Andrzej A. Jarzecki

Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro antimalarial and antitumor activity of new ruthenium(II) complexes of chloroquine.

The new Ru(II) chloroquine complexes [Ru(eta(6)-arene)(CQ)Cl2] (CQ = chloroquine; arene = p-cymene 1, benzene 2), [Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene)(CQ)(H2O)2][BF4]2 (3), [Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene)(CQ)(en)][PF6]2 (en = ethylenediamine) (4), and [Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene)(eta(6)-CQDP)][BF4]2 (5, CQDP = chloroquine diphosphate) have been synthesized and characterized by use of a combination of NMR and FTIR spectroscopy with DFT calculations. Each complex is formed as a single coordination isomer: In 1-4, chloroquine binds to ruthenium in the eta(1)-N mode through the quinoline nitrogen atom, whereas in 5 an unprecedented eta(6) bonding through the carbocyclic ring is observed. 1, 2, 3, and 5 are active against CQ-resistant (Dd2, K1, and W2) and CQ-sensitive (FcB1, PFB, F32, and 3D7) malaria parasites (Plasmodium falciparum); importantly, the potency of these complexes against resistant parasites is consistently higher than that of the standard drug chloroquine diphosphate. 1 and 5 also inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells, independently of the p53 status and of liposarcoma tumor cell lines with the latter showing increased sensitivity, especially to 1 (IC50 8 microM); this is significant because this type of tumor does not respond to currently employed chemotherapies.

An Oxyferrous Heme/Protein-based Radical Intermediate Is Catalytically Competent in the Catalase Reaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Catalase-Peroxidase (KatG)

A mechanism accounting for the robust catalase activity in catalase-peroxidases (KatG) presents a new challenge in heme protein enzymology. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, KatG is the sole catalase and is also responsible for peroxidative activation of isoniazid, an anti-tuberculosis pro-drug. Here, optical stopped-flow spectrophotometry, rapid freeze-quench EPR spectroscopy both at the X-band and at the D-band, and mutagenesis are used to identify catalase reaction intermediates in M. tuberculosis KatG. In the presence of millimolar H2O2 at neutral pH, oxyferrous heme is formed within milliseconds from ferric (resting) KatG, whereas at pH 8.5, low spin ferric heme is formed. Using rapid freeze-quench EPR at X-band under both of these conditions, a narrow doublet radical signal with an 11 G principal hyperfine splitting was detected within the first milliseconds of turnover. The radical and the unique heme intermediates persist in wild-type KatG only during the time course of turnover of excess H2O2 (1000-fold or more). Mutation of Met255, Tyr229, or Trp107, which have covalently linked side chains in a unique distal side adduct (MYW) in wild-type KatG, abolishes this radical and the catalase activity. The D-band EPR spectrum of the radical exhibits a rhombic g tensor with dual gx values (2.00550 and 2.00606) and unique gy (2.00344) and gz values (2.00186) similar to but not typical of native tyrosyl radicals. Density functional theory calculations based on a model of an MYW adduct radical built from x-ray coordinates predict experimentally observed hyperfine interactions and a shift in g values away from the native tyrosyl radical. A catalytic role for an MYW adduct radical in the catalase mechanism of KatG is proposed.

Titanocene-Phosphine Derivatives as Precursors to Cytotoxic Heterometallic TiAu2 and TiM (M = Pd, Pt) Compounds. Studies of their Interactions with DNA

A series of tri- and bimetallic titanium-gold, titanium-palladium, and titanium-platinum derivatives of the general formulas [Ti{η(5)-C(5)H(4)(CH(2))(n)PPh(2)(AuCl)}(2)]·2THF [n = 0 (1); n = 2 (2); n = 3 (3)] and [TiCl(2){η(5)-C(5)H(4)κ-(CH(2))(n)PPh(2)}(2)(MCl(2))]·2THF [M = Pd, n = 0 (4); n = 2 (5); n = 3 (6) ; M = Pt, n = 0 (7); n = 2 (8); n = 3 (9)] have been synthesized and characterized by different spectroscopic techniques and mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of compounds 1-9 have been investigated by means of density functional theory calculations. The calculated IR spectra of the optimized structures fit well with the experimental IR data obtained for 1-9. The stability of the heterometallic compounds in deuterated solvents [CDCl(3), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-d(6), and mixtures 50:50 DMSO-d(6)/D(2)O and 1:99 DMSO-d(6)/D(2)O at acidic and neutral pH] has been evaluated by (31)P and (1)H NMR spectroscopy showing a higher stability for these compounds than for Cp(2)TiCl(2) or precursors [Ti{η(5)-C(5)H(4)(CH(2))(n)PPh(2)}(2)]. The new compounds display a lower acidity (1-2 units) than Cp(2)TiCl(2). The decomposition products have been identified over time. Complexes 1-9 have been tested as potential anticancer agents, and their cytotoxicity properties were evaluated in vitro against HeLa human cervical carcinoma and DU-145 human prostate cancer cells. TiAu(2) and TiPd compounds were highly cytotoxic for these two cell lines. The interactions of the compounds with calf thymus DNA have been evaluated by thermal denaturation (1-9) and by circular dichroism (1, 3, 4, and 7) spectroscopic methods. All of these complexes show a stronger interaction with DNA than that displayed by Cp(2)TiCl(2) at neutral pH. The data are consistent with electrostatic interactions with DNA for TiAu(2) compounds and for a covalent binding mode for TiM (M = Pd, Pt) complexes.

Heme-based sensors: theoretical modeling of heme-ligand-protein interactions.

Heme proteins are uniquely adapted to bind the important diatomic molecules O(2), NO and CO. An increasing number of heme proteins are being discovered that sense these molecules and thereby regulate a variety of biochemical responses. The interactions of diatomic molecules with heme, and with the surrounding protein, are therefore of great interest. Recent theoretical modeling, using density functional theory, captures many features of these interactions, as exemplified by the well-characterized heme protein myoglobin. Important details, however, especially the mutual influence of the bound diatomic molecule and the proximal ligand, remain to be clarified.

Density functional based vibrational study of conformational isomers: Molecular rearrangement of benzofuroxan

The molecular rearrangement of benzofuroxan was studied by comparing calculated and experimental IR spectra, the latter taken before and during the reaction. All calculations were performed at the B3‐LYP/6‐31G(d) density functional level with a further refinement of the computed force constants done by applying the scaled quantum mechanical force field (SQM) technique. Complete assignments for the IR spectra of benzofuroxan and nitrosobenzene are given. The agreement between computed and experimental spectra is excellent, but in benzofuroxan these spectra are very different from previously calculated data. The conformation of the ortho‐dinitrosobenzene intermediate of this tautomeric reaction was identified by modeling a composite IR spectrum of four possible components. It shows good agreement with an experimental spectrum that was obtained after photolysing benzofuroxan in Xe matrix. Knowing the conformation of the intermediate provides insight into the reaction mechanism and allows inferences for the thermal reaction, which could not be clarified conclusively by energetic considerations only.

Quantum-mechanical calculations of resonance Raman intensities: the weighted-gradient approximation.

A framework of the weighted-gradient approach is developed for effective quantum-mechanical modeling of resonance Raman (RR) intensities with a view toward rationalizing enhancement patterns observed for histidine and tryptophan side chains. Unlike the single-state gradient approach, this new procedure utilizes the vertical gradients obtained for all computed excited states to produce an effective gradient and the RR intensity patterns for a particular frequency of the excitation photon. The dramatic spectral changes observed for the histidine ring upon its protonation, deprotonation, or deuterium substitution of exchangeable protons is well reproduced by this model. Spectral comparison for the tryptophan ring clearly demonstrated improved quality of the weighted-gradient over the single-state gradient approach. Computed spectra exemplify the potential application of this model to support vibrational studies of electronic and structural interactions of chromophores in proteins.

Specific Function of the Met-Tyr-Trp Adduct Radical and Residues Arg-418 and Asp-137 in the Atypical Catalase Reaction of Catalase-Peroxidase KatG

Background: Catalase activity in catalase-peroxidases occurs through a poorly defined mechanism requiring residues Arg-418, Asp-137, and the amino acid adduct (M255Y229W107). Results: Along with an adduct radical, Arg-418 stimulates O2 release from dioxyheme, the rapid formation of which requires Asp-137. Conclusion: The electronics of the Arg-418:MYW-radical interaction enables discharge of O2 during H2O2 turnover. Significance: An atypical catalase mechanism operates in KatG. Catalase activity of the dual-function heme enzyme catalase-peroxidase (KatG) depends on several structural elements, including a unique adduct formed from covalently linked side chains of three conserved amino acids (Met-255, Tyr-229, and Trp-107, Mycobacterium tuberculosis KatG numbering) (MYW). Mutagenesis, electron paramagnetic resonance, and optical stopped-flow experiments, along with calculations using density functional theory (DFT) methods revealed the basis of the requirement for a radical on the MYW-adduct, for oxyferrous heme, and for conserved residues Arg-418 and Asp-137 in the rapid catalase reaction. The participation of an oxyferrous heme intermediate (dioxyheme) throughout the pH range of catalase activity is suggested from our finding that carbon monoxide inhibits the activity at both acidic and alkaline pH. In the presence of H2O2, the MYW-adduct radical is formed normally in KatG[D137S] but this mutant is defective in forming dioxyheme and lacks catalase activity. KatG[R418L] is also catalase deficient but exhibits normal formation of the adduct radical and dioxyheme. Both mutants exhibit a coincidence between MYW-adduct radical persistence and H2O2 consumption as a function of time, and enhanced subunit oligomerization during turnover, suggesting that the two mutations disrupting catalase turnover allow increased migration of the MYW-adduct radical to protein surface residues. DFT calculations showed that an interaction between the side chain of residue Arg-418 and Tyr-229 in the MYW-adduct radical favors reaction of the radical with the adjacent dioxyheme intermediate present throughout turnover in WT KatG. Release of molecular oxygen and regeneration of resting enzyme are thereby catalyzed in the last step of a proposed catalase reaction.

Theoretical Analysis of Core Size Effect in Metalloporphyrins

Density functional theory has been applied to a series of unsubstituted planar metalloporphyrins (MPs) to elucidate how geometry and frequencies correlate with the metal-nitrogen distance, referred to as the core size. Different transition metals can invoke expansion or contraction of the porphyrin core due to electronic effects resulting from the amount of d-electron pairing as well as occupancy of the d(x(2)(-y(2))) orbital. A full vibrational analysis consisting of all in-plane and out-of-plane frequencies was carried out, and the resulting modes were plotted against core size for a linear analysis and grouped within symmetry blocks. The modes were separated according to planarity, and all modes with a large slope and best fit greater than 0.8 were considered sensitive to metal-nitrogen distances. All planar skeletal modes above 1450 cm(-1), including the pyrolle ring deformations, are found to be core-size sensitive. The most significant out-of-plane modes sensitive to core size are gamma(8) and gamma(9), which are infrared active and grouped within the A(2u) symmetry block. The present work also opens possible quantitative applications for the correlation of spectroscopic properties of MPs and heme proteins with actual structural parameters.

Quantum mechanical investigation of aqueous desferrioxamine B metal complexes: Trends in structure, binding, and infrared spectroscopy

A systematic density functional theory study supported by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and infrared spectroscopic data was conducted to elucidate how structure and vibrational spectra of aqueous desferrioxamine B (DFOB) metal complexes vary with the metal ion identity. Structural parameters derived from EXAFS analyses and trends in metal binding constants are well reproduced and validated by the applied computational model. Vibrational mode analysis guides determination and recognition of crucial structure- and metal-sensitive infrared marker bands. The key marker bands, CO and CN stretching modes, dominate the infrared spectra in the 1400-1650cm(-1) region. The modes are sensitive to the stability and size of the metal core (first coordination shell) and indicative of its deformation from the octahedral symmetry. The results shed light on the fundamental structural and electronic factors that control metal binding by siderophores, and drive their potentially rich and largely unexplored interactions with trace metals.

Mode Recognition in UV Resonance Raman Spectra of Imidazole: Histidine Monitoring in Proteins

The imidazole side-chains of histidine residues perform key roles in proteins, and spectroscopic markers are of great interest. The imidazole Raman spectrum is subject to resonance enhancement at UV wavelengths, and a number of UVRR markers of structure have been investigated. We report a systematic experimental and computational study of imidazole UVRR spectra, which elucidates the band pattern, and the effects of protonation and deprotonation, of H/D exchange, of metal complexation, and of addition of a methyl substituent, modeling histidine itself. A consistent assignment scheme is proposed, which permits tracking of the bands through these chemical variations. The intensities are dominated by normal mode contributions from stretching of the strongest ring bonds, C(2)N and C(4)C(5), consistent with enhancement via resonance with a dominant imidazole π-π* transition.