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Metal Ion Binding (metal + ion_binding)
Selected AbstractsCapillary electrophoretic study of the binding of zinc(II) ion to bacitracin A1 in water-2,2,2-trifluoroethanolELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 10 2003Massimo Castagnola Abstract Binding of Zn2+ to bacitracin A1 was studied by capillary electrophoresis in water/2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (70/30 v/v) at different apparent pH values in order to estimate the association constant of metal, the acidic dissociation constants and the Stokes radii of both free and bounded peptide in apolar environment. The Stokes radii of the free peptide species were compared with those in aqueous solution, as obtained in a recent study performed by our group, indicating that apolar environment stabilizes bacitracin A1 in a conformational structure with the lateral chain of apolar amino acids exposed on the external surface. This conformation of the macrocyclic dodecapeptide is ready to interact with Zn2+ ion, as pointed out by the strong increase of the association constant measured in water/2,2,2-trifluoroethanol with respect to the value obtained in aqueous solution. In addition, whereas Zn2+ ion binding in aqueous solution provides a sensible reduction of peptide Stokes radius, no sensible variations following to ion binding were observed in hydro-organic solution. The present results suggest that the apolar environment, rather than the metal ion binding, could be responsible for the conformational transition that brings bacitracin A1 towards its biologically active structure.* [source] Characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis nicotinamidase/pyrazinamidaseFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008Hua Zhang The nicotinamidase/pyrazinamidase (PncA) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is involved in the activation of the important front-line antituberculosis drug pyrazinamide by converting it into the active form, pyrazinoic acid. Mutations in the pncA gene cause pyrazinamide resistance in M. tuberculosis. The properties of M. tuberculosis PncA were characterized in this study. The enzyme was found to be a 20.89 kDa monomeric protein. The optimal pH and temperature of enzymatic activity were pH 7.0 and 40 °C, respectively. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry revealed that the enzyme was an Mn2+/Fe2+ -containing protein with a molar ratio of [Mn2+] to [Fe2+] of 1 : 1; furthermore, the external addition of either type of metal ion had no apparent effect on the wild-type enzymatic activity. The activity of the purified enzyme was determined by HPLC, and it was shown that it possessed similar pyrazinamidase and nicotinamidase activity, by contrast with previous reports. Nine PncA mutants were generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Determination of the enzymatic activity and metal ion content suggested that Asp8, Lys96 and Cys138 were key residues for catalysis, and Asp49, His51, His57 and His71 were essential for metal ion binding. Our data show that M. tuberculosis PncA may bind metal ions in a manner different from that observed in the case of Pyrococcus horikoshii PncA. [source] The C-terminal C1 cassette of the N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor 1 subunit contains a bi-partite nuclear localization sequenceJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2002K. D. Holmes Abstract The N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is a multimeric transmembrane protein composed of at least two subunits. One subunit, NR1, is derived from a single gene and can be subdivided into three regions: the N-terminal extracellular domain, the transmembrane regions, and the C-terminal intracellular domain. The N-terminal domain is responsible for Mg2+ metal ion binding and channel activity, while the transmembrane domains are important for ion channel formation. The intracellular C-terminal domain is involved in regulating receptor activity and subcellular localization. Our recent experiments indicated that the intracellular C-terminal domain, when expressed independently, localizes almost exclusively in the nucleus. An examination of the amino acid sequence reveals the presence of a putative nuclear localization sequence (NLS) in the C1 cassette of the NR1 intracellular C-terminus. Using an expression vector designed to test whether a putative NLS sequence is a valid, functional NLS, we have demonstrated that a bi-partite NLS does in fact exist within the NR1-1 C-terminus. Computer algorithms identified a putative helix,loop,helix motif that spanned the C0C1 cassettes of the C-terminus. These data suggest that the NR1 subunit may represent another member of a family of transmembrane proteins that undergo intramembrane proteolysis, releasing a cytosolic peptide that is actively translocated to the nucleus leading to alterations in gene regulation. [source] Cofactor effects on the protein folding reaction: Acceleration of ,-lactalbumin refolding by metal ionsPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 4 2006Natalia A. Bushmarina Abstract About 30% of proteins require cofactors for their proper folding. The effects of cofactors on the folding reaction have been investigated with ,-lactalbumin as a model protein and metal ions as cofactors. Metal ions accelerate the refolding of ,-lactalbumin by lessening the energy barrier between the molten globule state and the transition state, mainly by decreasing the difference of entropy between the two states. These effects are linked to metal ion binding to the protein in the native state. Hence, relationships between the metal affinities for the intermediate states and those for the native state are observed. Some residual specificity for the calcium ion is still observed in the molten globule state, this specificity getting closer in the transition state to that of the native state. The comparison between kinetic and steady-state data in association with the , value method indicates the binding of the metal ions on the unfolded state of ,-lactalbumin. Altogether, these results provide insight into cofactor effects on protein folding. They also suggest new possibilities to investigate the presence of residual native structures in the unfolded state of protein and the effects of such structures on the protein folding reaction and on protein stability. [source] Electrochemical functions of metallosupramolecular nanomaterialsTHE CHEMICAL RECORD, Issue 4 2007Masayoshi Higuchi Abstract Self-assembly of metal ions and organic ligands results in the formation of extended or discrete metallosupramolecular structures. In case of neutral ditopic ligands such as bisterpyridines, extended metallosupramolecular coordination polyelectrolytes (MEPEs) are formed. Metal ion-induced self-assembly of 1,4-bis(2,2,:6,,2,-terpyridin-4,-yl)benzene with Fe(II) or Co(II) results in MEPEs with interesting electrochemical properties. These MEPEs reversibly change their color when oxidized or reduced. The heterometallic MEPE consisting of Fe(II) and Co(II) combines the properties of the individual MEPEs and therefore shows their different states: red-purple, blue, and transparent. On the other hand, complexation of cyclic phenylazomethines with metal ions results in discrete metallosupramolecular structures. We find that metal ion assembly to the organic module occurs in a stepwise fashion because of a difference in the basicity of the imine conformers, and the metal ion assembly can be controlled electrochemically. This example illustrates how metal ion binding can be controlled by the conformation of the receptor, an important step toward assembling organic ligands and metal ions in predictable ways. © 2007 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 7: 203,209; 2007: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.20118 [source] | |||||||||||||