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Burguera S, Sahu AK, Frontera A, Biswal HS, Bauza A. Spodium Bonds Involving Methylmercury and Ethylmercury in Proteins: Insights from X-ray Analysis and Computations. Inorg Chem 2023; 62:18524-18532. [PMID: 37902775 PMCID: PMC10647129 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c02716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the stability, directionality, and physical nature of Spodium bonds (SpBs, an attractive noncovalent force involving elements from group 12 and Lewis bases) between methylmercury (MeHg) and ethylmercury (EtHg) and amino acids (AAs) have been analyzed from both a structural (X-ray analysis) and theoretical (RI-MP2/def2-TZVP level of theory) point of view. More in detail, an inspection of the Protein Data Bank (PDB) reported evidence of noncovalent contacts between MeHg and EtHg molecules and electron-rich atoms (e.g., O atoms belonging to the protein backbone and S atoms from MET residues or the π-systems of aromatic AAs such as TYR or TRP). These results were rationalized through a computational study using MeHg coordinated to a thiolate group as a theoretical model and several neutral and charged electron-rich molecules (e.g., benzene, formamide, or chloride). The physical nature of the interaction was analyzed from electrostatics and orbital perspectives by performing molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and natural bonding orbital (NBO) analyses. Lastly, the noncovalent interactions plot (NCIplot) technique was used to provide a qualitative view of the strength of the Hg SpBs and compare them to other ancillary interactions present in these systems as well as to shed light on the extension of the interaction in real space. We believe that the results derived from our study will be useful to those scientists devoted to protein engineering and bioinorganic chemistry as well as to expanding the current knowledge of SpBs among the chemical biology community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Burguera
- Department
of Chemistry, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. de Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Baleares, Spain
| | - Akshay Kumar Sahu
- School
of Chemical Sciences, National Institute
of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar 752050, India
- Training
School Complex, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Antonio Frontera
- Department
of Chemistry, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. de Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Baleares, Spain
| | - Himansu S. Biswal
- School
of Chemical Sciences, National Institute
of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar 752050, India
- Training
School Complex, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Antonio Bauza
- Department
of Chemistry, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. de Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Baleares, Spain
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Bittencourt LO, Matta PPM, Nascimento PC, Eiró-Quirino L, Aragão WAB, Dionizio A, Fernandes LMP, Silva MCF, Buzalaf MAR, Aschner M, Crespo-Lopez ME, Maia CSF, Lima RR. Deciphering the Global Proteomic Profile Involved in Methylmercury-Induced Cerebellar Neurodegeneration and Motor Dysfunction in Adult Rats. TOXICS 2022; 10:531. [PMID: 36136496 PMCID: PMC9500842 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10090531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a ubiquitous pollutant in the environment with potential neurotoxic effects. Several populations are susceptible to mercurial exposure, especially methylmercury (MeHg) at low doses for long periods through food consumption. Given this, the present work aimed to assess the effects of long-term MeHg exposure on the cerebellum of rats from a translational perspective using a representative dose, assessing molecular, biochemical, morphological, and behavioral parameters. The model was produced by administering 40 µg/kg of MeHg for 60 days to adult male Wistar rats by oral gavage. As a result of this exposure, the animals presented motor deficits in open field and rotarod tests which were associated with an increase in total mercury content in cerebellar parenchyma, a reduction in antioxidant competence against peroxyl radicals, and increased nitrite and lipid peroxidation levels. The proteomic approach showed 317 modulated proteins. Such findings were associated with reductions in mature neuron and Purkinje cell densities and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunostained areas and increased microglial density. In addition, decreases in myelin basic protein and synaptophysin immunostaining were also observed. The results thus provided new evidence of the mechanisms underlying complex MeHg-induced neurodegeneration, especially the proteins underlying the biochemical and morphological features associated with motor dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Oliveira Bittencourt
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Pedro Philipe Moreira Matta
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Priscila Cunha Nascimento
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Luciana Eiró-Quirino
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Walessa Alana Bragança Aragão
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Aline Dionizio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru 17012-90, SP, Brazil
| | - Luanna Melo Pereira Fernandes
- Department of Morphology and Physiological Sciences, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, State Unversity of Pará, Belém 66087-662, PA, Brazil
| | - Márcia Cristina Freitas Silva
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Maria Elena Crespo-Lopez
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Socorro Ferraz Maia
- Laboratory Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Rafael Rodrigues Lima
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
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Mercury and cancer: Where are we now after two decades of research? Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 164:113001. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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