Christopher J. Noble

Pleomorphic Copper Coordination by Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid-β Peptide

Numerous conflicting models have been proposed regarding the nature of the Cu(2+) coordination environment of the amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide, the causative agent of Alzheimers disease. This study used multifrequency CW-EPR spectroscopy to directly resolve the superhyperfine interactions between Cu(2+) and the ligand nuclei of Abeta, thereby avoiding ambiguities associated with introducing point mutations. Using a library of Abeta16 analogues with site-specific (15)N-labeling at Asp1, His6, His13, and His14, numerical simulations of the superhyperfine resonances delineated two independent 3N1O Cu(2+) coordination modes, {N(a)(D1), O, N(epsilon)(H6), N(epsilon)(H13)} (component Ia) and {N(a)(D1), O, N(epsilon)(H6), N(epsilon)(H14)} (component Ib), between pH 6-7. A third coordination mode (component II) was identified at pH 8.0, and simulation of the superhyperfine resonances indicated a 3N1O coordination sphere involving nitrogen ligation by His6, His13, and His14. No differences were observed upon (17)O-labeling of the phenolic oxygen of Tyr10, confirming it is not a key oxygen ligand in the physiological pH range. Hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) spectroscopy, in conjunction with site-specific (15)N-labeling, provided additional support for the common role of His6 in components Ia and Ib, and for the assignment of a {O, N(epsilon)(H6), N(epsilon)(H13), N(epsilon)(H14)} coordination sphere to component II. HYSCORE studies of a peptide analogue with selective (13)C-labeling of Asp1 revealed (13)C cross-peaks characteristic of equatorial coordination by the carboxylate oxygen of Asp1 in component Ia/b coordination. The direct resolution of Cu(2+) ligand interactions, together with the key finding that component I is composed of two distinct coordination modes, provides valuable insight into a range of conflicting ligand assignments and highlights the complexity of Cu(2+)/Abeta interactions.

Five-nanometer diamond with luminescent nitrogen-vacancy defect centers

A study was conducted to investigate the properties of weakly bound clusters of single-digit nanodiamonds (SND) using spectrally and temporally resolved luminescence detection, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (SEM). Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers were created in diamonds by high-energy proton irradiation followed by thermal annealing. Samples containing equal weights of 55-nm HTHP diamonds and SNDs were uniformly distributed on quartz substrates for luminescence measurements. It was observed that the SNDs exhibited significant luminescence in the red spectral region before irradiation. The emission was blue-shifted and the absence of the zero-phonon lines at 637 and 575 nm indicated that the luminescence did not originate from NV centers as compared with the NV spectrum.

Metal-ion mutagenesis: Conversion of a purple acid phosphatase from sweet potato to a neutral phosphatase with the formation of an unprecedented catalytically competent MnIIMnII active site

The currently accepted paradigm is that the purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) require a heterovalent, dinuclear metal-ion center for catalysis. It is believed that this is an essential feature for these enzymes in order for them to operate under acidic conditions. A PAP from sweet potato is unusual in that it appears to have a specific requirement for manganese, forming a unique Fe(III)-mu-(O)-Mn(II) center under catalytically optimal conditions (Schenk et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2005, 102, 273). Herein, we demonstrate, with detailed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic and kinetic studies, that in this enzyme the chromophoric Fe(III) can be replaced by Mn(II), forming a catalytically active, unprecedented antiferromagnetically coupled homodivalent Mn(II)-mu-(H)OH-mu-carboxylato-Mn(II) center in a PAP. However, although the enzyme is still active, it no longer functions as an acid phosphatase, having optimal activity at neutral pH. Thus, PAPs may have evolved from distantly related divalent dinuclear metallohydrolases that operate under pH neutral conditions by stabilization of a trivalent-divalent metal-ion core. The present Mn(II)-Mn(II) system models these distant relatives, and the results herein make a significant contribution to our understanding of the role of the chromophoric metal ion as an activator of the nucleophile. In addition, the detailed analysis of strain broadened EPR spectra from exchange-coupled dinuclear Mn(II)-Mn(II) centers described herein provides the basis for the full interpretation of the EPR spectra from other dinuclear Mn metalloenzymes.

Systematic study of spin crossover and structure in [Co(terpyRX)2](Y)2 systems (terpyRX = 4'-alkoxy-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, X = 4, 8, 12, Y = BF4(-), ClO4(-), PF6(-), BPh4(-)).

A family of spin crossover cobalt(II) complexes of the type [Co(terpyRX)(2)](Y)(2) x nH(2)O (X = 4, 8, 12 and Y = BF(4)(-), ClO(4)(-), PF(6)(-), BPh(4)(-)) has been synthesized, whereby the alkyl chain length, RX, and counteranion, Y, have been systematically varied. The structural (single crystal X-ray diffraction) and electronic (magnetic susceptibility, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)) properties have been investigated within this family of compounds. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of [Co(terpyR8)(2)](ClO(4))(2), [Co(terpyR8)(2)](BF(4))(2) x H(2)O, and [Co(terpyR4)(2)](PF(6))(2) x 3 H(2)O, at 123 K, revealed compressed octahedral low spin Co(II) environments and showed varying extents of disorder in the alkyl tail portions of the terpyRX ligands. The magnetic and EPR studies were focused on the BF(4)(-) family and, for polycrystalline solid samples, revealed that the spin transition onset temperature (from low to high spin) decreased as the alkyl chain lengthened. EPR studies of polycrystalline powder samples confirmed these results, showing signals only due to the low spin state at the temperatures seen in magnetic measurements. Further to this, simultaneous simulation of the EPR spectra of frozen solutions of [Co(terpyR8)(2)](BF(4))(2) x H(2)O, recorded at S-, X-, and Q-band frequencies, allowed accurate determination of the g and A values of the low spin ground state. The temperature dependence of the polycrystalline powder EPR spectra of this and the R4 and R12 complexes is explained in terms of Jahn-Teller effects using the warped Mexican hat potential energy surface model perturbed by the low symmetry of the ligands. While well recognized in Cu(II) systems, this is one of the few times this approach has been used for Co(II).

Monoesterase Activity of a Purple Acid Phosphatase Mimic with a Cyclam Platform

The synthesis and characterization of a novel dinucleating ligand L (L=4,11-dimethyl-1,8-bis{2-[N-(di-2-pyridylmethyl)amino]ethyl}cyclam) and its μ-oxo-bridged diferric complex [(H(2)L){Fe(III)(2)(O)}(Cl)(4)](2+) are reported. This diiron(III) complex is the first example of a truly functional purple acid phosphatase (PAP) mimic as it accelerates the hydrolysis of the activated phosphomonoester 2,4-dinitrophenyl phosphate (DNPP). The spectroscopic and kinetic data indicate that only substrates that are monodentately bound to one of the two ferric ions can be attacked by a suitable nucleophile. This is, most probably, a terminal iron(III)-bound hydroxide. DFT calculations support this assumption and also highlight the importance of secondary interactions, exerted by the protonated cyclam platform, for the positioning and activation of the iron(III)-bound substrate. Similar effects are postulated in the native enzyme but addressed in PAP mimics for the first time.

Copper(II) Coordination Chemistry of Westiellamide and Its Imidazole, Oxazole, and Thiazole Analogues

The copper(II) coordination chemistry of westiellamide (H(3)L(wa)), as well as of three synthetic analogues with an [18]azacrown-6 macrocyclic structure but with three imidazole (H(3)L(1)), oxazole (H(3)L(2)), and thiazole (H(3)L(3)) rings instead of oxazoline, is reported. As in the larger patellamide rings, the N(heterocycle)-N(peptide)-N(heterocycle) binding site is highly preorganized for copper(II) coordination. In contrast to earlier reports, the macrocyclic peptides have been found to form stable mono- and dinuclear copper(II) complexes. The coordination of copper(II) has been monitored by high-resolution electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), spectrophotometric and polarimetric titrations, and EPR and IR spectroscopies, and the structural assignments have been supported by time-dependent studies (UV/Vis/NIR, ESI-MS, and EPR) of the complexation reaction of copper(II) with H(3)L(1). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to model the structures of the copper(II) complexes on the basis of their spectroscopic data. The copper(II) ion has a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with one or two coordinated solvent molecules (CH(3)OH) in the mononuclear copper(II) cyclic peptide complexes, but the coordination sphere in [Cu(H(2)L(wa))(OHCH(3))](+) differs from those in the synthetic analogues, [Cu(H(2)L)(OHCH(3))(2)](+) (L = L(1), L(2), L(3)). Dinuclear copper(II) complexes ([Cu(II) (2)(HL)(mu-X)](+); X = OCH(3), OH; L = L(1), L(2), L(3), L(wa)) are observed in the mass spectra. While a dipole-dipole coupled EPR spectrum is observed for the dinuclear copper(II) complex of H(3)L(3), the corresponding complexes with H(3)L (L = L(1), L(2), L(wa)) are EPR-silent. This may be explained in terms of strong antiferromagnetic coupling (H(3)L(1)) and/or a low concentration of the dicopper(II) complexes (H(3)L(wa), H(3)L(2)), in agreement with the mass spectrometric observations.

Catalase vs Peroxidase Activity of a Manganese(II) Compound: Identification of a Mn(III)―(μ-O)2―Mn(IV) Reaction Intermediate by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Herein, we report reactivity studies of the mononuclear water-soluble complex [Mn(II)(HPClNOL)(eta(1)-NO(3))(eta(2)-NO(3))] 1, where HPClNOL = 1-(bis-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-amino)-3-chloropropan-2-ol, toward peroxides (H(2)O(2) and tert-butylhydroperoxide). Both the catalase (in aqueous solution) and peroxidase (in CH(3)CN) activities of 1 were evaluated using a range of techniques including electronic absorption spectroscopy, volumetry (kinetic studies), pH monitoring during H(2)O(2) disproportionation, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode [ESI(+)-MS], and gas chromatography (GC). Electrochemical studies showed that 1 can be oxidized to Mn(III) and Mn(IV). The catalase-like activity of 1 was evaluated with and without pH control. The results show that the pH decreases when the reaction is performed in unbuffered media. Furthermore, the activity of 1 is greater in buffered than in unbuffered media, demonstrating that pH influences the activity of 1 toward H(2)O(2). For the reaction of 1 with H(2)O(2), EPR and ESI(+)-MS have led to the identification of the intermediate [Mn(III)Mn(IV)(mu-O)(2)(PClNOL)(2)](+). The peroxidase activity of 1 was also evaluated by monitoring cyclohexane oxidation, using H(2)O(2) or tert-butylhydroperoxide as the terminal oxidants. Low yields (<7%) were obtained for H(2)O(2), probably because it competes with 1 for the catalase-like activity. In contrast, using tert-butylhydroperoxide, up to 29% of cyclohexane conversion was obtained. A mechanistic model for the catalase activity of 1 that incorporates the observed lag phase in O(2) production, the pH variation, and the formation of a Mn(III)-(mu-O)(2)-Mn(IV) intermediate is proposed.

Spectroscopic and catalytic characterization of a functional FeIIIFeII biomimetic for the active site of uteroferrin and protein cleavage

A mixed-valence complex, [Fe(III)Fe(II)L1(μ-OAc)(2)]BF(4)·H(2)O, where the ligand H(2)L1 = 2-{[[3-[((bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl](pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl]phenol}, has been studied with a range of techniques, and, where possible, its properties have been compared to those of the corresponding enzyme system purple acid phosphatase. The Fe(III)Fe(II) and Fe(III)(2) oxidized species were studied spectroelectrochemically. The temperature-dependent population of the S = 3/2 spin states of the heterovalent system, observed using magnetic circular dichroism, confirmed that the dinuclear center is weakly antiferromagnetically coupled (H = -2JS(1)·S(2), where J = -5.6 cm(-1)) in a frozen solution. The ligand-to-metal charge-transfer transitions are correlated with density functional theory calculations. The Fe(III)Fe(II) complex is electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-silent, except at very low temperatures (<2 K), because of the broadening caused by the exchange coupling and zero-field-splitting parameters being of comparable magnitude and rapid spin-lattice relaxation. However, a phosphate-bound Fe(III)(2) complex showed an EPR spectrum due to population of the S(tot) = 3 state (J= -3.5 cm(-1)). The phosphatase activity of the Fe(III)Fe(II) complex in hydrolysis of bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate (k(cat.) = 1.88 × 10(-3) s(-1); K(m) = 4.63 × 10(-3) mol L(-1)) is similar to that of other bimetallic heterovalent complexes with the same ligand. Analysis of the kinetic data supports a mechanism where the initiating nucleophile in the phosphatase reaction is a hydroxide, terminally bound to Fe(III). It is interesting to note that aqueous solutions of [Fe(III)Fe(II)L1(μ-OAc)(2)](+) are also capable of protein cleavage, at mild temperature and pH conditions, thus further expanding the scope of this complexs catalytic promiscuity.

Molecular Sophe: An Integrated Approach to the Structural Characterization of Metalloproteins: The Next Generation of Computer Simulation Software

Herein we describe an integrated approach — Molecular Sophe — for determination of the molecular structure of redox active cofactors in metalloproteins from an analysis of their high-resolution EPR spectra. Molecular Sophe involves the computer simulation of continuous-wave and orientation-selective pulsed EPR and electron nuclear double resonance(ENDOR) spectra. As aids to the correct analysis of these spectra, calculation of energy level diagrams, transition roadmaps, and transition surfaces can also be performed. This approach, based on molecularstructure, promises to revolutionize the three-dimensional molecular (geometric and electronic) characterization of paramagnetic materials using a combination of high-resolution EPR spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations.

Controlling Au Photodeposition on Large ZnO Nanoparticles

This study investigated how to control the rate of photoreduction of metastable AuCl2(-) at the solid-solution interface of large ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) (50-100 nm size). Band-gap photoexcitation of electronic charge in ZnO by 370 nm UV light yielded Au NP deposition and the formation of ZnO-Au NP hybrids. Au NP growth was observed to be nonepitaxial, and the patterns of Au photodeposition onto ZnO NPs observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were consistent with reduction of AuCl2(-) at ZnO facet edges and corner sites. Au NP photodeposition was effective in the presence of labile oleylamine ligands attached to the ZnO surface; however, when a strong-binding dodecanethiol ligand coated the surface, photodeposition was quenched. Rates of interfacial electron transfer at the ZnO-solution interface were adjusted by changing the solvent, and these rates were observed to strongly depend on the solvents permittivity (ε) and viscosity. From measurements of electron transfer from ZnO to the organic dye toluidine blue at the ZnO-solution interface, it was confirmed that low ε solvent mixtures (ε ≈ 9.5) possessed markedly higher rates of photocatalytic interfacial electron transfer (∼3.2 × 10(4) electrons·particle(-1)·s(-1)) compared to solvent mixtures with high ε (ε = 29.9, ∼1.9 × 10(4) electrons·particle(-1)·s(-1)). Dissolved oxygen content in the solvent and the exposure time of ZnO to band-gap, near-UV photoexcitation were also identified as factors that strongly affected Au photodeposition behavior. Production of Au clusters was favored under conditions that caused electron accumulation in the ZnO-Au NP hybrid. Under conditions where electron discharge was rapid (such as in low ε solvents), AuCl2(-) precursor ions photoreduced at ZnO surfaces in less than 5 s, leading to deposition of several small, isolated ∼6 nm Au NP on the ZnO host instead.