shown to play the role of ligand in active templated, copper-catalysed [2]rotaxane formation via Huisgen and Glaser reactions. The crystallographic structure and copper ion binding studies are provided for the free macrocycle, along with molecular modelling, barbital, N,N′-trimethyleneurea and copper (I) binding information for the new rotaxanes.

Direct Measurement of the Nanomechanical Stability of a Redox Protein Active Site and Its Dependence upon Metal Binding.

The structural basis of the low reorganization energy of cupredoxins has long been debated. These proteins reconcile a conformationally heterogeneous and exposed metal-chelating site with the highly rigid copper center required for efficient electron transfer. Here we combine single-molecule mechanical unfolding experiments with statistical analysis and computer simulations to show that the metal-binding region of apo-azurin is mechanically flexible and that high mechanical stability is imparted by copper binding. The unfolding pathway of the metal site depends on the pulling residue and suggests that partial unfolding of the metal-binding site could be facilitated by the physical interaction with certain regions of the redox protein.

Cu II ‐Templated Threading of a Bis‐amide‐tris‐amine Macrocycle by Substituted 2,2′‐Bipyridyl Derivatives Assisted by Strong π–π Stacking and Second‐Sphere H‐Bonding Interactions (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 12/2014)

The cover picture shows a “wheel” that is composed of (1) a flexible tridentate metal-chelating site, (2) two parallel arene moieties that have potential for aromatic π–π stacking interactions with the aromatic part of the axle unit, and (3) a bis-amide functionality that can engage in hydrogen-bonding interactions with the suitable functional groups on the axle. The metal ion coordination and other two noncovalent interactions are operative simultaneously to obtain the maximum benefit of the templating strategy in the formation of the pseudorotaxane. Details are discussed in the article by P. Ghosh et al. on p. 2029 ff. For more on the story behind the cover research, see the Cover Profile.

A functionalized heterobimetallic99mTc/Re complex as a potential dual-modality imaging probe: synthesis, photophysical properties, cytotoxicity and cellular imaging investigations

A novel bimodal fluorescent/radiolabelled probe based on a pyridyltriazole scaffold (known as pyta) is reported here. The final dual imaging agent combines carboxylate functionalization, for biomolecule conjugation, with two distinct metal chelating sites: a pyta-based tricarbonylrhenium moiety as a fluorescent probe and a (99m)Tc(CO3)(+) core through the tridentate chelating iminodiacetic acid (IDA) clamp as a SPECT reporter. The heterodinuclear (99m)Tc/Re complex , as well as its non-radioactive dirhenium analog , was prepared in six steps. The (99m)Tc/Re agent is water-soluble and stable against histidine challenge. Its structural characterization was achieved by HPLC comparison with the non-radioactive complex . Upon excitation in the MLCT band at 321 nm, the compound exhibits a bright green luminescence centered at 496 nm, with a quantum yield of 0.86% in Tris buffer, pH 7.4. Additionally, the influence of this compound on cell viability was tested on malignant cell lines (A549, HT29 and MCF-7 human lung, colon and breast carcinomas, respectively). Cell viability after 72 h incubation at 37 °C with 300 μmol of complex was >60% for all cell lines. Finally, cellular uptake studies of compound were performed by fluorescent microscopy, showing that the complex was clearly detected at the cellular level in A549 cells and to a lesser extent in HT29 cells. Taking into consideration the luminescent properties, the good radiochemical purity and the promising biological data (in vitro stability, non-toxicity, and cell tracking in two cell lines), the functionalized (99m)Tc/Re dinuclear compound can be considered a potential pre- and intraoperative diagnostic probe.

Soccer goes BOXing: Synthetic access to novel [6:0] hexakis[(bisoxazolinyl)methano]fullerenes

The syntheses of [6:0] hexakis[(bisoxazolinyl)methano]fullerenes are presented. Two derivatives could be directly obtained using conditions developed by the Sun group. For the remaining products, a two stage protocol had to be developed. All compounds we obtained in synthetically useful scales and were purified via column chromatography with standard achiral phase. These new fullerene adducts bear six metal-chelation sites which are aligned in the three orthogonal space directions and are disposed on a completely rigid scaffold. First experiments indicate that the generation of six-fold metal-complexes is possible with these structures. This makes them very appealing as ligands in asymmetric catalysis and as building blocks in higher supra-molecular assemblies.

Highly Ordered Protein Nanorings Designed by Accurate Control of Glutathione S-Transferase Self-Assembly

Protein self-assembly into exquisite, complex, yet highly ordered architectures represents the supreme wisdom of nature. However, precise manipulation of protein self-assembly behavior in vitro is a great challenge. Here we report that by taking advantage of the cooperation of metal-ion-chelating interactions and nonspecific protein-protein interactions, we achieved accurate control of the orientation of proteins and their self-assembly into protein nanorings. As a building block, we utilized the C2-symmetric protein sjGST-2His, a variant of glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma japonicum having two properly oriented His metal-chelating sites on the surface. Through synergic metal-coordination and non-covalent interactions, sjGST-2His self-assembled in a fixed bending manner to form highly ordered protein nanorings. The diameters of the nanorings can be regulated by tuning the strength of the non-covalent interaction network between sjGST-2His interfaces through variation of the ionic strength of the solution. This work provides a de novo design strategy that can be applied in the construction of novel protein superstructures.

Construction of triazolyl bidentate glycoligands (TBGs) by grafting of 3-azidocoumarin to epimeric pyranoglycosides via a fluorogenic dual click reaction

Glycoligands, which feature a glycoside as the central template incorporating Lewis bases as metal chelation sites and various fluorophores as the chemical reporter, represent a range of interesting scaffolds for development of chemosensors. Here, new types of triazolyl bidentate glycoligands (TBGs) based on the grafting of 3-azidocoumarin to the C2,3- or C4,6-positions of three epimeric pyranoglycosides including a glucoside, a galactoside, and a mannoside were efficiently synthesized via a fluorogenic dual click reaction assisted by microwave irradiation. The desired TBGs were afforded in high conversion rates (>90%) and reasonable yields (∼70%). Moreover, a preliminary optical study of two hydroxyl-free glucoside-based TBGs indicates that these compounds are strongly fluorescent in pure water, implying their potential for ion detections in aqueous media.

Designing of nitrile hydratase from alkaline protease using quanidine hydrochloride and cobalt metal ion

Alkaline protease (22.5kDa) from Bacillus licheniformis was denatured using 3–6M Guanidine hydrochloride followed by renaturation with cobalt metal ion in buffer solution (pH 7.5) in order to design cobalt dependent nitrile hydratase AP-xMGdn-Co, where x=3, 4, 5 and 6. The native alkaline protease showed a 20% residual molar ellipticity at 212nm while on treatment with Gdn-HCl, it got reduced to 12% due to nearly complete collapse of the globular structure of the protein. The observed circular dichroism spectra of the renatured proteases with Co metal ion are different from the native enzyme, because those molecules contain many metal chelating sites through its coordinating amino acid residues. The introduction of cobalt centered new active site was evidenced by the fluorescence spectroscopy (appearance of a new peak at 360nm) and ICP analysis (0.0476–0.0553mg/L). The specific activities of the modified enzymes were measured using the selective catalytic hydrolysis of 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinamide. The highest specific activity of renatured enzymes (AP-xMGdn-Co) were obtained at optimum pH of 7.5 and temperature of 50°C, due to the proper co-ordination of amino acid residue with cobalt metal ion and the appropriate arrangement of α-helix, β-strand, turn and unordered segment in the globular structure.

Engineered Bi-Histidine Metal Chelation Sites Map the Structure of the Mechanical Unfolding Transition State of an Elastomeric Protein Domain GB1

Determining the structure of the transition state is critical for elucidating the mechanism behind how proteins fold and unfold. Due to its high free energy, however, the transition state generally cannot be trapped and studied directly using traditional structural biology methods. Thus, characterizing the structure of the transition state that occurs as proteins fold and unfold remains a major challenge. Here, we report a novel (to our knowledge) method that uses engineered bi-histidine (bi-His) metal-binding sites to directly map the structure of the mechanical unfolding transition state of proteins. This method is adapted from the traditional ψ-value analysis, which uses engineered bi-His metal chelation sites to probe chemical (un)folding transition-state structure. The ϕM2+U-value is defined as ΔΔG‡-N/ΔΔGU-N, which is the energetic effects of metal chelation by the bi-His site on the unfolding energy barrier (ΔG‡-N) relative to its thermodynamic stability (ΔGU-N) and can be used to obtain information about the transition state in the mutational site. As a proof of principle, we used the small protein GB1 as a model system and set out to map its mechanical unfolding transition-state structure. Using single-molecule atomic force microscopy and spectrofluorimetry, we directly quantified the effect of divalent metal ion binding on the mechanical unfolding free energy and thermodynamic stability of GB1, which allowed us to quantify ϕM2+U-values for different sites in GB1. Our results enabled us to map the structure of the mechanical unfolding transition state of GB1. Within GB1’s mechanical unfolding transition state, the interface between force-bearing β-strands 1 and 4 is largely disrupted, and the first β-hairpin is partially disordered while the second β-hairpin and the α-helix remain structured. Our results demonstrate the unique application of ψ-value analysis in elucidating the structure of the transition state that occurs during the mechanical unfolding process, offering a potentially powerful new method for investigating the design of novel elastomeric proteins.

Flexibility of the metal-binding region in apo-cupredoxins

Protein-mediated electron transfer is an essential event in many biochemical processes. Efficient electron transfer requires the reorganization energy of the redox event to be minimized, which is ensured by the presence of rigid donor and acceptor sites. Electron transfer copper sites are present in the ubiquitous cupredoxin fold, able to bind one or two copper ions. The low reorganization energy in these metal centers has been accounted for by assuming that the protein scaffold creates an entatic/rack-induced state, which gives rise to a rigid environment by means of a preformed metal chelating site. However, this notion is incompatible with the need for an exposed metal-binding site and protein-protein interactions enabling metallochaperone-mediated assembly of the copper site. Here we report an NMR study that reveals a high degree of structural heterogeneity in the metal-binding region of the nonmetallated Cu(A)-binding cupredoxin domain, arising from microsecond to second dynamics that are quenched upon metal binding. We also report similar dynamic features in apo-azurin, a paradigmatic blue copper protein, suggesting a general behavior. These findings reveal that the entatic/rack-induced state, governing the features of the metal center in the copper-loaded protein, does not require a preformed metal-binding site. Instead, metal binding is a major contributor to the rigidity of electron transfer copper centers. These results reconcile the seemingly contradictory requirements of a rigid, occluded center for electron transfer, and an accessible, dynamic site required for in vivo copper uptake.

A Chiral, Self‐Catenating and Porous Metal–Organic Framework and its Post‐Synthetic Metal Uptake

Free vacancies: A robust and porous metal–organic framework material with unique 4-connected self-catenating structure of {85⋅10} topology was synthesized. The structure features empty bipyridine metal-chelating sites that can be doped with copper cations in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal post-synthetic modification (see picture; scale bar 20 μm).

Heterodinuclear Metal Arrangement in a Flat Macrocycle with Two Chemically- Equivalent Metal Chelating Sites

A phenanthroline-based macrocycle 1 has been newly developed which has two chemically equivalent metal chelating sites within the spatially restricted cavity for dinuclear metal arrangement. The macrocycle 1 reacts with Zn(CF(3)CO(2))(2) or ZnCl(2) to form homodinuclear Zn(II)-complexes. A single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of the resulting Zn(2)1(CF(3)CO(2))(4) determined the complex structure in which two Zn(II) ions are bound by two phenanthroline sites and two CF(3)CO(2)(-) ions bind to each Zn(II) ion in a tetrahedral geometry. Similarly, a homodinuclear Cu(I)-macrocycle was formed from 1 and Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)BF(4). Notably, from 1 and an equimolar mixture of Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)BF(4) and Zn(CF(3)CO(2))(2), a heterodinuclear Cu(I)-Zn(II)-macrocycle was exclusively formed in high yield (>90%) because of the relatively low stability of the dinuclear Cu(I)-macrocycle. A heterodinuclear Ag(I)-Zn(II)-macrocycle was similarly formed with fairly high selectivity from a mixture of Ag(I) and Zn(II) ions. Such selective heterodinuclear metal arrangement was not observed with other combinations of M-Zn(II) (M = Li(I), Mg(II), Pd(II), Hg(II), La(III), and Tb(III)).

Enhancing the Mechanical Stability of Proteins through a Cocktail Approach

Rationally enhancing the mechanical stability of proteins remains a challenge in the field of single molecule force spectroscopy. Several strategies have been developed successfully to rationally regulate the mechanical stability of proteins. These strategies include rational control of the unfolding pathway by disulfide bond formation, improving hydrophobic packing, reconstruction of the force-bearing region of proteins, ligand binding, and engineered metal chelation. However, compared with the well-developed methods used to enhance the thermodynamic stability of proteins/enzymes, these methods to enhance the mechanical stability remain limited. Furthermore, these methods are only used one at a time, and the resulted enhancement in protein mechanical stability is also rather limited. Possible synergetic effects from more than one method remain largely unexplored. Here we use single molecule force spectroscopy techniques to demonstrate that it is feasible to use a ‘‘cocktail’’ approach for combining more than one approach to enhance significantly the mechanical stability of proteins in an additive fashion. As a proof of principle, we show that metal chelation and protein-protein interaction can be combined to enhance the unfolding force of a protein to ∼450 pN, which is >3 times of its original value. This is also higher than the mechanical stability of most of proteins studied so far. We also extend such a cocktail concept to combine two different metal chelation sites to enhance protein mechanical stability. This approach opens new avenues to efficiently regulating the mechanical properties of proteins, and should be applicable to a wide range of elastomeric proteins.

Enhancing the Mechanical Stability of Proteins through a Cocktail Approach

Rationally enhancing the mechanical stability of proteins remains a challenge in the field of single molecule force spectroscopy. Here we demonstrate that it is feasible to use a “cocktail” approach for combining more than one approach to enhance significantly the mechanical stability of proteins in an additive fashion. As a proof of principle, we show that metal chelation and protein-protein interaction can be combined to enhance the unfolding force of a protein to ∼450 pN, which is >3 times of its original value. This is also higher than the mechanical stability of most of proteins studied so far. We also extend such a cocktail concept to combine two different metal chelation sites to enhance protein mechanical stability. This approach opens new avenues to efficiently regulating the mechanical properties of proteins, and should be applicable to a wide range of elastomeric proteins.

Molecular Logic Gates and Switches Based on 1,3,4‐Oxadiazoles Triggered by Metal Ions

Organic molecular devices for information processing applications are highly useful building blocks for constructing molecular-level machines. The development of "intelligent" molecules capable of performing logic operations would enable molecular-level devices and machines to be created. We designed a series of 2,5-diaryl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles bearing a 2-(para-substituted)phenyl and a 5-(o-pyridyl) group (substituent X=NMe(2), OEt, Me, H, and Cl; 1a-e) that form a bidentate chelating environment for metal ions. These compounds showed fluorescence response profiles varying in both emission intensity and wavelength toward the tested metal ions Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+), and Pb(2+) and the responses were dependent on the substituent X, with those of 1d being the most substantial. The 1,3,4-oxadiazole O or N atom and pyridine N atom were identified as metal-chelating sites. The fluorescence responses of 1d upon metal chelation were employed for developing truth tables for OR, NOR, INHIBIT, and EnNOR logic gates as well as "ON-OFF-ON" and "OFF-ON-OFF" fluorescent switches in a single 1,3,4-oxadiazole molecular system.

Polydiacetylenevesicles functionalized with N-heterocyclic ligands for metal cation binding

Self assembled poly diacetylene (PDA) based blue vesicles LS-Terpy, LS-DPA, LS-DP and LS-DEA with metal chelating sites have been prepared and characterized. Their response to the presence of metal cations in buffered aqueous solution has been investigated by monitoring changes of colour, UV-Vis absorption and emission. The addition of zinc, manganese, cadmium, mercury or silver salts to solutions of the vesicles induces a colour change from blue to red observable by the naked eye, while the addition of other metal salts, containing ions like Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cr(2+), Ni(2+), Fe(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+) or Pb(2+), failed to show any changes. The metal ion coordination selectivity of the ligands is slightly different for the vesicle surface immobilized ligands compared to the reported metal cation binding of the corresponding ligands in solution, which may be due to the special environment at the lipid-solution interface. The vesicles aggregate upon metal ion coordination to the embedded ligands as shown by dynamic light scattering (DLS) particle size analysis. The functionalized PDA vesicles retain their response to the presence of aqueous solutions of metal ions if immobilized in transparent polyvinyl alcohol films or on paper.

Modulating the Mechanical Stability of Extracellular Matrix Protein Tenascin-C in a Controlled and Reversible Fashion

Tenascin-C is a large extracellular matrix protein and is subject to stretching force under its physiological condition. Regulating the mechanical properties of the fibronectin type III domains of tenascin-C will alter its response to mechanical stretching force and thus may provide the possibility of regulating the biological activities of tenascin-C in living cells. However, tuning the mechanical stability of proteins in a rational and systematic fashion remains challenging. Combining steered molecular dynamics simulations, protein engineering and single-molecule atomic force microscopy, we have rationally engineered a bihistidine-based metal chelation site into the third fibronectin type III domain (TNfn3) of tenascin-C. We used its metal chelation capability to selectively increase the unfolding energy barrier for the rate-limiting step during the mechanical unfolding of TNfn3. The resultant TNfn3 mutant exhibits enhanced mechanical stability. Using a stronger metal chelator, one can convert TNfn3 back to a state of lower mechanical stability. This is the first step toward engineering extracellular matrix proteins with defined mechanical properties, which can be modulated reversibly by external stimuli, and will provide the possibility of using external stimuli to regulate the biological functions of extracellular matrix proteins.

Heteroaryl Cross-Coupling as an Entry toward the Synthesis of Lavendamycin Analogues: A Model Study

ABC analogues of the antitumor antibiotic lavendamycin, which contain the key metal chelation site and redox-active quinone unit essential for biological activity, were prepared via the palladium(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of various 2-haloheteroaromatics with 2-stannylated pyridines and quinolines. Using the Stille reaction, 2-bromo substituted quinolines and 1-bromoisoquinolines were found to undergo efficient coupling with 2-pyridinylstannanes to provide unsymmetrical heterobiaryl derivatives. While the Stille reaction using the reverse coupling partners (i.e., 2-quinolinylstannanes and haloheteroaromatics) had not received much attention in the literature, we found that this alternative coupling reaction efficiently provided several new heterobiaryl derivatives. The gold-catalyzed intramolecular cycloisomerization of N-(prop-2-ynyl)-1H-indole-2-carboxamide smoothly afforded a beta-carbolinone derivative that was subsequently used for a Pd(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling directed toward the synthesis of lavendamycin analogues.