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Highly resistant bacteria producing metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) to evade β-lactam antibiotics, constitute a major cause of life-threatening infections world-wide. MBLs exert their hydrolytic action via Zn 2+ cations in their active center. Presently, there are no approved drugs to target MBLs and combat the associated antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Towards this issue, we have prepared a family of cyclodextrins substituted with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) on their narrow side, while the wider side is either unmodified or per-2,3-O-methylated. The molecules form strong coordination complexes with Zn 2+ or Ga 3+ cations in aqueous solution. Free and metal-complexed compounds have been thoroughly characterized regarding structures, pH-dependent ionization states, distribution of species in solution, pKa values and metal-binding constants. At neutral pH the multi-anionic hosts bind up to four Zn 2+ or Ga 3+ cations. In vitro, 50 μΜ of the compounds achieve complete re-sensitization of MBL-producing Gram-negative clinical bacterial strains resistant to the carbapenems imipenem and meropenem. Moreover, the radioactive complex [ 67 Ga]Ga-β-IDACYD prepared, displays high radiochemical purity, sufficient stability both overtime and in the presence of human plasma apo-transferrin, thus providing an invaluable tool for future biodistribution and pharmacokinetic studies of β-IDACYDin vivo, prerequisites for the development of therapeutic protocols., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Yannakopoulou and Miriagou report financial support was provided by the European Union. Yannakopoulou Miriagou, Agnes and Miliotis have the patent #EP3714904A1 pending to none., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Octakis-6-guadinidino-γ-cyclodextrin (gguan) hydrochloride in the presence of phosphates crystallises from aqueous solution in the unprecedented form of a superdimer (dimer-within-a-dimer). The self-assembly exposes four circular octa-guanidinium regions that bind and stabilise discrete H-bonded phosphate anion dimers. The small (∼2 nm) gguan-phosphate assembly is preorganised and stable in aqueous solution, as demonstrated by DLS and NMR experiments.

Supramolecular organization and self-assembly are the pillars of functionality of many nanosystems. The covalent conjugate (6-spirolactam rhodamine B-6-monodeoxy)-β-cyclodextrin (Rho-βCD) is assembled as a self-included, rigid nanostructure, identical in the crystal and in aqueous solution, as revealed by detailed X-ray and NMR analyses. Rho-βCD self-assembly is the result of an interesting reaction pathway, which partially de-aggregates Rho and disturbs the zwitterion↔spirolactone equilibrium. Rho-βCD is stable at pH 4.6, but displays controllable photoswitching between the colored, fluorescent, zwitterionic and the colorless, non-fluorescent closed structures, during several iterative cycles. After an initial drop in absorbance, the on-off process continues without further changes under our irradiation conditions, a consequence of the specific self-locked arrangement of Rho in the cavity. Rho-βCD exemplifies a water soluble photoresponsive nanosystem with improved photostability suggesting promising applications in super resolution bioimaging., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

In the search for photosensitizers with chemical handles to facilitate their integration into complex drug delivery nanosystems, new, unsymmetrically substituted, water insoluble meso-tetraphenylporphyrin and meso-tetra(m-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin derivatives bearing one carboxyalkyl side chain were synthesized. Permethyl-β-cyclodextrin (pMβCD) was their ideal monomerizing host and highly efficient shuttle to transfer them into water. New assembly modes of the extremely stable (K binding  > 10 12  M -2 ) 2:1 complexes were identified. The complexes are photostable and do not disassemble in FBS-containing cell culture media for 24 h. Incubation of breast cancer MCF-7 cells with the complexes results in intense intracellular fluorescence, strongly enhanced in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), high photokilling efficiency (~90%) and low dark toxicity. pMβCD stands out as a very capable molecular isolator of mono-carboxyalkyl-arylporphyrins that increases uptake and modulates their localization in the cells. The most efficient porphyrins are envisaged as suitable photosensitizers that can be linked to biocompatible drug carriers for photo- and chemo-therapy applications., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Porphyrinoids, well-known cofactors in fundamental processes of life, have stimulated interest as synthetic models of natural systems and integral components of photodynamic therapy, but their utilization is compromised by self-aggregation in aqueous media. The capacity of cyclodextrins to include hydrophobic molecules in their cavity provides porphyrinoids with a protective environment against oxidation and the ability to disperse efficiently in biological fluids. Moreover, engineered cyclodextrin-porphyrinoid assemblies enhance the photodynamic abilities of porphyrinoids, can carry chemotherapeutics for synergistic modalities, and can be enriched with functions including cell recognition, tissue penetration, and imaging. This Perspective includes synthetic porphyrinoid-cyclodextrin models of proteins participating in fundamental processes, such as enzymatic catalysis, respiration, and electron transfer. In addition, since porphyrinoid-cyclodextrin systems comprise third generation photosensitizers, recent developments for their utilization in photomedicine, that is, multimodal therapy for cancer (e.g., PDT, PTT) and antimicrobial treatment, and eventually in biocompatible therapeutic or diagnostic platforms for next-generation nanomedicine and theranostics are discussed.

The enantioselectivity of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) towards L- and D- N -acetyltryptophan (NAcTrp) has been studied in aqueous solution and the crystalline state. NMR studies in solution show that β-CD forms complexes of very similar but not identical geometry with both L- and D-NAcTrp and exhibits stronger binding with L-NAcTrp. In the crystalline state, only β-CD-L-NAcTrp crystallizes readily from aqueous solutions as a dimeric complex (two hosts enclosing two guest molecules). In contrast, crystals of the complex β-CD-D-NAcTrp were never obtained, although numerous conditions were tried. In aqueous solution, the orientation of the guest in both complexes is different than in the β-CD-L-NAcTrp complex in the crystal. Overall, the study shows that subtle differences observed between the β-CD-L,D-NAcTrp complexes in aqueous solution are magnified at the onset of crystallization, as a consequence of accumulation of many soft host-guest interactions and of the imposed crystallographic order, thus resulting in very dissimilar propensity of each enantiomer to produce crystals with β-CD.

Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 2 assists with the generation of antigenic peptides for presentation onto Major Histocompatibility Class I molecules in humans. Recent evidence has suggested that the activity of ERAP2 may contribute to the generation of autoimmunity, thus making ERAP2 a possible pharmacological target for the regulation of adaptive immune responses. To better understand the structural elements of inhibitors that govern their binding affinity to the ERAP2 active site, we cocrystallized ERAP2 with a medium activity 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid inhibitor and a poorly active hydroxamic acid derivative. Comparison of these two crystal structures with a previously solved structure of ERAP2 in complex with a potent phosphinic pseudopeptide inhibitor suggests that engaging the substrate N-terminus recognition properties of the active site is crucial for inhibitor binding even in the absence of a potent zinc-binding group. Proper utilization of all five major pharmacophores is necessary, however, to optimize inhibitor potency.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) aminopeptidases process antigenic peptide precursors to generate epitopes for presentation by MHC class I molecules and help shape the antigenic peptide repertoire and cytotoxic T-cell responses. To perform this function, ER aminopeptidases have to recognize and process a vast variety of peptide sequences. To understand how these enzymes recognize substrates, we determined crystal structures of ER aminopeptidase 2 (ERAP2) in complex with a substrate analogue and a peptidic product to 2.5 and 2.7 Å, respectively, and compared them to the apo-form structure determined to 3.0 Å. The peptides were found within the internal cavity of the enzyme with no direct access to the outside solvent. The substrate analogue extends away from the catalytic center toward the distal end of the internal cavity, making interactions with several shallow pockets along the path. A similar configuration was evident for the peptidic product, although decreasing electron density toward its C terminus indicated progressive disorder. Enzymatic analysis confirmed that visualized interactions can either positively or negatively impact in vitro trimming rates. Opportunistic side-chain interactions and lack of deep specificity pockets support a limited-selectivity model for antigenic peptide processing by ERAP2. In contrast to proposed models for the homologous ERAP1, no specific recognition of the peptide C terminus by ERAP2 was evident, consistent with functional differences in length selection and self-activation between these two enzymes. Our results suggest that ERAP2 selects substrates by sequestering them in its internal cavity and allowing opportunistic interactions to determine trimming rates, thus combining substrate permissiveness with sequence bias., (© 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

The review presents a full library of single-isomer primary rim per-carboxylate- and per-sulfate-α-, -β- and -γ-cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives and their potential for pharmaceutical nanotechnology. Recent advances in cyclodextrin chemistry have enabled robust methods for the synthesis of single-isomer anionic CDs. Numerous nanobio-applications have been already reported for these negatively charged derivatives, which alone or in combination with other biodegradable molecular platforms can become important carriers for targeted drug delivery and release. Specialized applications are also discussed, such as chiral separations, as well as the ability of per-6-carboxylated-cyclodextrins to coordinate with metal cations and especially with lanthanide cations that makes them candidates as contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) dimers have been prepared using the bioorthogonal Staudinger ligation for the first time. In addition to a known linker, methyl 2-(diphenylphosphanyl)terephthalate, a doubly active linker was specifically developed that enabled connection of two β-CD units in a single step and in aqueous/organic media, under mild conditions and with good yields. A three-carbon spacer between the β-CD torus and the azido group was required for facile dimer formation. The products, as studied by NMR spectroscopy, were found to adopt closed conformations by intramolecular self-inclusion. On the other hand, association via intermolecular binding was also observed in aqueous solution, confirmed by DOSY NMR experiments. Despite self-inclusion, the β-CD cavities were capable of guest encapsulation, as shown by titration experiments: the binding constant with 1-adamantylamine was similar to that of natural β-CD. Theoretical calculations for isolated molecules (PM3 level of theory) and in the presence of solvent [water, PM3(COSMO)] as well as DFT calculations suggested that the compounds prefer to adopt conformations which bring the phenyl groups either inside the β-CD cavity (inclusion) or over its narrow side (vicinal). Thus, Staudinger ligation could be the method of choice for linking CDs exhibiting (i) ease of preparation in aqueous media, in short steps, under mild conditions and in good yields, (ii) satisfactory aqueous solubility and independent binding capacity of the cavities.

The coordination-driven synthesis of a rhomboid cavitand composed of two different Bodipys and its inclusion complex with 1,3,6,8-tetrasulfopyrene via ionic self-assembly was established by X-ray crystallography. Highly efficient and unidirectional intra-host and guest-to-host energy transfer was demonstrated by femtosecond fluorescence spectroscopy.

Intracellular aminopeptidases endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases 1 and 2 (ERAP1 and ERAP2), and as well as insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) process antigenic epitope precursors for loading onto MHC class I molecules and regulate the adaptive immune response. Their activity greatly affects the antigenic peptide repertoire presented to cytotoxic T lymphocytes and as a result can regulate cytotoxic cellular responses contributing to autoimmunity or immune evasion by viruses and cancer cells. Therefore, pharmacological regulation of their activity is a promising avenue for modulating the adaptive immune response with possible applications in controlling autoimmunity, in boosting immune responses to pathogens, and in cancer immunotherapy. In this study we exploited recent structural and biochemical analysis of ERAP1 and ERAP2 to design and develop phosphinic pseudopeptide transition state analogs that can inhibit this family of enzymes with nM affinity. X-ray crystallographic analysis of one such inhibitor in complex with ERAP2 validated our design, revealing a canonical mode of binding in the active site of the enzyme, and highlighted the importance of the S2' pocket for achieving inhibitor potency. Antigen processing and presentation assays in HeLa and murine colon carcinoma (CT26) cells showed that these inhibitors induce increased cell-surface antigen presentation of transfected and endogenous antigens and enhance cytotoxic T-cell responses, indicating that these enzymes primarily destroy epitopes in those systems. This class of inhibitors constitutes a promising tool for controlling the cellular adaptive immune response in humans by modulating the antigen processing and presentation pathway.

Composite materials with unique architectures are ubiquitous in nature, e.g., marine shells, sponge spicules, bones, and dentine. These structured organic-inorganic systems are generated through self-assembly of organic matter (usually proteins or lipids) into scaffolds, onto which the inorganic component is deposited in organized hierarchical structures of sizes spanning several orders of magnitude. The development of bio-inspired materials is possible through the design of synthetic bottom-up self-assembly methods. Knowledge of the structure is required in order to assess the efficiency of their design and evaluate their properties. This chapter reviews the main methods used for structure determination of natural and synthetic inorganic biomaterials, namely, X-ray diffraction and scattering and electron diffraction and microscopy (TEM, SEM), as well as the AFM and CSLM microscopy methods. Moreover, spectroscopic (IR, NMR, and Raman) and thermal methods are presented. Examples of biomimetic synthetic materials are used to show the contribution of single or multiple techniques in the elucidation of their structure.

Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases 1 and 2 (ERAP1 and ERAP2) cooperate to trim antigenic peptide precursors for loading onto MHC class I molecules and help regulate the adaptive immune response. Common coding single nucleotide polymorphisms in ERAP1 and ERAP2 have been linked with predisposition to human diseases ranging from viral and bacterial infections to autoimmunity and cancer. It has been hypothesized that altered Ag processing by these enzymes is a causal link to disease etiology, but the molecular mechanisms are obscure. We report in this article that the common ERAP2 single nucleotide polymorphism rs2549782 that codes for amino acid variation N392K leads to alterations in both the activity and the specificity of the enzyme. Specifically, the 392N allele excises hydrophobic N-terminal residues from epitope precursors up to 165-fold faster compared with the 392K allele, although both alleles are very similar in excising positively charged N-terminal amino acids. These effects are primarily due to changes in the catalytic turnover rate (k(cat)) and not in the affinity for the substrate. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the ERAP2 392K allele suggests that the polymorphism interferes with the stabilization of the N terminus of the peptide both directly and indirectly through interactions with key residues participating in catalysis. This specificity switch allows the 392N allele of ERAP2 to supplement ERAP1 activity for the removal of hydrophobic N-terminal residues. Our results provide mechanistic insight to the association of this ERAP2 polymorphism with disease and support the idea that polymorphic variation in Ag processing enzymes constitutes a component of immune response variability in humans.

Active muscles generate substantial mechanical forces by the contraction/relaxation cycle, and, to maintain an ordered state, they require molecular structures of extraordinary stability. These forces are sensed and buffered by unusually long and elastic filament proteins with highly repetitive domain arrays. Members of the myomesin protein family function as molecular bridges that connect major filament systems in the central M-band of muscle sarcomeres, which is a central locus of passive stress sensing. To unravel the mechanism of molecular elasticity in such filament-connecting proteins, we have determined the overall architecture of the complete C-terminal immunoglobulin domain array of myomesin by X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, solution X-ray scattering, and atomic force microscopy. Our data reveal a dimeric tail-to-tail filament structure of about 360 Å in length, which is folded into an irregular superhelical coil arrangement of almost identical α-helix/domain modules. The myomesin filament can be stretched to about 2.5-fold its original length by reversible unfolding of these linkers, a mechanism that to our knowledge has not been observed previously. Our data explain how myomesin could act as a highly elastic ribbon to maintain the overall structural organization of the sarcomeric M-band. In general terms, our data demonstrate how repetitive domain modules such as those found in myomesin could generate highly elastic protein structures in highly organized cell systems such as muscle sarcomeres., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases ERAP1 and ERAP2 cooperate to trim a vast variety of antigenic peptide precursors to generate mature epitopes for binding to major histocompatibility class I molecules. We report here the first structure of ERAP2 determined at 3.08 Å by X-ray crystallography. On the basis of residual electron density, a lysine residue has been modeled in the active site of the enzyme; thus, the structure corresponds to an enzyme-product complex. The overall domain organization is highly similar to that of the recently determined structure of ERAP1 in its closed conformation. A large internal cavity adjacent to the catalytic site can accommodate large peptide substrates. The ERAP2 structure provides a structural explanation for the different peptide N-terminal specificities between ERAP1 and ERAP2 and suggests that such differences extend throughout the whole peptide sequence. A noncrystallographic dimer observed may constitute a model for a proposed ERAP1-ERAP2 heterodimer. Overall, the structure helps explain how two homologous aminopeptidases cooperate to process a large variety of sequences, a key property of their biological role.

The use of dual polarization interferometry (DPI) as a tool for probing the different possible outcomes of protein crystallization experiments is described. DPI is a surface analytical technique used for the characterization of structure and interactions of molecular layers on an optical waveguide surface for a wide range of applications, including protein-protein interactions and conformational changes. The application of this technique provides a "signature" of crystallization events, thus predicting if there will be protein crystal formation, amorphous precipitate, or clear solution. The technique was demonstrated on a number of model proteins, and it also produced meaningful results in the case of two problematic target proteins. DPI in conjunction with a dialysis setup, allows changes in the protein solution above the waveguide surface to be monitored simultaneously with continuous control of its precipitant content. DPI has the potential to be used as a powerful method for discovering crystallization conditions, for obtaining information on the crystallization process, and as an aid in crystal optimization. It has also provided what is, to the best of our knowledge, the most direct observation to date of salting-in behavior in a protein-salt solution., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

We present herein a host-guest supramolecular system by which we were able to obtain precise control of the stereospecificity of a new and unusual adiabatic photoisomerization reaction capable of restoring reversibly the original configuration. The host-guest system is composed of (a) a naphthalene ring linked centrosymmetrically-via sp(2) hybridized oxygen atoms-with methoxytriethyleneglycol chains (1) and (b) a nanotubular cage formed by four self-assembled face-to-face β-cyclodextrins threaded onto the long "axle" of 1. The compound 1 can exist in distinct cis,cis, cis,trans, and trans,trans conformations that are spectrally distinguishable (see Scheme 1 ). Spectroscopic and kinetic manifestations of the torsional isomerization of 1 in the lowest excited singlet state both in solution and within the tubular cage were investigated. The results provide clear evidence that the compact cavity completely blocks the photoisomerization pathway manifested in common solution (cis,cis* → cis,trans*), allowing observation of stereospecific, volume-conserving turning of the naphthalene ring about the two "quasidouble" bonds C(Naph)-O by φ ≈ 180° (cis,cis* → trans,trans*). The photoisomerization is purely adiabatic, and the encaged molecule restores its original configuration by generating torque thermally, when relaxing to the ground state., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

The monitoring of the antibacterial agent triclosan binding at nanomolar concentration from an aqueous solution by employing a well-packed monolayer with a predetermined single orientation made of specifically synthesized 2,3-dimethyl-6-(undec-10-enamide)-6-deoxy-β-cyclodextrin (DMBUA) on a silicon wafer (Si/SiO(2)) coated with a novolac resin is reported. A white light reflectance spectroscopy (WLRS) setup was used for the real-time monitoring of the DMBUA deposition and triclosan binding processes. Film thicknesses obtained by WLRS were in very good agreement with the ones measured by X-ray reflectivity (XRR) experiments. Triclosan binds strongly to the DMBUA monolayer (logK(assoc)=6.68). NMR studies in aqueous solution indicated that the chlorophenolyl ring rather than the dichlorophenyl ring is preferentially inserted into DMBUA cups. The current detecting system that requires no tedious surface chemistry, no thiolated cyclodextrins, no gold surfaces, and no expensive equipment may be useful in capturing small molecules and may permit various applications, e.g., preparation of antimicrobial surfaces., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Novel -type cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives, , and , bearing 6, 7 and 8 bis(carboxymethyl)amino (iminodiacetic acid) groups, respectively, were prepared, and their complexation with Eu(iii), Tb(iii) and Gd(iii) ions was studied. Luminescence titrations and mass spectrometry showed formation of multimetal complexes ( 2 to 3, mainly 3 and exactly 4 metal ions), whereas luminescence lifetime measurements revealed the presence of exchangeable water molecules. Semiempirical quantum mechanical calculations, performed by the PM3 method and assessed by DFT calculations on model ligands, indicated efficient multi-metal complexation, in agreement with the experiment. The structures showed coordination of the metal ions in the outer primary side of the CDs via 4 carboxylate O atoms, 2 N atoms and a glucopyranose O atom per metal ion. Coordination of water molecules was also predicted, in accordance with experimental results. Calculated bond lengths and angles were in agreement with literature experimental values of lanthanide complexes. Calculated energies showed that complex stability decreases in the order > > . (1)H NMR molecular relaxivity measurements for the Gd(iii) complexes of , or in water afforded values 4 to 10 times higher than the relaxivity of a commercial contrast agent at 12 MHz, and 6 to 20 times higher at 100 MHz. Solutions of and Gd(iii) complexes in human blood plasma displayed relaxivity values at 100 MHz 7 and 12 times, respectively, higher than the commercial agent. MTT tests of the Gd(iii) complexes using human skin fibroblasts did not show toxicity. Attempts to supramolecularly sensitize the luminescence of the lanthanide complexes using various aromatic CD guests were ineffective, evidently due to large guest-metal distances and inefficient inclusion. The described lanthanide complexes, could be useful as contrast agents in MRI.

The crystal structures of the C57A and V13G molecular variants of Allochromatium vinosum 2[4Fe-4S] ferredoxin (AlvinFd) and that of the homologous ferredoxin from Escherichia coli (EcFd) have been determined at 1.05-, 1.48-, and 1.65-A resolution, respectively. The present structures combined with cyclic voltammetry studies establish clear effects of the degree of exposure of the cluster with the lowest reduction potential (cluster I) towards less negative reduction potentials (E degrees ). This is better illustrated by V13G AlvinFd (high exposure, E degrees = -594 mV) and EcFd (low exposure, E degrees = -675 mV). In C57A AlvinFd, the movement of the protein backbone, as a result of replacing the noncoordinating Cys57 by Ala, leads to a +50-mV upshift of the potential of the nearby cluster I, by removal of polar interactions involving the thiolate group and adjustment of the hydrogen-bond network involving the cluster atoms. In addition, the present structures and other previously reported accurate structures of this family of ferredoxins indicate that polar interactions of side chains and water molecules with cluster II sulfur atoms, which are absent in the environment of cluster I, are correlated to the approximately 180-250 mV difference between the reduction potentials of clusters I and II. These findings provide insight into the significant effects of subtle structural differences of the protein and solvent environment around the clusters of [4Fe-4S] ferredoxins on their electrochemical properties.

The inclusion complexes of triclosan with native cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin, betaCD) as well as with negatively and positively charged derivatives are studied. The structure of the inclusion complex betaCD/triclosan in the crystalline state [P1, a=15.189(5), b=15.230(6), c=16.293(6), alpha=91.07(4), beta=91.05(3) gamma=100.71(3)] comprises two crystallographically independent host macrocycles A and B. The packing results in betaCD dimers that align head-to-head and form infinite channels along the c-axis. Only one guest molecule statistically disordered over two positions, (the dichlorophenyl ring in the cavities of either A or B) corresponds to each dimer (a 2:1 host/guest complex). The enclosed dichlorophenyl ring enters the dimer through the primary side, whereas the hydrophilic chlorophenol ring extends in the space between dimers. Water molecules in five positions are also enclosed in the intradimer region, arranged on a plane perpendicular to the sevenfold axis of betaCD. The NMR spectroscopic studies in aqueous solution show the presence of both 1:1 and 2:1 betaCD/triclosan complexes. In the first case, two different 1:1 complexes are simultaneously present, each with either ring entering the narrow primary side of one betaCD molecule. In the 2:1 complex both rings of triclosan are included in two independent betaCD hosts, a precursor to the supramolecular arrangement found in the crystalline form. In the case of the negatively charged sodium heptakis[6-deoxy-6-(3-thiopropionate)]-betaCD, the NMR studies at pH 7.9 show a complete inclusion of triclosan inside the host in two orientations, one for the non-ionized (phenol) and reverse for the ionized (phenolate) form. Finally, for the positively charged heptakis(6-aminoethylamino-6-deoxy)-betaCD, inclusion of triclosan is possible only when the pH is raised to 10 and it is concluded that both aromatic rings are alternatively inside the cavity. However in that case also, inclusion of the entire guest in the elongated cavity is suggested.

The introduction of aminoalkylamino and guanidinoalkylamino substituents on the primary side of beta- and gamma-cyclodextrin (CDs) resulted in a series of novel compounds that were extensively characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Bromination of the primary side of beta- and gamma-CD, and reaction with neat alkylene diamines at a pressure of 7 atm afforded aminoalkylamino derivatives that were then guanylated at the primary amino group to give the corresponding guanidinoalkylamino-CDs. These compounds are water soluble and display pK(a) values that allow them to be mostly protonated at neutral pH; for example, pK(a(1)) approximately 6.4 and pK(a(2)) approximately 9.5 for the aminoethylamino-beta-CD and pK(a(1)) approximately 7.8 and pK(a(2)) approximately 11.0 for the guanidinoethylamino-beta-CD. The title CDs are rigid, cyclic alpha-D-glucopyranose oligomers (heptamers or octamers) with branches that resemble lysine and arginine side chains that enable multiple interactions with suitable substrates. Thus, they bear similarities to known cell-penetrating peptides. Indeed, the compounds were found to cross the membranes of HeLa cells and penetrate inside the cytoplasm quickly, the guadinylated ones within 15 min, as shown by fluorescence microscopy using fluorescein-labeled derivatives. The toxicity of the compounds, measured by performing MTT tests, ranged from 50 to 300 microM. Furthermore, some of the aminated CDs could facilitate the transfection of DNA expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) in HEK 293T cells, with effectiveness comparable to the commercial agent Lipofectamine 2000. Circular dichroism, atomic force microscopy and electrophoresis experiments confirmed the strong interaction of the compounds with DNA. Because of their carbohydrate, non-peptide nature the title compounds are not anticipated to be enzymatically labile or immunogenic, and thus they fulfill many of the criteria for non-hazardous transport vectors in biological and pharmaceutical applications.

Octakis(6-bromo-6-deoxy)cyclomaltooctaose, perbrominated gamma-cyclodextrin at the primary side, crystallises from methanol in a very unique manner. The macrocycles are quite distorted in contrast to their beta-cyclodextrin analogue, heptakis(6-bromo-6-deoxy)cyclomaltoheptaose. The two monomers, arranged head-to-head, form a completely new kind of dimer by mutually entering into each other, both at the primary and the secondary sides. At the primary, hydrophobic side, they interact by Br...Br interactions and at the secondary, hydrophilic side, by direct H-bonds between hydroxylic groups. The short contacts of the Br atoms contribute to the macrocycle's distortion, which is considerable compared to the few available structures of gamma-CDs persubstituted at the primary side with bulkier and in some occasions charged substituents. Water and methanol molecules are entrapped in the cyclodextrin cavity, mostly in the area of the secondary hydroxylic groups connecting the macrocycles by indirect H-bonds. Thus the solvent molecules strengthen the association of the two monomers and contribute to the stabilisation of the cavity. The monomers stack along the a-axis and form columns that align in parallel lines along the same axis resulting in the formation of alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers perpendicular to the a-axis resembling in this respect, the structure of the analogous perbrominated beta-cyclodextrin.

Per(6-guanidino-6-deoxy)-cyclodextrins , and are novel derivatives, resulting from homogeneous introduction of the guanidino group at the primary side of alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins. The products were obtained from the corresponding amino derivatives, as direct guanidinylation of the known bromo-cyclodextrins provided mixtures. The new compounds were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and other analytical methods, and their interaction with guest molecules was studied. Strong complexation with 4-nitrophenyl phosphate () disodium salt was observed (K(binding) approximately 5 x 10(4) M(-1)), whereas the non-phosphorylated substrate nitrobenzene () formed a very weak complex. 2D ROESY spectra revealed cavity inclusion in both cases, however the orientation of was opposite to that of , such that the phosphate group is oriented toward the primary side facing the guanidine groups. The strong affinity of towards the phosphorylated guest suggested that interaction with DNA was possible. The new compounds were found to completely inhibit the migration of ultra pure calf thymus DNA during agarose gel electrophoresis, whereas no effects were observed with guanidine alone or with the plain cyclodextrins. Further, the condensation of DNA into nanoparticles in the presence of was demonstrated by atomic force microscopy, confirming strong electrostatic interaction between the biopolymer and the multicationic products . The strong guanidine-phosphate interactions between and DNA were therefore attributed to the clustering of the guanidine groups in the primary area of the cyclodextrin. Cavity effects could not be assessed.

Twelve Schiff bases of methoxy-substituted salicylaldehyde have been examined by crystallographic and spectroscopic methods, as well as by DFT theoretical calculations in order to investigate the effect of the substituent's position on the keto-enol equilibrium in the crystalline state. Four out of the 10 structurally characterized compounds with methoxy substitution on the para and/or ortho positions with respect to the aldimine bridge and deriving from aliphatic amines or alkylarylamines are found as cis-keto tautomers and form dimers. In contrast, the five pure enol tautomers derive either from aliphatic or alkylarylamines and are meta substituted or from aniline or benzylamine and are para and/or ortho methoxy substituted. The DFT calculations support the crystallographic results and, moreover, they have shown that keto and enol tautomers are affected differently by the relative arrangement of the monomers. Overall, the DFT calculations point to a plausible hypothesis for the stabilization of the keto form in the crystalline state: In cases with a sufficiently low enol-keto energy difference of the isolated monomers, as when the methoxy group is at ortho and/or para positions with respect to the aldimino group, extra stabilization of the keto form is derived from molecular association, thus leading to its crystallization.

The structure of the 2[4Fe-4S] ferredoxin (PaFd) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which belongs to the Allochromatium vinosum (Alvin) subfamily, has been determined by X-ray crystallography at 1.32-A resolution, which is the highest up to now for a member of this subfamily of Fds. The main structural features of PaFd are similar to those of AlvinFd. However, the significantly higher resolution of the PaFd structure makes possible a reliable comparison with available high-resolution structures of [4Fe-4S]-containing Fds, in an effort to rationalize the unusual electrochemical properties of Alvin-like Fds. Three major factors contributing to the reduction potential values of [4Fe-4S]2+/+ clusters of Fds, namely, the surface accessibility of the clusters, the N-H...S hydrogen-bonding network, and the volume of the cavities hosting the clusters, are extensively discussed. The volume of the cavities is introduced in the present work for the first time, and can in part explain the very negative potential of cluster I of Alvin-like Fds.

The complexation of penicillin (1a-c) and cephalosporin (2a,b) antibiotics with cyclodextrins (CDs), both natural [beta-CD (3b) and gamma-CD (3c)] and carboxylated [heptakis(6-oxycarbonylethylthio-6-deoxy)-beta-CD sodium salt (4b) and octakis(6-oxycarbonylethylthio-6-deoxy)-gamma-CD (4c) sodium salt], has been studied at neutral pH. Penicillins [ampicillin (1a), amoxicillin (1b) and dicloxacillin (1c) form inclusion complexes with the above CDs, as was shown by extensive NMR spectroscopic studies, whereas cephalosporins (cephalexin, cefadroxil) do not. Inclusion of the penicillins into either 3b or 4b was not accompanied by significant chemical shift changes in the 1H NMR spectra. On the contrary, with the wider 3c and its derivative 4c inclusion was evidenced by both chemical shift displacements of the cavity protons and intermolecular interactions, indicating the formation of primarily 1:1 guest-host inclusion complexes. The binding constants for 1a/3c, 1a/4c and 1c/3c were calculated as 19 +/- 4, 17 +/- 0.9 and 622 +/- 200 M(-1), respectively. With 4c, a 1:2 stoichiometry was also found. In addition, simultaneous formation of aggregates by external association takes place in solution, as shown by the ESI-mass spectrometric data. Studies on the hydrolysis of ampicillin under pseudo-first order conditions using an excess of 3c, 4c and of linear maltoheptaose at pH 7 showed that the drug hydrolysed at a similar rate in all cases. In the presence, however, of beta-lactamase enzyme and the carboxylated host 4c, ampicillin degraded twice as slowly (0.008 h(-1)) as in the presence of beta-lactamase alone (0.017 h(-1)). This was explained by the effective protection provided by both inclusion and external association of the host. The interaction, therefore, of penicillins with carboxylated CDs may present a means to lessen the chemical instability of these drugs in the presence of beta-lactamase enzymes.

This tutorial review describes in a brief historical perspective the most important organic compounds that exhibit photochromism in the crystalline state since its discovery in 1867 up to now and considers in detail Schiff bases of salicylaldehyde with amines (anils). The latter comprise a chemical system undergoing hydrogen-atom tautomerism between enol and keto forms and show the phenomena of solid state photochromism and thermochromism. The system has been investigated extensively. Thus it has been shown that the photochromic property is a characteristic of the molecules but their chromobehaviour is influenced by the crystal structure of the compounds. Anils, apart from their fundamental interest, have potential for various applications.

Heptakis(2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-bromo-6-deoxy)cyclomaltoheptaose has been characterized in aqueous solution by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. In methanol solution, the acetyl groups were found to interact with both inward and outward-pointing protons. This and the strong deshielding of the bridging carbons, relative to the nonacetylated precursor, indicate macrocyclic flexibility. In the crystalline state the macrocycle exists as a methanol complex. It exhibits elliptical distortion, all glucose residues been tilted with their primary side toward the cavity. The existing strain due to the congestion of 14 acetyl groups at the secondary site is relieved by two glucose rings acquiring the rarely observed skew-boat conformation, (0)S(2), by the increased tilting of two glucose residues, as well as by minor variations of the torsion angles of the acetyl groups. The seven bromine atoms are quite accessible to nucleophiles.

The complete resolution of 2,2[prime or minute]-dihydroxy-1,1[prime or minute]-binaphthyl into its enantiomers by inclusion complexation with a commercially available derivative of choline, is reported. The two enantiomers are recovered in >99% ee from the inclusion complexes by simple dissolution in a diethyl ether-water medium and the resolving agent can be recycled.

The synthesis, purification, and characterization of mono-6-modified-beta-cyclodextrins bearing N-attached o-, m-, and p-aminobenzoic acids (2, 3, and 4, respectively) are presented. The structures in aqueous solution were investigated using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Detailed assignment of the spectra together with intramolecular NOE correlations revealed the way each of the isomeric appendages is positioned relative to the macrocyclic cavity. No self-inclusion is observed. The o-isomer 2 turns inward over the top of the primary side and interacts with specific protons of the substituted glucopyranose unit A and those of a neighboring unit. The m-isomer 3 displays two conformations, where the substituent resides above the primary side in a tilted manner and interacts either with the previous or the next unit. We propose that the carboxyl groups in both 2 and 3 are localized through H-bonding with one or two, respectively, primary hydroxyl groups of the neighboring glucopyranose units. In a similar positioning of the aromatic ring of the p-isomer 4, the hydrophilic carboxyl end is fully exposed to the aqueous environment. The X-ray structure of 4 shows that the solution conformation has evolved such that in the crystalline state, the aromatic moiety is inserted through its carboxyl part inside another CD where it establishes intermolecular H-bonds with inward-turned primary OH groups. Besides this stabilization, 4 forms parallel and antiparallel supramolecular chains in the crystal that are additionally stabilized by direct H-bonds.

A number of regulatory binding sites of glycogen phosphorylase (GP), such as the catalytic, the inhibitor, and the new allosteric sites are currently under investigation as targets for inhibition of hepatic glycogenolysis under high glucose concentrations; in some cases specific inhibitors are under evaluation in human clinical trials for therapeutic intervention in type 2 diabetes. In an attempt to investigate whether the storage site can be exploited as target for modulating hepatic glucose production, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrins were identified as moderate mixed-type competitive inhibitors of GPb (with respect to glycogen) with K(i) values of 47.1, 14.1, and 7.4 mM, respectively. To elucidate the structural basis of inhibition, we determined the structure of GPb complexed with beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins at 1.94 A and 2.3 A resolution, respectively. The structures of the two complexes reveal that the inhibitors can be accommodated in the glycogen storage site of T-state GPb with very little change of the tertiary structure and provide a basis for understanding their potency and subsite specificity. Structural comparisons of the two complexes with GPb in complex with either maltopentaose (G5) or maltoheptaose (G7) show that beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins bind in a mode analogous to the G5 and G7 binding with only some differences imposed by their cyclic conformations. It appears that the binding energy for stabilization of enzyme complexes derives from hydrogen bonding and van der Waals contacts to protein residues. The binding of alpha-cyclodextrin and octakis (2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-gamma-cyclodextrin was also investigated, but none of them was bound in the crystal; moreover, the latter did not inhibit the phosphorylase reaction.

The present investigation is part of an ongoing study on the influence of the long end-functonalized guest molecules DBA and BNZ in the crystal packing of beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) dimeric complexes. The title compounds are 2:2 host:guest complexes showing limited host-guest hydrogen bonding at the primary faces of the betaCD dimers. Within the betaCD cavity the guests exhibit mutual pi...pi interactions and between betaCD dimers perpendicular NH...pi interactions. The DBA guest molecule exhibits one extended and two bent conformations in the complex. The BNZ guest molecule is not planar inside betaCD, in contrast to the structure of BNZ itself, which indicates that the cavity isolates the molecules and forbids the pi...pi stacking of the aromatic rings. NMR spectroscopy studies show that in aqueous solution both DBA and BNZ form strong complexes that have 1:1 stoichiometry and structures similar to the solid state ones. The relative packing of the dimers is the same in both complexes. The axes of two adjacent dimers form an angle close to 20 degrees and have a lateral displacement approximately 2.45 A, both of which characterize the screw-channel mode of packing. Although the betaCD/BNZ complex indeed crystallizes in a space group characterizing the latter mode, the betaCD/DBA complex crystallizes in a space group with novel dimensions not resembling any of the packing modes reported so far. The new lattice is attributed to the three conformations exhibited by the guest in the crystals. However, this lattice can be transformed into another, which is isostructural to that of the betaCD/BNZ inclusion complex, if the conformation of the guest is not taken into account.

The title salt, C(18)H(22)N(5)(+).Cl(-), is a member of a new series of lipophilic 4,6-diamino spiro-s-triazines which are potent inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase. The protonated triazine ring deviates from planarity, whereas the cyclohexane ring adopts a chair conformation. A rather unusual hydrogen-bonding scheme exists in the crystal. There is a centrosymmetric arrangement involving two amino groups and two triazine ring N atoms, with graph-set R(2)(2)(8) and an N.N distance of 3.098 (3) A, flanked by two additional R(3)(2)(8) systems, involving two amino groups, a triazine ring N atom and a Cl(-) anion, with N.Cl distances in the range 3.179 (2)-3.278 (2) A. Furthermore, the Cl(-) anion, the protonated triazine ring N atom and an amino group form a hydrogen-bonding system with graph-set R(2)(1)(6).

Strongly concentration dependent, (1)H NMR chemical shifts of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug acemetacin sodium salt (sodium [[1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methylindol-3-yl]acetoxy]acetate), were observed in aqueous solution. Self-titration and nOe experiments, point to a self-association model where stacking takes place via the indole portion of the drug. In addition, conformational isomerism (atropisomerism) of the anti to syn form was confirmed. Further increase of the concentration eventually led to stable chemical shifts and nearly simultaneous appearance of microcrystals. In the presence of betaCD, 1:1 inclusion complexation occurred through the p-chlorobenzoyl part of the drug, whereas with excess betaCD the indole part seemed to participate to a minor degree. The anti isomer is suggested to be involved in the inclusion process. In addition, aggregation of acemetacin was also evident, as competing with the conformational and inclusion equilibria. The present case demonstrates that many competitive processes are simultaneously active in a seemingly simple system. The measurements were strongly dependent upon the pH and use of buffered solutions was mandatory. Finally, for the quantitative analysis of acemetacin in the presence of betaCD, a special HPLC method was developed. The stability of the drug, studied by the identification of the degradation products and the pseudo-first order rate of hydrolysis, was found to be unaffected by the presence of betaCD.

The structure of the complex of cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin, betaCD) with 1,14-tetradecanedioic acid has been determined and refined to a final R=0.0693 based on 9824 observed reflections. Each diacid molecule threads through two betaCD monomers arranged in dimers thus, forming a [3]pseudorotaxane. The end carboxylic groups of adjacent dimers, far apart and fully hydrated, are associated indirectly through water molecules. The positioning of the carboxylic groups with respect to the betaCD dimer and the H-bonds with water molecules are very similar to these of the corresponding complexes of the diacids with 12 and 13 carbon atoms. The bending in the middle of the aliphatic chain is more prominent, compared to that of the corresponding guests with less carbon atoms, thus the end carboxylic groups stay in the same height of the primary faces of the betaCD dimeric complex. As a consequence of the present structure, more close contacts are observed between calculated H-atoms of the guest and O-atoms of the host inside the cavity. This bending is allowed by the width of the betaCD dimer cavity at the secondary interface region.

The enantiomers of racemic olive fly sex pheromone 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane (1) have been isolated by crystallization with enantiospecific cyclodextrin hosts: (S)-(1) crystallizes with heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (TMbetaCD) and (R)-(1) with hexakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-alpha-cyclodextrin (TMalphaCD). The crystal structure of TMbetaCD/(S)-(1) from synchrotron radiation data at 100 K, determined for the first time, proves that TMbetaCD crystallizes with only the (S)-enantiomer from the racemic mixture. Comparison with the 100 K structure of TMalphaCD/(R)-(1) redetermined with synchrotron data has provided insight into the interactions between each of the hosts with the corresponding enantiomeric guests. Owing to the high resolution of the data and the unusually high quality of the crystals, localization of the H atoms has been achieved, a rare accomplishment for cyclodextrin X-ray structures. This made possible, apart from the geometry of the complexes, the detailed description of a five-membered-ring water cluster with very well ordered hydrogen bonding. The enantiospecificity exhibited by the described systems reveals the subtle differences of the weak intermolecular forces involved in the selective binding of the two optical antipodes by the two hosts. The binding geometry in the two complexes is different, but it is effected in both by numerous host-guest C-H.O interactions, resulting from induced fit of the hosts toward each of the enantiomeric guests. In TMalphaCD/(R)-(1) two of these H.O host-guest distances, directed toward the acetal O atoms defining the chirality of the guest, are much shorter than the rest and also shorter than all the H.O distances in TMbetaCD/(S)-(1). Moreover, (R)-(1) interacts not only with the enclosing host, but with other hosts in the crystal lattice, in contrast to (S)-(1) in the TMbetaCD/(S)-(1) complex which is isolated inside channels formed by the host molecules. The above differences are reflected in the much higher binding constant of TMalphaCD/(R)-(1) compared with that of TMbetaCD/(S)-(1) ( approximately 6800 and approximately 935 M(-1), respectively), determined by NMR in aqueous solution, and the ability of TMalphaCD to selectively precipitate (R)-(1) from racemic (1) in much higher yield than TMbetaCD precipitates (S)-(1).

The structure of the complex of beta-cyclodextrin (cyclomaltoheptaose) with beta-naphthyloxyacetic acid was studied in solid state by X-ray diffraction and in aqueous solution by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The complex crystallizes in the channel mode, space group C2, with a stoichiometry of 2:1; two beta-cyclodextrin molecules related by a twofold crystal axis form dimers, in the cavity of which one guest molecule is found on average. The above stoichiometry indicates one guest per beta-CD dimer statistically oriented over two positions or two guest molecules in pi-pi interactions in half of the beta-CD dimers and the rest of the beta-CD dimers empty. In addition, occupancy of 0.5 for the guest per every beta-CD dimer is in accord with the occupancy of the two disordered primary hydroxyls. These two hydroxyl groups, to which the carboxylic oxygen atoms of the guest are hydrogen bonded, point towards the interior of the beta-CD cavity. In aqueous solution, the 1H NMR spectroscopic study indicated that there is a mixture of complexes with host-guest stoichiometries both 1:1 and 2:1.

A detailed crystal structure study of the dimeric inclusion complex of beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) with 1,12-dodecanedioic acid is presented [IUPAC name: beta-cyclodextrin-1,12-dodecanedioic acid (2/1)]. The structure was solved with synchrotron high-resolution data (0.65 A) at 100 K [crystal data: P1, Z= 1, a = 18.153 (7), b = 15.456 (8), c = 15.251 (4) A, alpha = 102.81 (2), beta = 113.13 (2), gamma = 99.90 (3)degrees, V = 3,673 (3) A3, R = 0.0474 for 25,134 unique reflections with I > 2sigma(I)]. Moreover, the room-temperature structure is used for comparison [crystal data: P1, Z = 1, a = 18.220 (3), b = 15.488 (3), c = 15.409 (3) A, alpha = 102.903 (6), beta = 113.122 (5), gamma = 99.708 (5)degrees, V = 3735.2 (12) A3, R = 0.0828 for 8,235 unique reflections with I > 2sigma(I)]. Combining the high-resolution data and the low-temperature made possible the location of the disordered guest molecule, 1,12-dodecanedioic acid, inside the wide cavity of the macrocycle formed by two betaCD monomers. Moreover, almost all the H atoms of the betaCD macrocycle and many of the water molecules have been located in the low-temperature structure. Thus, for the first time, it has been possible to show in detail, up to now only given by neutron diffraction data, that two betaCD monomers self-assemble through O3...O3 intermolecular hydrogen bonds to form the betaCD dimer, as well as describe the hydrogen-bonding scheme between the dimer's hydroxyl groups among themselves and with water molecules in the lattice. The long guest threads through two host molecules forming a [3]pseudorotaxane. Its polar carboxyl groups, fully hydrated at the primary faces of the betaCD dimers, influence their packing so that those faces are exposed to the solvent. This is in contrast to the packing of the beta-cyclodextrin complexes of the corresponding aliphatic monoacids, where the dimeric complexes form channels in order to isolate the terminal methyl group from the water environment of the lattice.

The crystal of the 1:1 complex of 4-tert-butyltoluene with cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin, beta CD) is triclinic P1 with a = 15.562(2), b = 15.564(4), c = 15.835(3) A, alpha = 102.11(2), beta = 102.15(1), gamma = 103.64(2) degrees, V = 3505(1) A3, and Z = 2. The two independent beta CD molecules in the asymmetric unit form a dimer by hydrogen bonding involving HO-3, which accommodates two molecules of the guest. The hydrophobic guests are enclosed completely in the beta CD cavities with the tert-butyl groups in the hydrophobic region beneath the primary hydroxyl groups. The aromatic rings have two orientations and their toluene methyl moieties could not be located but were calculated to be at the interface of the two monomers. The dimers form channels along the c axis. The inter-dimer space is filled with 17 molecules of water distributed over 25 sites. A dense network of hydrogen bonds is formed, involving the beta CD hydroxyl groups and water molecules.

The crystal of the 1:1 complex of 3,3-dimethylbutylamine with cyclomaltoheptaose (beta CD, beta-cyclodextrin) is monoclinic C2 with a = 19.187(9), b = 24.56(1), c = 15.893(7) A, beta = 108.77(4) degrees, V = 7091 A3, and Z = 4. Two beta CD molecules, held together by intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving HO-3, form dimers, in the cavities of which two 3,3-dimethylbutylamine and two water molecules are accommodated. The guest molecule is completely enclosed in the cavity. The amino group is located at the secondary-hydroxyl-group side, and is hydrogen-bonded to the entrapped water molecules. The dimers form channels along the c axis. The inter-dimer space is filled with 10.7 water molecules that are distributed over 14 sites, and there is a dense network of hydrogen bonds involving the water molecules and the beta CD hydroxyl groups.

An X-ray crystallographic structure determination has been carried out on 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconic (KDPG) aldolase at 3.5-A resolution using the multiple isomorphous replacement method with three heavy atom derivatives along with anomalous dispersion contributions from two of the derivatives. Crystals grown from ammonium sulfate-phosphate buffered (pH 3.5) solutions were: cubic, a= 103.40 (4) A, space group P213. KDPG aldolase consists of trimeric heterologous assemblages utilizing crystallographic threefold symmetry. The overall profile of the oligomeric structure viewed down the threefold axis resembles that of a ship propeller while the subunits are approximate irregular oblate ellipsoids (25 X 45 X 45 A). The folding of most of the polypeptide chain was traced unambiguously. Secondary structural features consist of nine helical regions (75 residues, 35%) and a pair of two parallel chains. The subunit contains a long empty channel which is about 9 X 9 X 30 A with one of the pair of parallel chains forming part of the wall. Three mercury binding sites are located in this channel. These might correspond to the two readily accessible and one of the two buried cysteine residues of each subunit. The channel terminates with another cavity of about 8 X 10 X 25 A near the surface of the oligomeric structure. The regions of the subunits near the threefold axis are characterized by a high degree of secondary structural organization and these make close intersubunit contacts. Quarternary interactions are due mainly to side-chain interactions of helices.