Vesicles to Concentrate Iron in Low-Iron Media: An Attempt to Mimic Marine Siderophores

Catechol thioethers with physiologically active fragments: Electrochemistry, antioxidant and cryoprotective activities

A number of asymmetrical thioethers based on 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol containing sulfur atom bonding with physiologically active groups in the sixth position of aromatic ring have been synthesized and the electrochemical properties, antioxidant, cryoprotective activities of new thioethers have been evaluated. Cyclic voltammetry was used to estimate the oxidation potentials of thioethers in acetonitrile. The electrooxidation of compounds at the first stage leads to the formation of o-benzoquinones. The antioxidant activities of the compounds were determined using 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay, experiments on the oxidative damage of the DNA, the reaction of 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH) induced glutathione depletion (GSH), the process of lipid peroxidation of rat liver (Wistar) homogenates in vitro, and iron(II) chelation test. Compounds 1-9 have greater antioxidant effectiveness than 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (CatH₂) in all assays. The variation of physiologically active groups at sulfur atom allows to regulate lipophilic properties and antioxidant activity of compounds. Thioethers 3, 4 and 7 demonstrate the combination of radical scavenging, antioxidant activity and iron(II) binding properties. The researched compounds 1-9 were studied as possible cryoprotectants of the media for cryopreservation of the Russian sturgeon sperm. Novel cryoprotective additives in cryomedium reduce significantly the content of membrane-permeating agent (DMSO). A cryoprotective effect of an addition of the catechol thioethers depends on the structure of groups at sulfur atom. The cryoprotective properties of compounds 3, 4 and 7 are caused by combination of catechol fragment, bonded by a thioether linker with a long hydrocarbon chain and a terminal ionizable group or with a biologically relevant acetylcysteine residue.

An overview of siderophores for iron acquisition in microorganisms living in the extreme

Siderophores are iron-chelating molecules produced by microbes when intracellular iron concentrations are low. Low iron triggers a cascade of gene activation, allowing the cell to survive due to the synthesis of important proteins involved in siderophore synthesis and transport. Generally, siderophores are classified by their functional groups as catecholates, hydroxamates and hydroxycarboxylates. Although other chemical structural modifications and functional groups can be found. The functional groups participate in the iron-chelating process when the ferri-siderophore complex is formed. Classified as acidophiles, alkaliphiles, halophiles, thermophiles, psychrophiles, piezophiles, extremophiles have particular iron requirements depending on the environmental conditions in where they grow. Most of the work done in siderophore production by extremophiles is based in siderophore concentration and/or genomic studies determining the presence of siderophore synthesis and transport genes. Siderophores produced by extremophiles are not well known and more work needs to be done to elucidate chemical structures and their role in microorganism survival and metal cycling in extreme environments.

Interactions of Divalent and Trivalent Metal Counterions with Anionic Sulfonate Gemini Surfactant and Induced Aggregate Transitions in Aqueous Solution

Interactions of multivalent metal counterions with anionic sulfonate gemini surfactant 1,3-bis(N-dodecyl-N-propanesulfonate sodium)-propane (C12C3C12(SO3)2) and the induced aggregate transitions in aqueous solution have been studied. Divalent metal ions Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), and Ni(2+) and trivalent metal ions Al(3+), Fe(3+), and Cr(3+) were chosen. The results indicate that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of C12C3C12(SO3)2 is greatly reduced by the ions, and the aggregate morphologies of C12C3C12(SO3)2 are adjusted by changing the nature and molar ratio of the metal ions. These metal ions can be classified into four groups because the ions in each group have very similar interaction mechanisms with C12C3C12(SO3)2: (I) Cu(2+) and Zn(2+); (II) Ca(2+), Mn(2+) and Mg(2+); (III) Ni(2+) and Co(2+); and (IV) Cr(3+), Al(3+) and Fe(3+). Cu(2+), Mg(2+), Ni(2+), and Al(3+) then were selected as representatives for each group to further study their interaction with C12C3C12(SO3)2. C12C3C12(SO3)2 interacts with the multivalent metal ions by electrostatic interaction and coordination interaction. C12C3C12(SO3)2 forms prolate micelles and plate-like micelles with Cu(2+), vesicles and wormlike micelles with Al(3+) or Ni(2+), and viscous three-dimensional network structure with Mg(2+). Moreover, precipitation does not take place in aqueous solution even at a high ion/surfactant ratio. The related mechanisms have been discussed. The present work provides guidance on how to apply the anionic surfactant into the solutions containing the multivalent metal ions, and those aggregates may have potential usage in separating heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions.

Vesicle self-assembly of amphiphilic siderophores produced by bacterial isolates from Soap Lake, Washington

Soap Lake, located in Washington State, is a meromictic soda lake that was the subject of a prior National Science Foundation funded Microbial Observatory. Several organisms inhabiting this lake have been identified as producers of siderophores that are unique in structure. Two isolates found to be of the species Halomonas, SL01 and SL28, were found to produce suites of amphiphilic siderophores consisting of a peptidic head-group, which binds iron appended to fatty acid moieties of various lengths. The ability for siderophores to self-assemble into vesicles was determined for three suites of amphiphilic siderophores of unique structure (two from SL01 and one from SL28). These siderophores resemble the amphiphilic aquachelin siderophores produced by Halomonas aquamarina strain DS40M3, a marine bacterium. Vesicle self-assembly studies were performed by dynamic light scattering and epifluorescence microscopy. The addition of ferric iron (Fe3+) at different equivalents, where an equivalence of iron is defined as equal to the molarity of the siderophore, demonstrated vesicle formation. This was suggested by both dynamic light scattering and epifluorescence microscopy. Bacteria thriving under saline and alkaline conditions are capable of producing unique siderophores that self-assemble in micelles and vesicles due to ferric iron chelation.

Catechol-based biomimetic functional materials

Catechols are found in nature taking part in a remarkably broad scope of biochemical processes and functions. Though not exclusively, such versatility may be traced back to several properties uniquely found together in the o-dihydroxyaryl chemical function; namely, its ability to establish reversible equilibria at moderate redox potentials and pHs and to irreversibly cross-link through complex oxidation mechanisms; its excellent chelating properties, greatly exemplified by, but by no means exclusive, to the binding of Fe(3+); and the diverse modes of interaction of the vicinal hydroxyl groups with all kinds of surfaces of remarkably different chemical and physical nature. Thanks to this diversity, catechols can be found either as simple molecular systems, forming part of supramolacular structures, coordinated to different metal ions or as macromolecules mostly arising from polymerization mechanisms through covalent bonds. Such versatility has allowed catechols to participate in several natural processes and functions that range from the adhesive properties of marine organisms to the storage of some transition metal ions. As a result of such an astonishing range of functionalities, catechol-based systems have in recent years been subject to intense research, aimed at mimicking these natural systems in order to develop new functional materials and coatings. A comprehensive review of these studies is discussed in this paper.

Metallosurfactants of bioinorganic interest: Coordination-induced self assembly

This review covers selected surfactant ligands that undergo a change in aggregate morphology upon coordination of a metal ion, with a particular focus on coordination-induced micelle-to-vesicle transitions. The surfactants include microbially produced amphiphilic siderophores, as well as synthetic amphiphilic ligands. The mechanism of the metal-induced phase change is considered in light of the coordination chemistry of the metal ions, the nature of the ligands, and changes in molecular geometry that result from metal coordination. Of particular interest are biologically produced amphiphiles that coordinate transition metal ions and amphiphilic ligands of relevance to bioinorganic chemistry.