Single Metal Site Research Articles

Elementary steps in the acquisition of Mn2+ by the fosfomycin resistance protein (FosA).

The fosfomycin resistance protein, FosA, catalyzes the Mn(2+)-dependent addition of glutathione to the antibiotic fosfomycin, (1R,2S)-epoxypropylphosphonic acid, rendering the antibiotic inactive. The enzyme is a homodimer of 16 kDa subunits, each of which contains a single mononuclear metal site. Stopped-flow absorbance/fluorescence spectrometry provides evidence suggesting a complex kinetic mechanism for the acquisition of Mn(2+) by apoFosA. The binding of Mn(H(2)O)(6)(2+) to apoFosA alters the UV absorption and intrinsic fluorescence characteristics of the protein sufficiently to provide sensitive spectroscopic probes of metal binding. The acquisition of metal is shown to be a multistep process involving rapid preequilibrium formation of an initial complex with release of approximately two protons (k(obsd) > or = 800 s(-1)). The initial complex either rapidly dissociates or forms an intermediate coordination complex (k > 300 s(-1)) with rapid isomerization (k > or = 20 s(-1)) to a set of tight protein-metal complexes. The observed bimolecular rate constant for formation of the intermediate coordination complex is 3 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). The release of Mn(2+) from the protein is slow (k approximately 10(-2) s(-1)). The kinetic results suggest a more complex chelate effect than is typically observed for metal binding to simple multidentate ligands. Although the addition of the substrate, fosfomycin, has no appreciable effect on the association kinetics of enzyme and metal, it significantly decreases the dissociation rate, suggesting that the substrate interacts directly with the metal center.

Molecular Design of Single-Site Metal Alkoxide Catalyst Precursors for Ring-Opening Polymerization Reactions Leading to Polyoxygenates. 1. Polylactide Formation by Achiral and Chiral Magnesium and Zinc Alkoxides, (η3-L)MOR, Where L = Trispyrazolyl- and Trisindazolylborate Ligands

Single-site achiral and chiral C3-symmetric complexes LMOR, where M = Mg and Zn, L = an η3-trispyrazolyl- or η3-trisindazolyl-borate ligand and R = Et, tBu, Ph, or SiMe3, have been synthesized and employed in the ring-opening polymerization of l-, rac-, and meso-lactide in CH2Cl2 at 25 °C and below. The polymerization occurs by acyl cleavage and gives rise to polylactide, PLA, with PDI of 1.1−1.25 up to 90% conversion. Studies of the kinetics of polymerization reveal first order behavior in both lactide and metal catalyst. For L = tris(3-tert-butylpyrazolyl)borate, (tBupz)3BH, polymerization of ∼500 equiv of l-lactide proceeds to 90% conversion within 1 h and 6 d for the magnesium and zinc catalysts, respectively. The zinc complexes are, however, more tolerant to air and moisture and solid samples where R = SiMe3 are persistent in air for several days. The rate of polymerization is also significantly influenced by the nature of the η3-L spectator ligand. Chiral C3-symmetric catalysts, where L = tris(indaz...

Homing in on the Role of Transition Metals in the HNH Motif of Colicin Endonucleases

The cytotoxic domain of the bacteriocin colicin E9 (the E9 DNase) is a nonspecific endonuclease that must traverse two membranes to reach its cellular target, bacterial DNA. Recent structural studies revealed that the active site of colicin DNases encompasses the HNH motif found in homing endonucleases, and bound within this motif a single transition metal ion (either Zn(2+) or Ni(2+)) the role of which is unknown. In the present work we find that neither Zn(2+) nor Ni(2+) is required for DNase activity, which instead requires Mg(2+) ions, but binding transition metals to the E9 DNase causes subtle changes to both secondary and tertiary structure. Spectroscopic, proteolytic, and calorimetric data show that, accompanying the binding of 1 eq of Zn(2+), Ni(2+), or Co(2+), the thermodynamic stability of the domain increased substantially, and that the equilibrium dissociation constant for Zn(2+) was less than or equal to nanomolar, while that for Co(2+) and Ni (2+) was micromolar. Our data demonstrate that the transition metal is not essential for colicin DNase activity but rather serves a structural role. We speculate that the HNH motif has been adapted for use by endonuclease colicins because of its involvement in DNA recognition and because removal of the bound metal ion destabilizes the DNase domain, a likely prerequisite for its translocation across bacterial membranes.

Catalytic Reduction of Hydrazine to Ammonia with MoFe(3)S(4)-Polycarboxylate Clusters. Possible Relevance Regarding the Function of the Molybdenum-Coordinated Homocitrate in Nitrogenase.

The catalytic function of the previously synthesized and characterized [(L)MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)](2)(-)(,3)(-) clusters (L = tetrachlorocatecholate, citrate, citramalate, methyliminodiacetate, nitrilotriacetate, thiodiglycolate) and of the [MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)(thiolactate)](2)(4)(-) and [(MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(4))(2)(&mgr;-oxalate)](4)(-) clusters in the reduction of N(2)H(4) to NH(3) is reported. In the catalytic reduction, which is carried out at ambient temperature and pressure, cobaltocene and 2,6-lutidinium chloride are supplied externally as electron and proton sources, respectively. In experiments where the N(2)H(4) to the [(L)MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)](n)()(-) catalyst ratio is 100:1, and over a period of 30 min, the reduction proceeds to 92% completion for L = citrate, 66% completion for L = citramalate, and 34% completion for L = tetrachlorocatecholate. The [Fe(4)S(4)Cl(4)](2)(-) cluster is totally inactive and gives only background ammonia measurements. Inhibition studies with PEt(3) and CO as inhibitors show a dramatic decrease in the catalytic efficiency. These results are consistent with results obtained previously in our laboratory and strongly suggest that N(2)H(4) activation and reduction occur at the Mo site of the [(L)MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)](2)(-)(, 3)(-) clusters. A possible pathway for the N(2)H(4) reduction on a single metal site (Mo) and a possible role for the carboxylate ligand are proposed. The possibility that the Mo-bound polycarboxylate ligand acts as a proton delivery "shuttle" during hydrazine reduction is considered.

Single-site metal alkoxide catalysts for ring-opening polymerizations. Poly(dilactide) synthesis employing {HB(3-Butpz)3}Mg(OEt)

{HB(Butpz)3}Mg(OEt) in CH2Cl2 at 22 °C acts as a catalyst precursor for the fast, stereoselective, ring-opening polymerization of L,L-dilactide by the acyl cleavage mechanism yielding isotactic poly(L,L-dilactide) with PDI ≈ 1.2.

Synthesis and characterisation of precursors to organometal cluster networks

Thermolysis of triruthenium dodecacarbonyl in the presence of the appropriate dicyclic ligand C6H5(CH2)nPh in octane afford organometallic clusters with the general formula [Ru6C(CO)14{η6-C6H5(CH2)nPh}]. The molecular structures of the three octahedral cluster compounds (n= 0 1, 1 2 or 2 3) have been established by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In all three the ligand occupies an apical position formally replacing three carbonyl units on a single metal site of [Ru6C(CO)17]. Studies of the 1H NMR spectra of compounds 1–3 have revealed a trend in electronic inductive effects. Thermolysis of [Ru6C(CO)17] in the presence of an excess of transstilbene afforded 3 and trans-[Ru6C(CO)14-{η6-C6H5(CH)2Ph}]4 in good yield.

Site-Specific Mutagenesis of the Metal Binding Sites of Porcine Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase

Mutations in the metal binding sites of porcine fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were carried out by site-specific mutagenesis based on the crystal structure of the enzyme. The mutant and wild-type enzymes have been characterized by circular dichroism spectrometry and initial-rate kinetics. One of the mutant forms of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (Glu280Gln) is associated with a single metal site, whereas two other mutants (Glu97Gln and Asp118Asn) ligate two metal ions. The mutant enzymes exhibit very large decreases in k cat relative to the wild-type enzyme; however, other kinetic parameters, such as K m values, are not greatly altered. Metal binding cooperativity and binding affinity is decreased in the mutants compared to wild-type fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Mutations in the metal binding sites greatly enhance the enzyme′s affinity for AMP, a potent regulator of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity. The results of these investigations are fully consistent with predictions made on the role of specific amino acid residues at the metal binding sites in porcine fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase from X-ray diffraction studies [Zhang, Y., Liang, J.-Y., Huang, S., Ke, H., and Lipscomb, W. N. (1993) Biochemistry, 32, 1844-1857].

The reduction of mono-coordinated molecular nitrogen to ammonia in a protic environment

WE have reduced ligating molecular nitrogen (dinitrogen) to ammonia in yields of up to 90% at a single metal site. This reaction is important for its possible application to our understanding of the chemical mechanism of the reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia by nitrogenase, where the reduction may occur at a single molybdenum ion site1. Our reaction occurs when compounds of the type [M(N2)2(PR3)4](I; M =Mo or W; R = alkyl or aryl) are treated at room temperature with sulphuric acid in methanol solution: This reaction was performed in a vacuum so that the evolved gases could be analysed and measured. On mixing the reagents, one molecule of nitrogen gas was rapidly evolved with a trace of dihydrogen. The remaining dinitrogen was spontaneously reduced to ammonia together with some hydrazine, presumably also with concomitant oxidation of the metal M.