Eric K. Paulson

Design of a triple resonance magic angle sample spinning probe for high field solid state nuclear magnetic resonance

Standard design and construction practices used in building nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probes for the study of solid state samples become difficult if not entirely impractical to implement as the 1H resonance frequency approaches the self resonance frequency of commercial capacitors. We describe an approach that utilizes short variable transmission line segments as tunable reactances. Such an approach effectively controls stray reactances and provides a higher Q alternative to ceramic chip capacitors. The particular probe described is built to accommodate a 2.5 mm magic angle spinning rotor system, and is triply tuned to 13C, 15N, and 1H frequencies for use at 18.8 T (200, 80, and 800 MHz, respectively). Isolation of the three radio frequency (rf) channels is achieved using both a rejection trap and a transmission line notch filter. The compact geometry of this design allows three channels with high power handling capability to fit in a medium bore (63 mm) magnet. Extended time variable temperature ...

Diversity of Secondary Structure in Catalytic Peptides with β-Turn-Biased Sequences

X-ray crystallography has been applied to the structural analysis of a series of tetrapeptides that were previously assessed for catalytic activity in an atroposelective bromination reaction. Common to the series is a central Pro-Xaa sequence, where Pro is either l- or d-proline, which was chosen to favor nucleation of canonical β-turn secondary structures. Crystallographic analysis of 35 different peptide sequences revealed a range of conformational states. The observed differences appear not only in cases where the Pro-Xaa loop-region is altered, but also when seemingly subtle alterations to the flanking residues are introduced. In many instances, distinct conformers of the same sequence were observed, either as symmetry-independent molecules within the same unit cell or as polymorphs. Computational studies using DFT provided additional insight into the analysis of solid-state structural features. Select X-ray crystal structures were compared to the corresponding solution structures derived from measured proton chemical shifts, 3J-values, and 1H–1H-NOESY contacts. These findings imply that the conformational space available to simple peptide-based catalysts is more diverse than precedent might suggest. The direct observation of multiple ground state conformations for peptides of this family, as well as the dynamic processes associated with conformational equilibria, underscore not only the challenge of designing peptide-based catalysts, but also the difficulty in predicting their accessible transition states. These findings implicate the advantages of low-barrier interconversions between conformations of peptide-based catalysts for multistep, enantioselective reactions.

Structural basis for DNA cleavage by the potent antiproliferative agent (–)-lomaiviticin A

Significance DNA is a canonical target for chemotherapeutic intervention, and several DNA-reactive natural products are in clinical use. An understanding of the mode of DNA binding of these agents is an essential component of translational development. Here we show that (–)-lomaiviticin A (1), a naturally occurring DNA cleavage agent undergoing preclinical evaluation, binds DNA by an unusual mode of association involving insertion of two complex polycyclic arene fragments into the duplex, with concomitant disruption of base pairing. Additionally, our studies suggest that DNA binding activates the DNA cleavage activity of 1. This study provides a structural basis for the activity of 1 and for the development of synthetic DNA-damaging agents capable of recapitulating this mechanism of association and activation. (–)-Lomaiviticin A (1) is a complex antiproliferative metabolite that inhibits the growth of many cultured cancer cell lines at low nanomolar–picomolar concentrations. (–)-Lomaiviticin A (1) possesses a C2-symmetric structure that contains two unusual diazotetrahydrobenzo[b]fluorene (diazofluorene) functional groups. Nucleophilic activation of each diazofluorene within 1 produces vinyl radical intermediates that affect hydrogen atom abstraction from DNA, leading to the formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Certain DNA DSB repair-deficient cell lines are sensitized toward 1, and 1 is under evaluation in preclinical models of these tumor types. However, the mode of binding of 1 to DNA had not been determined. Here we elucidate the structure of a 1:1 complex between 1 and the duplex d(GCTATAGC)2 by NMR spectroscopy and computational modeling. Unexpectedly, we show that both diazofluorene residues of 1 penetrate the duplex. This binding disrupts base pairing leading to ejection of the central AT bases, while placing the proreactive centers of 1 in close proximity to each strand. DNA binding may also enhance the reactivity of 1 toward nucleophilic activation through steric compression and conformational restriction (an example of shape-dependent catalysis). This study provides a structural basis for the DNA cleavage activity of 1, will guide the design of synthetic DNA-activated DNA cleavage agents, and underscores the utility of natural products to reveal novel modes of small molecule–DNA association.

Study of an S = 1 NiII pincer electrocatalyst precursor for aqueous hydrogen production based on paramagnetic 1H NMR

A tridentate NNN Ni(II) complex, shown to be an electrocatalyst for aqueous H2 production at low overpotentials, is studied by using temperature-dependent paramagnetic (1)H NMR. The NMR T1 relaxation rates, temperature dependence of the chemical shifts, and dc SQUID magnetic susceptibility are correlated to DFT chemical shifts and compared with the properties of a diamagnetic Zn analogue complex. The resulting characterization provides an unambiguous assignment of the six proton environments in the meridionally coordinating tridentate NNN ligand. The demonstrated NMR/DFT methodology should be valuable in the search for appropriate ligands to optimize the reactivity of 3d metal complexes bound to attract increasing attention in catalytic applications.

The influence of internuclear spatial distribution and instrument noise on the precision of distances determined by solid state NMR of isotopically enriched proteins.

The relative merits of different isotopic enrichment strategies that might be used in solid state NMR protein structure determinations are explored. The basis for comparison of these merits is the determination of the relative uncertainties in rates measured by a generalized dipolar recoupling experiment. The different schemes considered use 13C, 15N and 2H labeling of ubiquitin with homonuclear magnetization-transfer type experiments under magic-angle spinning (MAS). Specific attention is given to the sensitivity of the predicted relative precisions to variation in natural nuclear density distribution and noise levels. A framework is suggested to gauge the precision of measurement of a given dipolar coupling constant, and the potential for a set of such measurements to constrain structure calculations is explored. The distribution of nuclei in homonuclear 15N and 1H dipolar recoupling spin-exchange experiments appear to provide the most promising tertiary structure information for uniformly labeled ubiquitin.

External field-frequency lock probe for high resolution solid state NMR

A transmission line lock probe is described for magnetic field stabilization of a high field superconducting magnet with a significant drift rate for high resolution solid state NMR experiments employing a conventional magic angle spinning (MAS) probe. The lock probe connects to the standard spectrometer lock channel and employs a spherical sample bulb containing D2O doped such that the peak is homogeneously broadened despite the sample being displaced from the homogeneous central region of the static magnetic field. Use of a separate lock probe makes it possible to remove the MAS probe for changing samples while maintaining field-frequency lock.