Complexation of cadmium by the C-terminal hexapeptide Lys-Cys-Thr-Cys-Cys-Ala from mouse metallothionein: study by differential pulse polarography and circular dichroism spectroscopy with multivariate curve resolution analysis

Use of (113)Cd NMR to probe the native metal binding sites in metalloproteins: an overview

Our laboratories have actively published in this area for several years and the objective of this chapter is to present as comprehensive an overview as possible. Following a brief review of the basic principles associated with (113)Cd NMR methods, we will present the results from a thorough literature search for (113)Cd chemical shifts from metalloproteins. The updated (113)Cd chemical shift figure in this chapter will further illustrate the excellent correlation of the (113)Cd chemical shift with the nature of the coordinating ligands (N, O, S) and coordination number/geometry, reaffirming how this method can be used not only to identify the nature of the protein ligands in uncharacterized cases but also the dynamics at the metal binding site. Specific examples will be drawn from studies on alkaline phosphatase, Ca(2+) binding proteins, and metallothioneins.In the case of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase, a dimeric zinc metalloenzyme where a total of six metal ions (three per monomer) are involved directly or indirectly in providing the enzyme with maximal catalytic activity and structural stability, (113)Cd NMR, in conjunction with (13)C and (31)P NMR methods, were instrumental in separating out the function of each class of metal binding sites. Perhaps most importantly, these studies revealed the chemical basis for negative cooperativity that had been reported for this enzyme under metal deficient conditions. Also noteworthy was the fact that these NMR studies preceded the availability of the X-ray crystal structure.In the case of the calcium binding proteins, we will focus on two proteins: calbindin D(9k) and calmodulin. For calbindin D(9k) and its mutants, (113)Cd NMR has been useful both to follow actual changes in the metal binding sites and the cooperativity in the metal binding. Ligand binding to calmodulin has been studied extensively with (113)Cd NMR showing that the metal binding sites are not directly involved in the ligand binding. The (113)Cd chemical shifts are, however, exquisitely sensitive to minute changes in the metal ion environment.In the case of metallothionein, we will reflect upon how (113)Cd substitution and the establishment of specific Cd to Cys residue connectivity by proton-detected heteronuclear (1)H-(113)Cd multiple-quantum coherence methods (HMQC) was essential for the initial establishment of the 3D structure of metallothioneins, a protein family deficient in the regular secondary structural elements of α-helix and β-sheet and the first native protein identified with bound Cd. The (113)Cd NMR studies also enabled the characterization of the affinity of the individual sites for (113)Cd and, in competition experiments, for other divalent metal ions: Zn, Cu, and Hg.

Identification of heavy metal complexes of a hexapeptide inhibitor of the human immunodeficiency virus integrase protein by using a voltammetric approach

Complexation of the hexapeptide Hys-Cys-Lys-Phe-Trp-Trp, inhibitor of the human immunodeficiency virus integrase protein, with the heavy metal ions Cd2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+ has been investigated using differential pulse polarography. In the case of Pb2+, no significant complexation is detected, whereas in the cases of Cd2+ and Zn2+, strong and electrochemically inert ML2 complexes predominate. In contrast, ML complexes are present in a low proportion or are absent. When possible, the corresponding conditional stability constants have been determined at both pH 7.0 and pH 7.5, showing that Zn2+ complexes are slightly more stable than Cd2+ complexes.

Multivariate curve resolution methods in imaging spectroscopy: influence of extraction methods and instrumental perturbations

Imaging spectroscopy is becoming a key field of analytical chemistry. In the face of more and more complex samples, we actually need accurate microscopic insight. Nowadays, the methods used to produce concentration maps of the pure compounds from spectral data sets are based on the classical univariate approach although multivariate approaches are sometimes investigated. But in any case, the analytical quality of the chemical images thus provided cannot be discussed since no reference methods are at our disposal. Thus the proposed research focuses on the application of multivariate methods such as Orthogonal Projection Approach (OPA), SIMPLE-to-use Self-modeling Mixture Analysis (SIMPLISMA), Multivariate Curve Resolution - Alterning Least Squares (MCR-ALS), and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) for imaging spectroscopy. A systematic and quantitative characterization of the accuracy of spectra and images extraction is investigated on mid-infrared spectral data sets. Of special interest is the influence of instrumental perturbations such as noise and spectral shift on the extraction ability to access the algorithm's robustness.

Voltammetry assisted by multivariate analysis as a tool for speciation of metallothioneins: competitive complexation of alpha- and beta-metallothionein domains with cadmium and zinc

Multivariate Curve Resolution by Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) is applied to voltammetric data obtained in the study of competitive complexation of Zn(II) and Cd(II) by alpha- and beta-domains of metallothionein (MT). The application of MCR-ALS allows the estimation of both the voltammograms and the concentration profiles associated with each electrochemical process. The complexity of the voltammograms obtained in titrations of the alpha- or beta-domains of MT with Cd(II) and later Zn(II) (or vice versa) prevents their direct interpretation using traditional electrochemical methods. But when MCR-ALS is applied, voltammograms can be interpreted rather satisfactorily in both qualitative and quantitative terms. MCR-ALS showed the formation of Cd2Znbeta dom and Cd3Znalpha dom complexes when both metals were competitively added. A method based on the combined use of voltammetry and some chemometric techniques is proposed. It can be useful for the metal speciation of environmentally relevant natural ligands.

Sorption of trace metals on human hair and application for cadmium and lead pre-concentration with flame atomic absorption determination

Human hair shavings were characterized as a sorbent for trace metals. At pH 7.0 metal sorption follows the order Pb(II)>Cd(II)>Cr(VI)>Fe(III)>Cu(II)>Ni(II)>Mn(VI). Metal recovery is quantitative for Pb and Cd after 30 min of equilibration. Recovery of other metals is less quantitative and varies with pH. For example, while Cu is best recovered at pH 5, Ni and Mn are sorbed optimally in the basic pH region. Sorbed metals can be washed off the sorbent with 0.5 mol L(-1) strong mineral acids or more completely with 0.1 mol L(-1) ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Typical sorption isotherms were obtained for Cd and Pb with sorption capacities of 39 and 26 micromol g(-1), respectively. Hair sorbent was used for 40-fold pre-concentration of Cd and Pb from treated wastewater samples followed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopic (FAAS) determination. Comparison of the data obtained for lead and cadmium by the proposed pre-concentration method with that by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) showed 79 to 86% recovery and comparable analytical precision. Common cations and anions at the levels normally present in natural water do not interfere in the proposed pre-concentration-FAAS method.

Construction of alpha-alpha domains structure in recombinant monkey metallothionein-1

The differences in metal-thiolate coordination and reactivity of mammalian metallothionein (MT) domains are closely related to their distinct, highly conservative cysteine number and position. Monkey metallothionein-1, containing a beta-domain with Cd(3)S(9) cluster and an alpha-domain with Cd(4)S(11) cluster, was used to evaluate the role of cysteine residues in the formation of MT's metal-thiolate clusters. The possible influence of cysteine residues on the binding and stability of MT domains has been examined with the metallothionein mutants: N4C, T27C and N4C/T27C, which possess ten or eleven cysteine residues in the re-constructed beta-domain, respectively. Assisted by study of UV, CD and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) and their reactivity with DTNB (5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid)), we found that besides the original alpha-domain, some kinds of new domain containing 4-cadmium-thiolate clusters were formed in the N4C and N4C/T27C mutants of mkMT1. These new domains displayed metal binding and kinetic reactivity with DTNB similar to the alpha-domain. However, the thermal stability of the mutants was less stable than that of WT mkMT1. This might result from the disturbance of the inter-domains hydrogen bonds and of the non-cysteine amino acid residue arrangement.