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The solution structure of cyanoferricytochrome c has been determined using NMR spectroscopy. As a result of including additional constraints derived from pseudocontact shifts, a high-resolution NMR structure was obtained with high accuracy. In order to study the conformational transition between the native protein and its ligand adducts, the present structure was compared with the solution structures of the wild-type cytochrome c and the imidazole-cytochrome c complex. Like the solution structure of imidazole-cytochrome c, the heme crevice is widened by the swinging out of residues 77–85 and a noticeable shift of the 50s helix. However, unlike imidazole, cyanide exerts less significant perturbation on the conformation of the heme cavity, which is revealed by a more compact residue package in the distal pocket. Furthermore, comparison of the solution structure of CN-iso-1Met80Ala cytochrome c with the structure of cyanoferricytochrome c indicated that the binding of cyanide has a different impact on the distal cavity conformation in the two proteins. In addition, the magnetic properties of the present system are discussed and a comprehensive study of the electronic structure of ligand-cytochrome c complexes and the native protein is also described. Electronic supplementary material to this paper can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00775-001-0334-y. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although imidazole ligand binding to cytochrome c is not directly related to its physiological function, it has the potential to provide valuable information on the molecular and electronic structure of the protein. The solution structure of the imidazole adduct of oxidized horse heart cytochrome c (Im-cyt c) has been determined through 2D NMR spectroscopy. The Im-cyt c, 8 mM in 1.2 M imidazole solution at pH 5.7 and 313 K, provided altogether 2542 NOEs (1901 meaningful NOEs) and 194 pseudocontact shifts. The 35 conformers of the family show the RMSD values to the average structure of 0.063±0.007 nm for the backbone and 0.107±0.007 nm for all heavy atoms, respectively. The characterization of Im-cyt c is discussed in detail both in terms of structure and electronic properties. The replacement of the axial ligand Met80 with the exogenous imidazole ligand induces significant conformation changes in both backbone and side chains of the residues located in the distal axial ligand regions. The imidazole ligand binds essentially parallel to the imidazole of the proximal histidine, the two planes forming an angle of 8±7°. The electron delocalization on the heme moiety and the magnetic susceptibility tensor are consistent with these structural features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in vitro binding of an orally active anticancer drug JM216 to metallothionein is firstly investigated in this paper. It is revealed that a redox reaction following a substitution reaction from JM216 with rabbit liver Zn7MT-II is presented. The reaction feature, the metal binding stoichiometry and the oxidation states of platinum and sulfur in the products are studied by UV-visible, chromatography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy methods. Parts of MT are oxidized to precipitate products with intra and intermolecular CyS-SCy disulfides linkages. Pt(IV) is reduced to its Pt(II) counterpart. And the reduced Pt(II) replace the metal ions in native MTs. Meanwhile it can also cause the dimerization of MT. Increasing the reaction ratio of JM216 to MT leads to a concomitant increase in the apparent yield of the precipitate and dimeric products and the elevation of the binding stoichiometry of Pt to the protein. Based on the experimental data, the reaction mechanism between JM216 and Zn7MT-II in vitro are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabbit liver Pt7MT, Zn7MT, Bi7MT were reconstituted and the kinetic studies of the reactions with electrophilic disulphide 5, 5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) were investigated to explore the possible mechanism of metals release from metallothioneins. It is revealed that the Pt7MT, Zn7MT react with DTNB biphasically, yielding a four-term rate law: Rate = k1f [ MT]+ k2f [ DTNB][ MT]+ k1s [ MT]+ k2s [ DTNB][ MT]. Zn7MT reacts with disulphide DTNB more rapidly and has significantly greater observed rate constants ks, kf than Pt7MT. The kinetic data for Bi7MT indicate that the reaction is monophasic and the rate law is proved to be: Rate = k1 [ MT]+ k2 [ DTNB][ MT]. The observed pseudo-first order rate constants for above MTs are insensitive to pH value. Based on the available experimental data, the different kinetic behaviors of MTs reactions with electrophilic disulphide DTNB and a possible mechanism to release the coordinated metal ions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binding of imidazole and imidazole derivatives (4- and 2-MeIm) to the metMb was studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy to elucidate the effects of different methyl substitution positions on the affinity and kinetics of binding to metMb. These exogenous ligands can form stable complexes with metMb except 2-MeIm. Kinetics and equilibrium data for the binding of imidazole and 4-MeIm to metMb have been obtained by 2D EXSY, and the reasons for the different affinity are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abilities of the orally active platinum anti-tumor drug JM216 [ trans-bis-acetato- cis-dichloroammine (cyclohexylamine) platinum (IV)] to induce the biosynthesis of metallothionein (MT) were investigated in rabbits given oral administrations or injections s. c. It is revealed that oral administration of JM216 can induce the MT synthesis in the liver but not in the kidney. The hepatic MT contained 7.11 ± 0.11 Zn and only little Pt or Cu. Injections of JM216 to rabbits can greatly elevate the MT levels in the liver, but increase the renal MT levels only slightly. The MT content as well as Pt concentration in the liver was much higher than that in the kidney. The metal stoichiometry in the purified renal MT was determined to be 4.41 ± 0.04 Zn, 0.36 ± 0.11 Pt and 2.50 ± 0.18 Cu per mole protein. The hepatic MT was still characterized as Zn7MT. Both the treatment with oral administration and injections s.c. cannot lead to the increase of Pt content in the kidney. The oxidation state of platinum in the MT from the kidney was determined to be +2 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As compared with zinc compounds, JM216 was a very poor stimulator for MT biosynthesis in vivo. Pre-injections with Zn(NO3)2 significantly enhanced the MT levels as well as the Pt concentration compared with that resulting from injections with JM216 alone. Based on the experimental data, the role of MT in relation to its involvement in the metabolism and the mechanism of detoxification of Pt(IV) complexes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new asymmetric oligobipyridine ligand, 1- (5’-methyl-2, 2’-bipyridin-5-y1)-2- (6’-methyl-2, 2’-bipyridin-6-yl)ethane (L), in which the bipyridine units are bridged by CH2CH2 at 5,6’-position has been synthesized. The ligand L reacts with Cu(I) and Cu(I1) ions giving double-stranded helical complexes [CuL2](C104)2.Et20 (1) and [CuL2,(OH)(H20) ] [ClO4]3(2), respectively. Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by X-ray diffraction analyses, ES-MS, ESR and cyclic voltammetry, etc. Differing from the oligobipyridine ligands bridged by CH2CH2 at 6,6’-or 5,5’-position, the ligand L not only forms a double-stranded helicate with Cu(1) ion, but also gives a double-stranded helicate with Cu(I1) ion. The results show that the linkage mode of the spacer group to the bipyridine units exerts a great impact on the formation of helix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface pressure-area (π- A) isotherms of N-hexadecyl-8-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxamide (HHQ) monolayers at an air-water interface on subphases with different pH values were investigated. The monolayer of HHQ was expanded and unstable on acidic subphases, while it was condensed and stable on basic subphases. The acid-base equilibrium of HHQ was investigated in an aqueous dioxane solution and at the air-water interface. The association-dissociation of HHQ with H ions in the interfacial region was very different from that in the aqueous dioxane solution. Some information regarding the packing density, phase transition and degree of ionization of the head group under different experimental conditions has been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]