Antonio Magrì

Complexation of native L-α-aminoacids by water soluble calix[4]arenes

The aromatic or aliphatic residue of native L-α-aminoacids is selectively included into the hydrophobic cavity of water soluble calix[4]arene receptors. The association constants values are determined by 1H NMR titration experiments and the binding process is further elucidated by preliminary Molecular Mechanics calculations, which give results fully consistent with the NMR data.

Inclusion of naturally occurring amino acids in water soluble calix[4]arenes: a microcalorimetric and 1H NMR investigation supported by molecular modeling

The thermodynamic parameters for the inclusion of some naturally occurring amino acids into a series of p-sulfonated calix[4]arenes, were determined via both 1H NMR and calorimetric titrations in buffered aqueous solution at 25 degrees C. The calorimetric data show that inclusion is enthalpically driven in all cases, regardless of flexibility of the host and the nature of the guest. The most efficient receptor is the calix[4]arene tetrasulfonate 1, which exists in solution at pH 7 in a cone conformation, stiffened by H-bonding at the lower rim. Molecular mechanics data help in the understanding of why some hosts do not form inclusion complexes at all. The comparison of our data with literature reports shows that there are dramatic buffer-dependent changes in the binding affinities.

Determination of the Conformation of the Human VDAC1 N‐Terminal Peptide, a Protein Moiety Essential for the Functional Properties of the Pore

Mitochondrial porin or VDAC (voltage‐dependent anion‐selective channel) is the most abundant protein in the mitochondrial outer membrane. The structure of VDAC has been predicted to be a transmembrane β‐barrel with an α‐helix at the N terminus. It is a matter of debate as to whether this putative α‐helix plays a structural role as a component of the pore walls or a function in the pore activity. We have synthesised the human VDAC1 (HVDAC1) N‐terminal peptide Ac‐AVPPTYADLGKSARDVFTK‐NH2 (Prn2–20) and determined its structure by CD and NMR spectroscopy. CD studies show that the Prn2–20 peptide exists in aqueous solvent as an unstructured peptide with no stable secondary structure. In membrane‐mimetic SDS micelles or water/trifluoroethanol, however, it assumes an amphipathic α‐helix conformation between Tyr5 and Val16, as deduced from NMR. No ordered structure was observed in dodecyl β‐maltoside. Differential scanning calorimetric measurements were carried out in order to examine the membrane affinity of the peptide. Upon interaction with the negatively charged 1,2 dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphoserine membrane, Prn2–20 exhibited distinctive behaviour, suggesting that electrostatics play an important role. Interaction between the peptide and artificial bilayers indicates that the peptide lies on the membrane surface. Recombinant HVDAC1 deletion mutants, devoid of seven or 19 N‐terminal amino acids, were used for transfection of eukaryotic cells. Over‐expression of HVDAC1 increases the number of Cos cells with depolarised mitochondria, and this effect is progressively reduced in cells transfected with HVDAC1 lacking those seven or 19 amino acids. The mitochondrial targeting of the deletion mutants is unaffected. The overall picture emerging from our experiments is that the VDAC N‐terminal peptide plays a role in the proper function of this protein during apoptotic events.

A re-investigation of copper coordination in the octa-repeats region of the prion protein.

An aqueous solution spectroscopic (Vis and EPR) study of the copper(II) complexes with the Ac-HGGG-NH2 and Ac-PHGGGWGQ-NH2 polypeptides (generically designated as L) suggests square base pyramids ascribable to [Cu(L)H(-2)] complex species, which contain three nitrogen donor atoms, arising from imidazole and peptide groups, in the equatorial plane and for a pseudo-octahedral geometry in the case of [CuLH-3]- and [Cu(L)H-4]2- which have four nitrogen donor atoms in their equatorial plane. The coordination sphere of the copper complex in the [Cu(L)H(-2)] species, which is present at neutral pH values, is completed by two oxygen donor atoms. ESI-MS spectra ascertained that water molecules are not present in the coordination equatorial plane of this latter species, in comparison with other copper(II) complexes with ligands bearing nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms and surely having equatorial water molecules. This indicates the coordination of a carbonyl oxygen atom in the equatorial plane has to be invoked. However, no direct proof about the involvement of a carbonyl group oxygen donor atom apically linked to copper was obtained, due to the flexibility of these structures at room temperature. Additionally, the low A(ll) value leads one to consider another oxygen atom of a carbonyl group being involved in the apical bond to copper in a fast exchange fashion. This apical interaction, which may also involve a water molecule, is more pronounced in the Cu-Ac-HGGG-NH2 than in the analogous Cu-Ac-PHGGGWGQ-NH2 system, probably because of the presence of tryptophan and proline in the polypeptide sequence.

Selective Transport of Cesium and Strontium Ions Through Polymer Inclusion Membranes Containing Calixarenes as Carriers

Abstract Cs+ and Sr2+ are selectively removed over Na+ from acidic aqueous solutions with high Na+ concentrations by using membranes designed to selectively transport one of the two cations. To this end, calix[4]arene derivatives were used as carriers in polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs). The synthesis and characterization of new calix[4]arene derivatives (a bisamide (2) and three bisesters (3, 5 and 6)) used for the separation of Sr2+ are described. Another bisester (4) was employed for the same separation. In addition, a calix[4]arene-crown-6 (7) was incorporated into the membrane for Cs+ extraction. The concentration of each membrane component (polymer, carrier and counter-ion) was optimized and the permeability coefficients (P, m sec−1) of Cs+, Sr2+ and Na+ were determined. A synergistic effect between the calixarenes and dinonylnaphtalenesulfonic acid, used as counterion, (DNNS, 8) was observed. High selectivity of Cs+ over Na+ and of Sr2+ over Na+ were obtained with compounds 7 and 3, respectively....

Copper, BDNF and its N-terminal Domain: Inorganic Features and Biological Perspectives

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that influences development, maintenance, survival, and synaptic plasticity of central and peripheral nervous systems. Altered BDNF signaling is involved in several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimers disease. Metal ions may influence the BDNF activity and it is well known that the alteration of Cu(2+) homeostasis is a prominent factor in the development of neurological pathologies. The N-terminal domain of BDNF represents the recognition site of its specific receptor TrkB, and metal ions interaction with this protein domain may influence the protein/receptor interaction. In spite of this, no data inherent the interaction of BDNF with Cu(2+) ions has been reported up to now. Cu(2+) complexes of the peptide fragment BDNF(1-12) encompassing the sequence 1-12 of N-terminal domain of human BDNF protein were characterized by means of potentiometry, spectroscopic methods (UV/Vis, CD, EPR), parallel tempering simulations and DFT-geometry optimizations. Coordination features of the acetylated form, Ac-BDNF(1-12), were also characterized to understand the involvement of the terminal amino group. Whereas, an analogous peptide, BDNF(1-12)D3N, in which the aspartate residue was substituted by an asparagine, was synthesized to provide evidence on the possible role of carboxylate group in Cu(2+) coordination. The results demonstrated that the amino group is involved in metal binding and the metal coordination environment of the predominant complex species at physiological pH consisted of one amino group, two amide nitrogen atoms, and one carboxylate group. Noteworthy, a strong decrease of the proliferative activity of both BDNF(1-12) and the whole protein on a SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cell line was found after treatment in the presence of Cu(2+). The effect of metal addition is opposite to that observed for the analogous fragment of nerve growth factor (NGF) protein, highlighting the role of specific domains, and suggesting that Cu(2+) may drive different pathways for the BDNF and NGF in physiological as well as pathological conditions.

Copper(II) complexes with peptide fragments encompassing the sequence 122-130 of human doppel protein.

Copper(II) complexes of the peptide fragment (Dpl122-130) encompassing the sequence 122-130 of human doppel protein were characterized by potentiometric, UV-Visible, CD and EPR spectroscopic methods. An analogous peptide, in which the aspartate residue was substituted by an asparagine amino acid, was synthesized in order to provide evidence on the possible role of carboxylate group in copper(II) coordination. It was found that the carboxylic group is directly involved in copper(II) coordination at acidic pH, forming the CuLH(2) species with Dpl122-130. This copper(II) complex displayed EPR parameters very similar to those of the analogous complex with the whole doppel protein. At pH higher than 7, the complexes showed magnetic parameters similar to those of the major species of protein formed in the pH range 7-8, with the metal coordination environment consisting of one imidazole and three amide nitrogen atoms. The comparison of Cu-Dpl122-130 binding constant values with those of the prion peptide fragments (PrP106-114), showed that doppel peptide had a higher metal binding affinity at acidic pH whereas the prion peptide fragment binds the metal tightly at physiological pH.

A Doppel α-Helix Peptide Fragment Mimics the Copper(II) Interactions with the Whole Protein

The doppel protein (Dpl) is the first homologue of the prion protein (PrP(C)) to be discovered; it is overexpressed in transgenic mice that lack the prion gene, resulting in neurotoxicity. The whole prion protein is able to inhibit Dpl neurotoxicity, and its N-terminal domain is the determinant part of the protein function. This region represents the main copper(II) binding site of PrP(C). Dpl is able to bind at least one copper ion, and the specific metal-binding site has been identified as the histidine residue at the beginning of the third helical region. However, a reliable characterization of copper(II) coordination features has not been reported. In a previous paper, we studied the copper(II) interaction with a peptide that encompasses only the loop region potentially involved in metal binding. Nevertheless, we did not find a complete match between the EPR spectroscopic parameters of the copper(II) complexes formed with the synthesized peptide and those reported for the copper(II) binding sites of the whole protein. Herein, the synthesis of the human Dpl peptide fragment hDpl(122-139) (Ac-KPDNKLHQQVLWRLVQEL-NH(2)) and its copper(II) complex species are reported. This peptide encompasses the third alpha helix and part of the loop linking the second and the third helix of human doppel protein. The single-point-mutated peptide, hDpl(122-139)D124N, in which aspartate 124 replaces an asparagine residue, was also synthesized. This peptide was used to highlight the role of the carboxylate group on both the conformation preference of the Dpl fragment and its copper(II) coordination features. NMR spectroscopic measurements show that the hDpl(122-139) peptide fragment is in the prevailing alpha-helix conformation. It is localized within the 127-137 amino acid residue region that represents a reliable conformational mimic of the related protein domain. A comparison with the single-point-mutated hDpl(122-139)D124N reveals the significant role played by the aspartic residue in addressing the peptide conformation towards a helical structure. It is further confirmed by CD measurements. Potentiometric titrations were carried out in aqueous solutions to obtain the stability constant values of the species formed by copper(II) with the hDpl peptides. Spectroscopic studies (EPR, NMR, CD, UV/Vis) were performed to characterize the coordination environments of the different metal complexes. The EPR parameters of the copper(II) complexes with hDpl(122-139) match those of the previously reported copper(II) binding sites of the whole hDpl. Addition of the copper(II) ion to the peptide fragment does not alter the helical conformation of hDpl(122-139), as shown by CD spectra in the far-UV region. The aspartate-driven preorganized secondary structure is not significantly modified by the involvement of Asp124 in the copper(II) complex species that form in the physiological pH range. To elaborate on the potential role of copper(II) in the recently reported interaction between the PrP(C) and Dpl, the affinity of the copper(II) complexes towards the prion N terminus domain and the binding site of Dpl was reported.

Copper(II) interaction with peptide fragments of histidine-proline-rich glycoprotein: Speciation, stability and binding details.

GHHPH is the peptide repeat present in histidine-proline rich glycoprotein (HPRG), a plasma glycoprotein involved in angiogenesis process. The copper(II) ions interaction with mono (Ac-GHHPHG-NH(2)) and its bis-repeat (Ac-GHHPHGHHPHG-NH(2)) was investigated by means of potentiometric and spectroscopic techniques. To single out the copper(II) coordination environments of different species formed with Ac-GHHPHG-NH(2), three single point mutated peptides were also synthesized and their ability to coordinate Cu(2+) investigated. Ac-GHHPHG-NH(2) binds Cu(2+) by the imidazole side chain and the amide nitrogen deprotonation that takes place towards the N-terminus. The bis-repeat is able to bind Cu(2+) more efficiently than Ac-GHHPHG-NH(2). This difference is not only due to the number of His residues in the sequence but also to the different binding sites. In fact, the comparison of the potentiometric and spectroscopic data of the copper(II) complexes with a bis-repeatPeg construct Ac-(GHHPHG)-Peg-(GHHPHG)-NH(2) and those of the metal complexes with Ac-HGHH-NH(2), indicates that the central HGHH amino acid sequence is the main copper(II) binding site.

Probing the Copper(II) Binding Features of Angiogenin. Similarities and Differences between a N-Terminus Peptide Fragment and the Recombinant Human Protein

The angiogenin protein (hAng) is a potent angiogenic factor and its cellular activities may be affected by copper ions even if it is yet unknown how this metal ion is able to produce this effect. Among the different regions of hAng potentially able to bind copper ions, the N-terminal domain appears to be an ideal candidate. Copper(II) complexes of the peptide fragments encompassing the amino acid residues 4-17 of hAng protein were characterized by potentiometric, UV-vis, CD, and EPR spectroscopic methods. The results show that these fragments have an unusual copper(II) binding ability. At physiological pH, the prevailing complex species formed by the peptide encompassing the protein sequence 4-17 is [CuHL], in which the metal ion is bound to two imidazole and two deprotonated amide nitrogen atoms disposed in a planar equatorial arrangement. Preliminary spectroscopic (UV-vis, CD, and EPR) data obtained on the copper(II) complexes formed by the whole recombinant hAng protein, show a great similarity with those obtained for the N-terminal peptide fragments. These findings indicate that within the N-terminal domain there is one of the preferred copper(II) ions anchoring site of the whole recombinant hAng protein.