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PubMed1991

Analysis of pulsed-neutron powder diffraction patterns of the icosahedral quasicrystals Pd3Siu and AlCuLiMg (three alloys) as twinned cubic crystals with large units.

The low-Q peaks on three pulsed-neutron powder patterns (total, U differential, and Pd differential) of the icosahedral quasicrystal Pd3SiU have been indexed on the basis of an assumed cubic structure of the crystals that by icosahedral twinning form the quasicrystal. The primitive unit cube is found to have edge length 56.20 A and to contain approximately 12,100 atoms. Similar analyses of pulsed-neutron patterns of Al55Cu10Li35, Al55Cu10Li30Mg5, and Al510Cu125Li235Mg130 give values of the cube edge length 58.3, 58.5, and 58.4 A, respectively, with approximately 11,650 atoms in the unit cube. It is suggested that the unit contains eight complexes in the beta-W positions, plus some small interstitial groups of atoms, with each complex consisting of a centered icosahedron of 13 clusters, each of 116 atoms with the icosahedral structure found in the body-centered cubic crystal Mg32(Al,Zn)49.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

All-atom models for the non-nucleoside binding site of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase complexed with inhibitors: a 3D QSAR approach.

Several molecular modeling techniques were used to generate an all-atom molecular model of a receptor binding site starting only from Ca atom coordinates. The model consists of 48 noncontiguous residues of the non-nucleoside binding site of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and was generated using a congeneric series of nevirapine analogs as structural probes. On the basis of the receptor-ligand atom contacts, the program HINT was used to develop a 3D quantitative structure activity relationship that predicted the rank order of binding affinities for the series of inhibitors. Electronic profiles of the ligands in their docked conformations were characterized using electrostatic potential maps and frontier orbital calculations. These results led to the development of a 3D stereoelectronic pharmacophore which was used to construct 3D queries for database searches. A search of the National Cancer Institute's open database identified a lead compound that exhibited moderate antiviral activity.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMed2004

LocalSCF method for semiempirical quantum-chemical calculation of ultralarge biomolecules.

A linear-scaling semiempirical method, LocalSCF, has been proposed for the quantum-chemical calculations of ultralarge molecular systems by treating the large-scale molecular task as a variational problem. The method resolves the self-consistent field task through the finite atomic expansion of weakly nonorthogonal localized molecular orbitals. The inverse overlap matrix arising from the nonorthogonality of the localized orbitals is approximated by preserving the first-order perturbation term and applying the second-order correction by means of a penalty function. This allows for the separation of the orbital expansion procedure from the self-consistent field optimization of linear coefficients, thereby maintaining the localized molecular orbital size unchanged during the refinement of linear coefficients. Orbital normalization is preserved analytically by the variation of virtual degrees of freedom, which are orthogonal to the initial orbitals. Optimization of linear coefficients of localized orbitals is performed by a gradient procedure. The computer program running on a commodity personal computer was applied to the GroEL-GroES chaperonin complex containing 119,273 atoms.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2001

Acidianus ambivalens Complex II typifies a novel family of succinate dehydrogenases.

Complex II from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Acidianus ambivalens, an archetype of an emerging class of succinate dehydrogenases (SDH), was extracted from intact membranes and purified to homogeneity. The complex contains one molecule of covalently bound FAD and 10 Fe atoms. EPR studies showed that the complex contains the canonical centres S1 ([2Fe-2S]2+/1+) and S2 ([4Fe-4S]+2/+1) but lacks centre S3 ([3Fe-4S]+1/0); these observations agree with the fact that the iron-sulfur subunit contains an extra cysteine that may allow the binding of a new centre, most probably a tetranuclear one. Succinate-driven oxygen consumption is observed in intact membranes indicating that in vivo, complex II operates as a succinate:quinone oxidoreductase, despite missing the typical anchor domain subunits. The pure complex was found to contain bound caldariella quinone, the enzyme physiological partner. An alternative membrane anchoring for this new type of SDHs, based on the amphipathic nature of the putative helices found in SdhC, is suggested.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Syntheses and X-ray structures of monocyclic, bicyclic, and spirocyclic gallium and indium boraamidinates.

The reactions of [Li(2)[PhB(N(t)Bu)(2)]](2) with GaCl(3) in various stoichiometries yield [Li(thf)(4)][PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)GaCl(2) x GaCl(3)] (1), [PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)GaCl](2) (2), and [mu-Li(OEt(2))[PhB(N(t)Bu)(2)]Ga] (3a), a series of complexes in which the three chloride ligands are successively replaced by the dianion [PhB(N(t)Bu)(2)](2-). The X-ray structures of 1, 2, and 3a show that the boraamidinate ligand adopts an N,N'-chelating mode. In the ion-separated complex 1, one of the nitrogen atoms is coordinated to a GaCl(3) molecule. The related indium complexes [mu-LiCl(thf)(2)][PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)InCl](2) (4) and [mu-Li(OEt(2))[PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)]In] (3b) were obtained in a similar manner. Complex 4 is the indium analogue of 2 with the incorporation of a bissolvated LiCl molecule. In 3a and 3b the spirocyclic [[PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)](2)M](-) (M = Ga, In) anions are N,N'-chelated to the [Li(OEt(2))](+) counterion. Prolonged reactions result in the formation of [PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)GaCl][(t)BuN(H)GaCl(2)] (5) and [[PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)InCl][(t)BuN(H)InCl(2)][mu-LiCl(OEt(2))(2)]] (6), respectively. The X-ray structures of 5 and 6 reveal bicyclic structures which formally involve the entrapment of the monomers (t)BuN(H)MCl(2) by a four-membered BN(2)M ring (M = Ga, In). The synthesis and X-ray structure of Cl(2)Ga[mu-N(H)(t)Bu](2)GaCl(2) are also reported.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

Comparison of the structures of the quinone-binding sites in beef heart mitochondria.

The ubiquinone pool in mitochondrial membranes serves as an electron carrier between both NADH-coenzyme Q oxidoreductase (Complex I) and succinate-coenzyme Q oxidoreductase (Complex II) and ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase (Complex III). It has been reported (Saitoh, I., Miyoshi, H., Shimizu, R., and Iwamura, H. (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 209, 73-79) that 2-alkyl-4,6-dinitrophenols compete with exogenous coenzyme Q (Q) to inhibit electron transport through cytochromes b and c1 in mammalian mitochondria as well as in photosystem II. We have probed the similarities and differences in the reaction sites of exogenous Q in all three segments of the respiratory chain using selected 2-alkyl-4,6-dinitrophenols. The inhibition of Q analog reduction by the dinitrophenol derivatives was competitive for Complex I and noncompetitive for Complex II. The inhibition of Complex III was competitive with the pentyl analog, but was uncompetitive with the decyl analog, which may be due to different interactions of the two quinol analogs with Complex III. The degree of inhibition by several of these compounds was comparable for Complexes I and III, but Complex II was inhibited to a much smaller extent. The inhibitory potency of these compounds for Complexes I and III was increased by branching and by lengthening the carbon chain at the 2-position equivalent to the isoprenoid side chain of ubiquinone. Hydrophobic substituents increased the inhibition of Complex II. Replacement of the phenolic OH group by a chlorine atom decreased the maximum inhibition of Complex III, but increased that of Complex I. These data suggest that the structures of the exogenous Q-binding sites in Complexes I and III may be similar, but not identical, and that they are different from that in Complex II.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗

PubMed2000

Syntheses and characterization of anti-inflammatory dinuclear and mononuclear zinc indomethacin complexes. Crystal structures of [Zn2(indomethacin)4(L)2] (L = N,N-dimethylacetamide, pyridine, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone) and [Zn(indomethacin)2(L1)2] (L1 = ethanol, methanol).

The syntheses and spectral and structural characterizations of Zn(II) indomethacin [1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indole-3-acetic acid = IndoH] complexes, as different solvent adducts, have been studied. The complexes are unusual in that both monomeric and dimeric complexes are formed and that this is the first example of the same carboxylato ligand binding via both carboxylate oxygen atoms in monomeric and dimeric Zn(II) complexes. The crystal structures of Zn-Indo complexes with N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), pyridine (Py), 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), EtOH, and MeOH as solvent ligands, [Zn2(Indo)4(DMA)2].2DMA, 1, [Zn2(Indo)4(Py)2].2H2O, 2b, [Zn2(Indo)4(NMP)2], 3, cis-[Zn(Indo)2(EtOH)2], 4, and cis-[Zn(Indo)2(MeOH)2], 5, were determined. Complexes 1, 2b, and 3 crystallize in the triclinic space group P1 (No. 2): a = 13.628(2) A, b = 17.462(2) A, c = 11.078(1) A, alpha = 99.49(1) degrees, beta = 108.13(1) degrees, gamma = 110.10(1) degrees for 1; a = 13.347(3) A, b = 16.499(5) A, c = 10.857(1) A, alpha = 99.48(2) degrees, beta = 108.25(2) degrees, gamma = 106.24(2) degrees for 2; a = 14.143(3) A, b = 14.521(2) A, c = 11.558(2) A, alpha = 109.07(1) degrees, beta = 90.80(2) degrees, gamma = 116.40(1) degrees for 3. The three complexes exhibit dinuclear paddle-wheel structures with a Zn...Zn distance of 2.9686(6) A, Zn-ORCOO distances of 2.035(2)-2.060(2) A, and a Zn-ODMA distance of 1.989(2) A in 1, a Zn...Zn distance of 2.969(1) A, Zn-ORCOO distances of 2.020(3)-2.049(3) A, and a Zn-NPy distance of 2.036(3) A in 2, and a Zn...Zn distance of 2.934(1) A, Zn-ORCOO distances of 2.009(3)-2.051(3) A, and a Zn-ONMP distance of 1.986(3) A in 3. In these cases, the zinc ions are offset along the z direction such that the L-Zn...Zn-L moiety is nonlinear, unlike the Cu analogues. Each Zn has a square-pyramidal geometry bridged by four carboxylato ligands in the basal plane with the solvent ligands containing an O- or N-donor atom at the apex. Complexes 4 and 5 are isostructural, with space group C2/c (No. 15). For 4, a = 30.080(2) A, b = 5.3638(6) A, c = 24.739(2) A, beta = 90.342(7) degrees, and for 5, a = 29.419(2) A, b = 5.320(2) A, c = 24.461(2) A, beta = 90.840(4) degrees. The Zn resides on a 2-fold axis and the complexes have a distorted cis octahedral structure with Zn-ORCOO bond lengths of 2.183(3) and 2.169(3) A, a Zn-OEtOH bond length of 2.015(3) A in 4, Zn-ORCOO bond lengths of 2.195(2) and 2.151(2) A, and a Zn-OMeOH bond length of 2.022(3) A in 5.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Age pigments: role of iron and copper salts in the formation of fluorescent lipid complexes.

Free radicals which abstract hydrogen atoms from unsaturated fatty acids initiate lipid autoxidation. Transition metal ions, however, usually stimulate lipid autoxidation by decomposing peroxides to release active radicals which can then initiate further autoxidation. Lipid peroxides produced in vivo, both enzymically and non-enzymically, are probably decomposed in this way resulting in the formation of fluorescent lipid complexes. The role of iron and copper salts in their formation has been studied using sequential techniques on fatty acid and phospholipid preparations.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Determination of copper in powdered chocolate samples by slurry-sampling flame atomic-absorption spectrometry.

Chocolate is a complex sample with a high content of organic compounds and its analysis generally involves digestion procedures that might include the risk of losses and/or contamination. The determination of copper in chocolate is important because copper compounds are extensively used as fungicides in the farming of cocoa. In this paper, a slurry-sampling flame atomic-absorption spectrometric method is proposed for determination of copper in powdered chocolate samples. Optimization was carried out using univariate methodology involving the variables nature and concentration of the acid solution for slurry preparation, sonication time, and sample mass. The recommended conditions include a sample mass of 0.2 g, 2.0 mol L(-1) hydrochloric acid solution, and a sonication time of 15 min. The calibration curve was prepared using aqueous copper standards in 2.0 mol L(-1) hydrochloric acid. This method allowed determination of copper in chocolate with a detection limit of 0.4 microg g(-1) and precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), of 2.5% (n = 10) for a copper content of approximately 30 microg g(-1), using a chocolate mass of 0.2 g. The accuracy was confirmed by analyzing the certified reference materials NIST SRM 1568a rice flour and NIES CRM 10-b rice flour. The proposed method was used for determination of copper in three powdered chocolate samples, the copper content of which varied between 26.6 and 31.5 microg g(-1). The results showed no significant differences with those obtained after complete digestion, using a t-test for comparison.

Cacao↗

PubMed2004

Crystal structures of novel non-peptidic, non-zinc chelating inhibitors bound to MMP-12.

Human macrophage elastase (MMP-12) plays an important role in inflammatory processes and has been implicated in diseases such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is therefore an attractive target for therapeutic agents. As part of a structure-based drug design programme to find new inhibitors of MMP-12, the crystal structures of the MMP-12 catalytic domain (residues 106-268) complexed to three different non-peptidic small molecule inhibitors have been determined. The structures reveal that all three ligands bind in the S1' pocket but show varying degrees of interaction with the Zn atom. The structures of the complexes with inhibitors CP-271485 and PF-00356231 reveal that their central morpholinone and thiophene rings, respectively, sit over the Zn atom at a distance of approximately 5A, locating the inhibitors halfway down the S1' pocket. In both of these structures, an acetohydroxamate anion, an artefact of the crystallisation solution, chelates the zinc atom. By contrast, the acetohydroxamate anion is displaced by the ligand in the structure of MMP-12 complexed to PD-0359601 (Bayer), a potent zinc chelating N-substituted biaryl butyric acid, used as a reference compound for crystallisation. Although a racemate was used for the crystallisation, the S enantiomer only is bound in the crystal. Important hydrophobic interactions between the inhibitors and residues from the S1' pocket are observed in all of the structures. The relative selectivity displayed by these ligands for MMP-12 over other MMP family members is discussed.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of non-heme diiron(III) species with a terminal hydroperoxide ligand: models for hemerythrin.

Two compounds, [Fe2(mu-OH)(mu-Ph4DBA)(TMEDA)2(OTf)] (4) and [Fe2(mu-OH)(mu-Ph4DBA)(DPE)2(OTf)] (7), where Ph4DBA(2-) is the dinucleating bis(carboxylate) ligand dibenzofuran-4,6-bis(diphenylacetate), have been prepared as synthetic models for the dioxygen-binding non-heme diiron protein hemerythrin (Hr). X-ray crystallography reveals that, in the solid state, these compounds contain the asymmetric coordination environment found at the diiron center in the reduced form of the protein, deoxyHr. Mössbauer spectra of the models (4, delta = 1.21(2), DeltaE(Q) = 2.87(2) mm s(-1); 7, delta(av) = 1.23(1), DeltaE(Qav) = 2.79(1) mm s(-1)) and deoxyHr (delta = 1.19, DeltaE(Q) = 2.81 mm s(-1)) are also in good agreement. Oxygenation of the diiron(II) complexes dissolved in CH2Cl2 containing 3 equiv of N-MeIm (4) or neat EtCN (7) at -78 degrees C affords a red-orange solution with optical bands at 336 nm (7300 M(-1) cm(-1)) and 470 nm (2600 M(-1) cm(-1)) for 4 and at 334 nm (6400 M(-1) cm(-1)) and 484 nm (2350 M(-1) cm(-1)) for 7. These spectra are remarkably similar to that of oxyHr, 330 nm (6800 M(-1) cm(-1)) and 500 nm (2200 M(-1) cm(-1)). The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of the cryoreduced, mixed-valence dioxygen adduct of 7 displays properties consistent with a (mu-oxo)diiron(II,III) core. An investigation of 7 and its dioxygen-bound adduct by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy indicates that the oxidized species contains a (mu-oxo)diiron(III) core with iron-ligand distances in agreement with those expected for oxide, carboxylate, and amine/hydroperoxide donor atoms. The analogous cobalt complex [Co2(mu-OH)(mu-Ph4DBA)(TMEDA)2(OTf)] (6) was synthesized and structurally characterized, but it was unreactive toward dioxygen.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

PubMed2003

A novel zirconium polyoxometalate compound: (NH(4))(9)[Zr(2)(mu-OH)(H(2)O)(2)(AsOH)(2)(AsW(7)O(28))(AsW(10)O(36))].26H(2)O.

The crystal structure of the title compound, nonaammonium (arsenic decatungstido)(arsenic heptatungstido)diaqua-mu-hydroxo-(hydroxyarsenido)dizirconium hexacosahydrate, which was obtained from the reaction of [NaAs(4)W(40)O(140)](27-) with Zr(IV), has been determined. The anionic complex consists of two hydroxyl-bridged seven-coordinate capped trigonal-prismatic zirconium ions, which are bonded to an [AsW(10)O(36)](9-) anion and to an [AsW(7)O(28)](11-) anion that has two [AsOH](2+) capping units. The asymmetric unit contains half of the complex, with one crystallographically independent Zr atom. Crystallographic m symmetry imposed by the monoclinic C2/m space group gives rise to the asymmetric unit comprising half of the complex with one crystallographically independent Zr atom.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1987

Purification and properties of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from Methanococcus vannielii.

Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from Methanococcus vannielii grown with formate as the sole carbon source. The enzyme is composed of subunits with molecular weights of 89,000 and 21,000 in an alpha 2 beta 2 oligomeric structure. The native molecular weight of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, determined by gel electrophoresis, is 220,000. The enzyme from M. vannielii contains 2 g-atoms of nickel per mol of enzyme. Except for its relatively high pH optimum of 10.5 and its slightly greater net positive charge, the enzyme from M. vannielii closely resembles carbon monoxide dehydrogenase isolated previously from acetate-grown Methanosarcina barkeri. Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from M. vannielii constitutes 0.2% of the soluble protein of the cell. By comparison the enzyme comprises 5% of the soluble protein in acetate-grown cells of M. barkeri and approximately 1% in methanol-grown cells.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

PubMed2005

Efficient determination of low-frequency normal modes of large protein structures by cluster-NMA.

The structure-function relationship is critical to understanding the biologically relevant functions of protein structures. Various experimental techniques and numerical modeling methods, normal mode analysis (NMA) in particular, have been employed to gain insight into this relationship. Experimental methods are often unable to provide all the desired information and comprehensive modeling techniques are often too computationally expensive. The authors build upon and optimize their cluster normal mode analysis (cNMA) tool, which uses embedded rigid-bodies and harmonic potentials to capture the biologically significant, low-frequency, oscillations of protein structures. cNMA represents atomic details with a scalable number of degrees-of-freedom, which can be chosen independent of structure size. This representation overcomes the otherwise quadratic order memory requirements and cubic order computational complexity associated with traditional all-atom NMA. cNMA is two orders of magnitude faster than traditional all-atom NMA when clustering by residue (very high resolution) and in the more traditional application using a fixed number of clusters, cNMA computationally scales as O(n), which is two orders of complexity faster than all-atom NMA. cNMA is presented and very large example structures with up to 10(6) atoms are analyzed on a notebook PC in the time scale of minutes/hours. The resulting mode shapes help identify biologically significant, conformational pathways.

Cluster Analysis↗

PubMed1995

Zinc content and function in human fibroblast collagenase.

The zinc contents of samples of human fibroblast collagenase (HFC) purified by different procedures and of samples purified by the same procedure but prepared for analysis by different dialysis protocols have been determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Both the purification method and dialysis conditions affect the zinc stoichiometry. Samples purified with and without the use of a zinc-chelate chromatography step and prepared by dialysis against 1 mM CaCl2 had zinc to enzyme ratios of 1.46 and 1.22, respectively. When the first sample was prepared by dialysis against 0 and 10 mM CaCl2, the values changed to 0.15 and 1.94, respectively. Thus, the zinc content of HFC is critically dependent upon the dialysis conditions used to free the enzyme from adventitious metals. This could account for the disparate reports in the literature that give zinc stoichiometries for members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of between 1 and 2. The mechanism of inhibition of the one zinc form of HFC by 1,10-phenanthroline (OP) and 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol has been studied in detail. Inhibition by both chelating agents is time dependent and biphasic. There is an initial, instantaneous inhibition characterized by the involvement of a single inhibitor molecule that corresponds to the formation of a ternary complex between the zinc atom, enzyme, and chelator. This is followed by a second, slower phase involving removal of the zinc atom from the enzyme and its chelation by two molecules of inhibitor. Inhibition of four other human MMPs by OP shows similar characteristics and is thought to occur by the same mechanism.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1997

An in Situ X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Study of Different Oxidation States of Oxo- and Hydroxo-Bridged Ruthenium Dimers in Acetonitrile Solution.

X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) experiments have been performed in acetonitrile solution with an in situ electrochemical cell at controlled electric potentials on [Ru(2)(&mgr;-O) (&mgr;-CH(3)COO)(2)(bpy)(2)L(2)](n)()(+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; L = pyridine (1) and 1-methylimidazole (2)) with the formal ruthenium oxidation states Ru(II)Ru(III), Ru(III)Ru(III), and Ru(III)Ru(IV). Spectra were also recorded for the corresponding hydroxo-bridged species, abbreviated as Ru(II)Ru(II)H, Ru(II)Ru(III)H, and Ru(III)Ru(III)H, which were formed by addition of p-toluenesulfonic acid to 1 and 2 and subsequent electrolysis. The X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra all showed similar features, although a small shift toward higher threshold energy was observed with increasing formal ruthenium oxidation state. It is concluded from the analysis of the EXAFS data that the ruthenium-ruthenium distance of the &mgr;-oxo complexes decreases with decreasing formal ruthenium oxidation state, interpreted as resulting from decreased electrostatic repulsion between the ruthenium atoms. However, for the &mgr;-hydroxo complexes the ruthenium-ruthenium distance decreases in the order Ru(III)Ru(III)H > Ru(II)Ru(II)H > Ru(II)Ru(III)H. The present coordination structures of the oxo- and hydroxo-bridged ruthenium dimers of the different oxidation states are compared with related iron and vanadium dimers.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1975

Environment and conformation dependent sensitivity of the arsanilazotyrosine-248 carboxypeptidase A chromophore.

Reaction of carboxypeptidase A crystals with diazotized arsanilic acid uniquely modifies Tyr-248 to form a monazo derivative, which-in solution-forms an intramolecular inner-sphere coordination complex in the active site zinc atom. tarsanilazocarboxypeptidase exhibits spectral properties that are closely similar to those of the model complex, tetrazolylazo-N-carbobenzoxytyrosine Zn2+, with a distinctive maximum at 510 nm. In addition, its circular dichroic spectrum reveals a negative extremum at this wavelength, also characteristic of this complex. Both spectra are exquisitely responsive to pth changes and serve to monitor formation and dissociation of the metal-azophenol complex. Two pKapp at 7.7 and 9.5 delineate the pH range over which the probe characteristics most effectively gauge conformational features of the active center of arsanilazcarboxypeptidase. Other environmental parameters, e.g., substrates and inhibitors, as well as crystallization of the enzyme also critically influence the formation and dissociation of the complex; the response of the probe suggests that they induce conformational movement of the azoTyr-248 residue away from the zinc atom. tthe now available chemical, functional, structural data bearing on the spatial relationships of Tyr-248 and Zn, both thought critical to catalysis, are evaluated, based on spectra of arsanilazo- and nitrocarboxypeptidase crystals and solutions as well as on detailed kinetic analyses of the native enzyme in both physical states and based on the X-ray structure analysis of the native enzyme and its Gly-L-Tyr complex. Collectively all of the data show that the conformation of carboxypeptidase in crystals differs from that in solution. Moreover, reexamination of the original X-ray maps reported in 1968 and thought to preclude a Tyr-248-Zn interaction now leads to the conclusion that in up to 25 per cent of the molecules in the crystals ttyr-248 interacts with the active site zinc atom (W.D. Lipscomb (1973), Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci U.S. 70, 3797). Thus, even in the crystals the enzyme exists in at least two different conformations. In one of these Tyr-248 is near while in the other it is far from the zinc atom. The spectral effects of Gly-L-Tyr and beta-phenylpropionate on solutions of arsanilazo- and of nitrocarboxypeptidase demonstrate that during the catalytic process Tyr-248 moves away from the zinc atom. This implies a mechanistic role for Tyr-248 different from that postulated on the basis of X-ray crystallographic analysis. Indeed, the proximity of ttyr-248 to the zinc atom, when altered by substrates and inhibitor, may reflect certain of the properties characteristic of the entatic, active site.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Determination of total mercury and methylmercury in human hair by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry using 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate as a complexing agent.

For the determination of total mercury in hair, an amount (25.0 mg) of hair sample was digested with conc. HNO3 (400 microl) at 90 degrees C for 10 min in a 7-ml teflon microreaction vessel. After digestion, the pH of the acidic hair mixture was adjusted to 5.0-6.0 by NaOH and was then passed through a clean-up Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. To the eluate, 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) and sodium acetate buffer (pH = 6.0) were added to form a mercury-DMPS complex. This complex was preconcentrated on two Sep-Pak C18 cartridges in series, and each cartridge was eluted with methanol and adjusted to 2.00 ml. A portion (50 microl) was introduced into a graphite cuvette and then atomized according to a temperature program. The method detection limit (MDL, 3sigma) was 0.064 (microg g(-1)); the calibration graph was linear up to 7.52 microg g(-1). Good accuracies were obtained when testing two human hair certified reference materials (GBW 09101 and BCR-397). Six real samples were analyzed, and the recoveries were 95.8 - 98.2% with a relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 3) < 2.1%. For the determination of methylmercury (CH3Hg+), 25.0 mg of hair sample was extracted with 2.0 mol dm(-3) HCl (1.0 ml) by ultrasonicating for 1 h. The supernatant solution was used for CH3Hg+ analysis and the hair residue was used for the analysis of inorganic mercury (Hg2+). The MDL of CH3Hg+ was 0.068 microg g(-1); the calibration graph was linear up to 6.00 microg g(-1). Six real samples were analyzed, and the recoveries were 96.0-99.2% with RSD (n = 3) < 2.3%. The sum of the concentrations of CH3Hg+ and Hg2+ was very close to that of the total mercury measured with a relative error within 3.6%. The proposed method can be accurately applied to the measurement of CH3Hg+, Hg2+, and total mercury in hair samples.

Hair↗