Hyperfine Shifts of the13C-NMR. in Protoporphyrin IX Iron (III) Dicyanide and Deuteroporphyrin IX Iron (III) Dicyanide

Electronic Structures of Six-Coordinate Ferric Porphyrin Complexes with Weak Axial Ligands: Usefulness of 13C NMR Chemical Shifts

1H NMR, (13)C NMR, and EPR spectra of six-coordinate ferric porphyrin complexes [Fe(Por)L2]ClO4 with different porphyrin structures are presented, where porphyrins (Por) are planar 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), ruffled 5,10,15,20-tetraisopropylporphyrin (TiPrP), and saddled 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (OETPP), and axial ligands (L) are weak oxygen ligands such as pyridine-N-oxide, substituted pyridine-N-oxide, DMSO, DMF, MeOH, THF, 2-MeTHF, and dioxane. These complexes exhibit the spin states ranging from an essentially pure high-spin (S = 5/2) to an essentially pure intermediate-spin (S = 3/2) state depending on the field strength of the axial ligands and the structure of the porphyrin rings. Reed and Guiset reported that the pyrrole-H chemical shift is a good probe to determine the spin state in the spin admixed S = 5/2,3/2 complexes (Reed, C. A.; Guiset, F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 3281-3282). In this paper, we report that the chemical shifts of the alpha- and beta-pyrrole carbons can also be good probes to determine the spin state because they have shown good correlation with those of the pyrrole-H or pyrrole-C(alpha). By putting the observed or assumed pyrrole-H or pyrrole-C(alpha) chemical shifts of the pure high-spin and pure intermediate-spin complexes into the correlation equations, we have estimated the carbon chemical shits of the corresponding complexes. The orbital interactions between iron(III) and porphyrin have been examined on the basis of these chemical shifts, from which we have found that both the d(xy)-a(2u) interaction in the ruffled Fe(T(i)PrP)L2+ and d(xy)-a(1u) interaction in the saddled Fe(OETPP)L2+ are quite weak in the high-spin and probably in the intermediate-spin complexes as well. Close inspection of the correlation lines has suggested that the electron configuration of an essentially pure intermediate-spin Fe(T(i)PrP)L2+ changes from (d(xy), d(yz))3(d(xy))1(d(z)2)1 to (d(xy))2(d(xz), d(yz))2(d(z)2)1 as the axial ligand (L) changes from DMF to MeOH, THF, 2-MeTHF, and then to dioxane. Although the DFT calculation has indicated that the highly saddled intermediate-spin Fe(OETPP)(THF)2+ should adopt (d(xy), d(yz))3(d(xy))1(d(z)2)1 rather than (d(xy))2(d(xz), d(yz))2(d(z)2)1 because of the strong d(xy)-a(1u) interaction (Cheng, R.-J.; Wang, Y.-K.; Chen, P.-Y.; Han, Y.-P.; Chang, C.-C. Chem. Commun. 2005, 1312-1314), our 13C NMR study again suggests that Fe(OETPP)(THF)2+ should be represented as (d(xy))2(d(xz), d(yz))2(d(z)2)1 because of the weak d(xy)-a(1u) interaction. The contribution of the S = 3/2 state in all types of the spin admixed S = 5/2,3/2 six-coordinate complexes has been determined on the basis of the (13)C NMR chemical shifts.

1H and 13C NMR investigation of the influence of nonligated residue contacts on the heme electronic structure in cyanometmyoglobin complexes reconstituted with centro- and pseudocentrosymmetric hemins

The 1H and 13C chemical shifts for the heme methyls of low-spin, ferric sperm whale cyanometmyoglobin reconstituted with a variety of centrosymmetric and pseudocentrosymmetric hemins have been recorded and analyzed to shed light on the nature of heme-protein contacts, other than that of the axial His, that modulate the rhombic perturbation to the heme's in-plane electronic asymmetry. The very similar 1H dipolar shifts for heme pocket residues in all complexes yield essentially the same magnetic axes as in wild type, and the resultant dipolar shifts allow the direct determination of the heme methyl proton and 13C contact shifts in all complexes. It is demonstrated that, even when the magnetic axes and anisotropies are known, the intrinsic uncertainties in the orientational parameters lead to a sufficiently large uncertainty in dipolar shift that the methyl proton contact shifts are inherently significantly less reliable indicators of the unpaired electron spin distribution than the methyl 13C contact shifts. The pattern of the noninversion symmetry in 13C contact shifts in the centro- or pseudocentrosymmetric hemes is shown to correlate with the positions of aromatic rings of Phe43(CD1) and His97(FG3) parallel to, and in contact with, the heme. These results indicate that such pi-pi interactions significantly perturb the in-plane asymmetry of the heme pi spin distribution and cannot be ignored in a quantitative interpretation of the heme methyl 13C contact shifts in terms of the axial His orientation in b-type hemoproteins.

Factors affecting the electronic ground state of low-spin iron(III) porphyrin complexes

To determine the factors affecting the ground-state electron configuration of low-spin Fe(III) porphyrin complexes, we have examined the (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and EPR spectra of a series of low-spin bis-ligated Fe(III) porphyrin complexes [Fe(Por)L(2)](+/-), in which the positions of porphyrin substituents and the coordination ability of axial ligands are different. The seven porphyrins used in this study are meso-tetraalkylporphyrins (TRP: R is propyl, cyclopropyl, or isopropyl), meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), meso-tetrakis(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin, and 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaalkylporphyrins (ORTPP: R is methyl or ethyl). The porphyrin cores of TRP are more or less S(4)-ruffled depending on the bulkiness of the alkyl substituents, while those of ORTPP are highly S(4)-saddled. Three types of axial ligands are examined which have the following characteristics in ligand field theory: they are (i) strong sigma-donating imidazole (HIm), (ii) strong sigma-donating and weak pi-accepting cyanide (CN(-)), and (iii) weak sigma-donating and strong pi-accepting tert-butyl isocyanide ((t)BuNC). In the case of the bis(HIm) complexes, only the isopropyl complex, [Fe(T(i)PrP)(HIm)(2)](+), has shown the less common (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state; the other six complexes have exhibited the common (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state. When the axial imidazole is replaced by cyanide, even the propyl and cyclopropyl complexes have shown the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state; the TPP and ORTPP complexes have still maintained the common (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state. In the case of the bis((t)()BuNC) complexes, all the complexes have shown the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state. However, the contribution of the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) state to the electronic ground state differs from complex to complex; the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) contribution is the largest in [Fe(T(i)PrP)((t)()BuNC)(2)](+) and the smallest in [Fe(OETPPP)((t)BuNC)(2)](+). We have then examined the electronic ground state of low-spin [Fe(OEP)((t)BuNC)(2)](+) and [Fe(ProtoIXMe(2))((t)BuNC)(2)](+); OEP and ProtoIXMe(2) represent 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrin and protoporphyrin-IX dimethyl ester, respectively. These porphyrins have a(1u) HOMO in contrast to the other seven porphyrins that have a(2u) HOMO. The (13)C NMR and EPR studies have revealed that the contribution of the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) state in these complexes is as small as that in [Fe(OETPP)((t)BuNC)(2)](+). On the basis of these results, we have concluded that the low-spin iron(III) porphyrins that have (i) strong axial ligands, (ii) highly saddle shaped porphyrin rings, (iii) porphyrins with a(1u) HOMO, and (iv) electron withdrawing substituents at the meso positions tend to maintain the common (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state.

1H NMR study of dynamics and thermodynamics of acid-alkaline transition in ferric hemoglobin of a midge larva (Tokunagayusurika akamusi)

One of the components of hemoglobin from the larval hemolyph of Tokunagayusurika akamusi possesses naturally occurring substitution at the E7 helical position (Leu E7) [M. Fukuda, T. Takagi, K. Shikama, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1157 (1993) 185-191]. Its oxygen affinity is almost comparable to those of mammalian myoglobins and it exhibits Bohr effect. Both acidic and alkaline forms of the ferric hemoglobin have been investigated using 1H NMR in order to gain insight into molecular mechanisms for relatively high oxygen affinity and Bohr effect of this protein. The NMR data indicated that the acidic form of the protein possesses pentacoordinated heme, and that the alkaline form possessing OH- appears with increasing the pH value. pH titration yielded a pK value of 7.2 for the acid-alkaline transition, and this value is the lowest among the values reported so far for various myoglobins and hemoglobins. The kinetic measurements of the transition revealed that the activation energy for the dissociation of the Fe-bound OH-, as well as the dissociation and association rates, decrease with increasing the pH value. These pH dependence properties are likely to be related to the Bohr effect of this protein.

Paramagnetic NMR shifts in cyanoferricytochrome c. Investigation of thermal stability and deviations from Curie law behaviour

The paramagnetic shifts of 13C nuclei positioned alpha to the haem in cyanoferricytochrome c are reported and analysed in terms of molecular orbitals based on D4h symmetry with a rhombic perturbation. The temperature dependence of the Fermi contact and dipolar shifts of the haem and axial histidine ligand show deviations from Curie Law behaviour which are explained by a Boltzmann distribution between partially filled 3e(pi) molecular orbitals and the ground and first excited state Kramers doublets. The comprehensive explanation of the temperature dependence of the paramagnetic shifts leads to the conclusion that there is no detectable temperature dependence of the haem orientation or that of the His ligand orientation. This work also provides evidence for the role of the axial His ligand in determining the orientation of the magnetic z-axis.

An optimized g-tensor for Rhodobacter capsulatus cytochrome c2 in solution: a structural comparison of the reduced and oxidized states

The optimized g-tensor parameters for the oxidized form of Rhodobacter capsulatus cytochrome c2 in solution were obtained using a set (50) of backbone amide protons. Dipolar shifts for more than 500 individual protons of R. capsulatus cytochrome c2 have been calculated by using the optimized g-tensor and the X-ray crystallographic coordinates of the reduced form of R. capsulatus cytochrome c2. The calculated results for dipolar shifts are compared with the observed paramagnetic shifts. The calculated and the observed data are in good agreement throughout the entire protein, but there are significant differences between calculated and experimental results localized to the regions in the immediate vicinity of the heme ligand and the region of the front crevice of the protein (residues 44-50, 53-57, and 61-68). The results not only indicate that the overall solution structures are very similar in both the reduced and oxidized states, but that these structures in solution are similar to the crystal structure. However, there are small structural changes near the heme and the rearrangement of certain residues that result in changes in their hydrogen bonding concomitant with the change in the oxidation states; this was also evident in the data for the NH exchange rate measurements for R. capsulatus cytochrome c2.

Dynamics and thermodynamics of acid-alkaline transitions in metmyoglobins lacking the usual distal histidine residue

The kinetics of the acid-alkaline transition in the ferric myoglobins from the gastropodic mollusc Dolabella auricularia and the shark Mustelus japonicus, which possess the distal Val E7 and Gln E7, respectively, has been investigated using the paramagnetic 1H-NMR saturation transfer measurements in order to gain insight into functional properties of these non-His distal residues. Both myoglobins possess the penta-coordinated heme below the pK of the transition (7.8 and 10.0 for Dolabella and Mustelus myoglobins, respectively) and bind OH- above the pK. The pH dependence of the transition rates and the relatively high activation barrier (58 +/- 9 kJ/mol) for the dissociation of the Fe-bound OH- in Dolabella myoglobin indicate a strong interaction between the bound ligand and the guanidino NH proton of the Arg E10 in Dolabella myoglobin. Such a strong interaction between Fe-bound OH- and the Arg E10 side-chain in Dolabella myoglobin is also manifested in the EPR spectra. For Mustelus myoglobin, the pH and temperature dependence studies on the kinetics strongly suggest that the distal Gln E7 in this myoglobin does not contribute significantly to stabilize the Fe-bound ligand.

Evaluation of 13C and 1H Fermi contact shifts in horse cytochrome c. The origin of the anti-Curie effect

Many ferricytochromes c exhibit a peculiar effect in which the 1H chemical shifts of the haem methyl groups appear in pairs and, although the paramagnetic shifts of the two groups with the larger shifts decrease with temperature, those of the pair with the smaller shifts actually increase. Recent NMR studies [Santos, H. and Turner, D. L. (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 206, 721-728] gave 1H and 13C assignments for most of the haem substituents and the axial ligands in horse cytochrome c at 30 degrees C and 50 degrees C in both oxidation states. These data are used together with an empirically determined magnetic susceptibility tensor to evaluate the Fermi contact contribution to the paramagnetic shift and hence map the delocalization of the unpaired electron. The anti-Curie effect is explained by a Boltzmann distribution between partially filled porphyrin 3e(pi) molecular orbitals with an energy difference of 3 kJ/mol. The fact that the energy gap is small with respect to the energy of binding to the electron transfer partners calls into question the significance of the asymmetry of the electron distribution in the electron transfer process.

Orientation and mobility of the heme vinyl groups in myoglobins with the aid of NOE and MATDUHM NMR

The heme vinyl substituents in a shark (Galeorhinus japonicus) myoglobin in its met-cyano form (MbCN) have been characterized by NMR and the results were compared with those of the well-studied sperm whale (Physter catodon) myoglobin. Their orientation has been inferred from NOE connectivities and the analysis of the hyperfine shifts based on the principal magnetic tensor determined by MATDUHM (Magnetic Anisotropy Tensor Orientation Determination Utilizing the Heme Methyls) [Yamamoto, Y., Nanai, N. and Chujo, R.(1990) J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1556-1557]. It has been shown that the C3-vinyl group is oriented roughly orthogonal to the heme plane in both G. japonicus and P. catodon MbCNs at 35 degrees C and their C8-vinyl groups, on the other hand, are close to in-plane orientation. Although CO form of myoglobin (MbCO) and MbCN have been thought to be isostructural to each other, the C8-vinyl orientation for P. catodon MbCN is found to be different from the orthogonal orientation indicated in the crystal structure analysis of MbCO [Hanson, J.C. and Schoenborn, B.P. (1981) J. Mol. Biol. 153, 117-146]. Their mobility has been characterized quantitatively from the study of time-dependent NOE build-up between the selected pair of the vinyl proton resonances. It has been revealed that the heme C3- and C8-vinyl groups of approximately 1 mM G. japonicus MbCN at 45 degrees C undergo internal motion with the correlation time of 1.9 and 2.4 ns, respectively. Therefore, their oscillatory motion is faster by a factor of 4-5 compared with the protein overall tumbling. Difference in the internal mobility between the two vinyl groups in the active site of this Mb is attributed to their differential contact with the apo-protein.

Redox-dependent structure change and hyperfine nuclear magnetic resonance shifts in cytochrome c

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance assignments for reduced and oxidized equine cytochrome c show that many individual protons exhibit different chemical shifts in the two protein forms, reflecting diamagnetic shift effects due to structure change, and in addition contact and pseudocontact shifts that occur only in the paramagnetic oxidized form. To evaluate the chemical shift differences (delta delta) for structure change, we removed the pseudocontact shift contribution by a calculation based on knowledge of the electron spin g tensor. The g-tensor parameters were determined from the delta delta values of a large set (64) of C alpha H protons at well-defined spatial positions in the oxidized horse protein. The g-tensor calculation, when repeated using only 12 available C alpha H proton resonances for cytochrome c from tuna, proved to be remarkably stable. The largest principal value of the g tensor (gz) falls precisely along the ligand bond between the heme iron and methionine-80 sulfur, while gx and gy closely match the natural heme axes defined by the pyrrole nitrogens. The derived g tensor was then used together with spatial coordinates for the oxidized form to calculate the pseudocontact shift contribution (delta pc) to proton resonances at 400 identifiable sites throughout the protein, so that the redox-dependent chemical shift discrepancy, delta delta-delta pc, could be evaluated. Large residual changes in chemical shift define the Fermi contact shifts, which are found as expected to be limited to the immediate covalent structure of the heme and its ligands and to be asymmetrically distributed over the heme. Smaller chemical shift discrepancies point to a concerted change, involving residues 39-43 and 50-60 (bottom of the protein), and to other changes in the immediate vicinity of the heme ligands. Also, the three internal water molecules are implicated in redox sensitivity. The residues found to change are in good but not perfect agreement with prior X-ray diffraction observations of subangstrom redox-related displacements in the tuna protein. The chemical shift discrepancies observed appear in the main to reflect structure-dependent diamagnetic shifts rather than hyperfine effects due to displacements in the pseudocontact shift field. Although 51 protons in 29 different residues exhibit significant chemical shift changes, the general impression is one of small structural adjustments to redox-dependent strain rather than sizeable structural displacements or rearrangements.

Natural abundance 13C-NMR study of paramagnetic horse heart ferricytochrome c cyanide complex: assignment of hyperfine shifted heme methyl carbon resonances

Hyperfine shifted heme methyl carbon resonances of paramagnetic horse heart ferricytochrome c cyanide complex (Cyt-c(CN)) have been observed for the first time in the natural abundance 13C-NMR spectrum and assigned using 1H-13C heteronuclear chemical shift correlated spectroscopy (1H-13C COSY). Individual heme methyl carbon NMR signal assignment permits a direct comparison between the hyperfine shifts of heme methyl carbon and attached methyl proton resonances which provides a useful information on the delocalization mechanism of the unpaired spin from the pi-conjugated system of porphyrin ring into the peripheral methyl side chains.

Assignment of hyperfine shifted haem methyl carbon resonances in paramagnetic low-spin met-cyano complex of sperm whale myoglobin

The hyperfine shifted resonances arising from all four individual haem carbons of the paramagnetic low-spin met-cyano complex of sperm whale myoglobin have been clearly identified and assigned for the first time with the aid of 1H-13C heteronuclear chemical shift correlated spectroscopy. Alteration of the in-plane symmetry of the electronic structure of haem induced by the ligation of proximal histidyl imidazole spreads the haem carbon resonances to 32 ppm at 22 degrees C, indicating the sensitivity of those resonances to the haem electronic/molecular structure. Those resonances are potentially powerful probes in characterizing the nature of haem electronic structure.

13C-NMR study of labeled vinyl groups in paramagnetic myoglobin derivatives

The 13C-NMR spectra of high-spin met-aquo myoglobin, spin-equilibrium met-azido myoglobin, low-spin met-cyano myoglobin, deoxy myoglobin and carbonmonoxy myoglobin from sperm whale reconstituted with hemin 13C enriched at both vinyl alpha or beta positions have been recorded. In all cases the labeled vinyl 13C signals are clearly resolved and useful spectra could be obtained within approx. 15 minutes. The decoupling of multiplet structure due to attached proton(s) has led to the specific assignment of vinyl 13C alpha signals in all paramagnetic derivatives and the 13C beta signals in met-cyano myoglobin. In all other cases, the collapse of the proton multiplet structure as a function of 1H decoupling frequency has located, but not assigned, the attached 1H resonance positions which are obscured by the intense diamagnetic envelope in the 1H-NMR spectrum. The resulting vinyl 13C hyperfine shifts follow Curie behavior, and the patterns closely resemble those in the appropriate model complexes in the same oxidation/spin/ligation state, except that the protein exhibits more in-plane asymmetry. The hyperfine shift patterns are indicative of dominant pi contact shifts for all ferric complexes. Deoxy myoglobin vinyl 13C and 1H contact shifts provide little evidence for pi bonding.

13C and proton NMR studies of horse cytochrome c. Assignment and temperature dependence of methyl resonances

The 13C and proton chemical shifts of the 55 methyl groups of horse cytochrome c have been determined over a range of temperatures both in the diamagnetic ferrocytochrome and in the paramagnetic ferricytochrome. Specific assignments of many proton resonances have been published previously and all of the remaining methyl proton resonances are now specifically assigned. The corresponding 13C assignments follow directly, including those of contact shifted 13C resonances which are reported for the first time.

Preparation of a novel 13C-labelled heme protein

Protohemin chloride 90% enriched with 13C in the terminal carbons of the 2-nd and 4-position vinyl side-chains has been synthesized. The 13C-NMR spectrum of carboxymyoglobin reconstituted with the 13C-enriched hemin revealed two signals of nearly equal intensity at 117.6 and 113.4 ppm downfield of tetramethylsilane. The inequivalence of these vinyl carbons must reflect differences in environment imposed by the protein.

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of high-spin iron(III) porphyrin compounds

13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra have been obtained for a variety of high-spin iron(III) porphyrin compounds and corresponding mu-oxo-bridged dimeric species. Large hyperfine shifts and significant line broadening are observed. The monomeric complexes exhibit hyperfine shifts which are downfield with the exception of an upfield shift for the meso-carbon atom. Possible unpaired spin delocalization mechanisms and prospects for observing 13C NMR porphyrin resonances in high-spin ferrihemoproteins are discussed. Spectra reported here provide strategy for incorporation of 13C labels in hemoproteins either by biosynthetic or chemical means. The vinyl-CH2 resonances of iron(III) protoporphyrin IX located 260 parts per million downfield from tetramethylsilane are especially attractive from the standpoint of chemical labeling.

Carbon-13 and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of water-soluble porphyrins and metalloporphyrins

Carbon-13 and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra have been recorded for porphyrins, zinc porphyrins, and iron(III) porphyrin complexes in aqueous media. Spectra of porphyrin-c and hemin-c confirm the structure with thioether linkages at positions alpha to the porphyrin ring. The pattern of NMR isotropic shifts has implications regarding electron transfer in cytochrome-c. Free-base porphyrin-c and meso-substituted porphyrins have been examined for pyrrole nitrogen-hydrogen tautomerism and possible aggregation in aqueous solution. Zinc porphyrin 13C NMR spectra were recorded in order to provide diamagnetic references for paramagnetic iron(III) derivatives. Low-spin iron(III) porphyrin-biscyano complexes in aqueous solution exhibit NMR isotropic shift patterns similar to those previously observed for related compounds in non-aqueous media. The first 13C NMR spectra are reported for mu-oxo-bridged iron(III) porphyrin dimers. A partially resolved spectrum of a high-spin iron(III) porphyrin has also been obtained. Patterns of 13C and proton isotropic shifts are compared, and unpaired spin delocalization mechanisms for 13C resonances are discussed in a qualitative manner.

Contact-shifted resonances in the 1H NMR spectra of cytochrome b5. Resonance identification and spin density distribution in the heme group

This paper describes the identification of some of the contact-shifted resonances in the 1H NMR spectrum of low spin ferric cytochrome b5. In these experiments comparison with cytochrome b5 which had been reconstituted with deuteroheme IX played an important role. NMR techniques used include double resonance experiments, line width analyses, and studies of the pH-dependence of the 1H NMR chemical shifts. The electronic heme structure derived from these resonance assignments is characterized by a highly anisotropic spin density distribution. This anisotropy is most strikingly manifested in the resonances of the vinyl and propionic acid substituents of the protoheme IX. The experiments described in this paper further revealed the coexistence in aqueous solutions of two different molecular species of cytochrome b5, which can be simultaneously observed in the regions of the 1H NMR spectrum which contain the largely contact-shifted resonances.