A ligand field model for MCD spectra of biological cupric complexes

A magnetooptical study of (4-(2-dibutylaminoethanolato-N,O,O,O) chlorido copper(II)): a cubane complex with dominant ferromagnetic interactions

This paper reports the experimental and theoretical study of a tetranuclear (CuClOCH2CH2N(C4H9)2)4 complex. Analysis of the magnetic circular dichroism spectrum was performed based on the Hamiltonian that includes the crystal field of the nearest ligands and the spin-orbit interaction. The crystal field parameters were evaluated in the framework of the exchange charge model that accounts for the exchange and covalence effects. The values of the crystal field parameters obtained during the analysis of the magnetic circular dichroism spectrum were used for the calculation of the principal values and the directions of the principal axes of the local g-tensors and for the simulation of both temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility and field dependence of the magnetization. The value of the exchange parameter (Jex = 30 cm(-1)) was obtained. It was demonstrated that the description of the low temperature magnetic properties requires taking into account the intercluster interaction.

Elucidating the role of the proximal cysteine hydrogen-bonding network in ferric cytochrome P450cam and corresponding mutants using magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy

Although extensive research has been performed on various cytochrome P450s, especially Cyt P450cam, there is much to be learned about the mechanism of how its functional unit, a heme b ligated by an axial cysteine, is finely tuned for catalysis by its second coordination sphere. Here we study how the hydrogen-bonding network affects the proximal cysteine and the Fe-S(Cys) bond in ferric Cyt P450cam. This is accomplished using low-temperature magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy on wild-type (wt) Cyt P450cam and on the mutants Q360P (pure ferric high-spin at low temperature) and L358P where the "Cys pocket" has been altered (by removing amino acids involved in the hydrogen-bonding network), and Y96W (pure ferric low-spin). The MCD spectrum of Q360P reveals fourteen electronic transitions between 15200 and 31050 cm(-1). Variable-temperature variable-field (VTVH) saturation curves were used to determine the polarizations of these electronic transitions with respect to in-plane (xy) and out-of-plane (z) polarization relative to the heme. The polarizations, oscillator strengths, and TD-DFT calculations were then used to assign the observed electronic transitions. In the lower energy region, prominent bands at 15909 and 16919 cm(-1) correspond to porphyrin (P) → Fe charge transfer (CT) transitions. The band at 17881 cm(-1) has distinct sulfur S(π) → Fe CT contributions. The Q band is observed as a pseudo A-term (derivative shape) at 18604 and 19539 cm(-1). In the case of the Soret band, the negative component of the expected pseudo A-term is split into two features due to mixing with another π → π* and potentially a P → Fe CT excited state. The resulting three features are observed at 23731, 24859, and 25618 cm(-1). Most importantly, the broad, prominent band at 28570 cm(-1) is assigned to the S(σ) → Fe CT transition, whose intensity is generated through a multitude of CT transitions with strong iron character. For wt, Q360P, and L358P, this band occurs at 28724, 28570, and 28620 cm(-1), respectively. The small shift of this feature upon altering the hydrogen bonds to the proximal cysteine indicates that the role of the Cys pocket is not primarily for electronic fine-tuning of the sulfur donor strength but is more for stabilizing the proximal thiolate against external reactants (NO, O(2), H(3)O(+)), and for properly positioning cysteine to coordinate to the iron center. This aspect is discussed in detail.

Multireference ab initio studies of zero-field splitting and magnetic circular dichroism spectra of tetrahedral Co(II) complexes

A newly developed multireference (MR) ab initio method for the calculation of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra was calibrated through the calculation of the ground- and excited state properties of seven high-spin (S = 3/2) Co(II) complexes. The MCD spectra were computed by the explicit treatment of spin-orbit coupled (SOC) and spin-spin coupled (SSC) N-electron states. For the complexes studied in this work, we found that the SOC is more important than the SSC for determining the ground state zero field splitting (ZFS). Our computed ZFS parameter D for the [Co(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2)] model complex is -17.6 cm(-1), which is reasonably close to the experimental value of -14.8 cm(-1). Generally, the computed absorption and MCD spectra are in fair agreement with experiment for all investigated complexes. Thus, reliable electronic structure and spectroscopic predictions for medium sized transition metal complexes are feasible on the basis of this methodology. This characterizes the presented method as a promising tool for MCD spectra interpretations of transition metal complexes in a variety of areas of chemistry and biology.

MCD C-Term Signs, Saturation Behavior, and Determination of Band Polarizations in Randomly Oriented Systems with Spin S >/= (1)/(2). Applications to S = (1)/(2) and S = (5)/(2)

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) properties of a spin-allowed transition from an orbitally nondegenerate ground state manifold A to an orbitally nondegenerate excited state manifold J in the presence of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) are derived for any S >/= (1)/(2). Three physically distinct mechanisms are identified that lead to MCD intensity and depend on SOC between excited states which leads to a sum rule and SOC between the ground state and other excited states that leads to deviations from the sum rule. The model is valid for any symmetry of the magnetic coupling tensors and arbitrary transition polarizations. The S = (1)/(2) case is analytically solved, and the determination of linear polarizations from MCD saturation magnetization data is discussed. For all mechanisms the MCD intensity is proportional to the spin-expectation values of the ground state sublevels which are conveniently generated from a spin-Hamiltonian (SH). For Kramers systems with large zero-field splittings (ZFSs) this allows the contribution from each Kramers doublet to the total MCD intensity to be related through their effective g-values, therefore significantly reducing the number of parameters required to analyze experimental data. The behavior of high-spin systems is discussed in the limits of weak, intermediate, and strong ZFS relative to the Zeeman energy. The model remains valid in the important case of intermediate ZFS where the ground state sublevels may cross as a function of applied magnetic field and there are significant off-axis contributions to the MCD intensity due to a change of the electron spin quantization axis. The model permits calculation of MCD C-term signs from molecular wave functions, and explicit expressions are derived in terms of MOs for S = (1)/(2) and S = (5)/(2). Two examples from the literature are analyzed to demonstrate how the C-term signs can be evaluated by a graphical method that gives insight into their physical origin.

Copper in biological systems. A report from the 7th Manziana Conference, held at Santa Severa, September 11-15, 1995

In this fifty-seven page report, the author attempts to give the essence of the twenty-four lectures and of an about equal number of posters, including subjects of discussion, that were presented at an international conference on copper proteins held in Italy. The report deals with research carried out up to mid-1995 and contains 140 literature references and thirty-three figures or schemes.

Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of a Model for Galactose Oxidase

An active-site analog of the radical copper enzyme galactose oxidase has been prepared from a synthetic tripod chelate ((2-pyridylmethyl)[(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)methyl][(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(methylthio)phenyl)methyl]amine, duncamine (dnc)) that binds a single Cu(II) ion through phenolate, thioether-substituted phenolate, and pyridylamine arms. The Cu complex crystallizes as a dinucleated dimer bridged by phenolate oxygens, and the structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Addition of pyridine (or other coordinating bases) dissociates the complex into a monomeric derivative that has been characterized spectroscopically (optical absorption and EPR) and electrochemically. The model provides insight into the properties of a mutant form of galactose oxidase which retains the same copper ligand complement as the wild type protein but lacks catalytic activity.

Glyoxal oxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium is a new radical-copper oxidase

A free radical-coupled copper complex has been identified as the catalytic structure in the active site of glyoxal oxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium based on a combination of spectroscopic and biochemical studies. The native (inactive) enzyme is activated by oxidants leading to the elimination of the cupric EPR signal consistent with formation of an antiferromagnetically coupled radical-copper complex. Oxidation also leads to the appearance of a substoichiometric free radical EPR signal with an average g value (gav = 2.0055) characteristic of phenoxyl tau-radicals arising from a minority apoenzyme fraction. Optical absorption, CD, and spectroelectrochemical measurements on the active enzyme reveal complex spectra extending into the near IR and define the redox potential for radical formation (E 1/2 = 0.64 V versus NHE, pH 7.0). Resonance Raman spectra have identified the signature of a modified (cysteinyl-tyrosine) phenoxyl in the vibrational spectra of the active complex. This radical-copper motif has previously been found only in galactose oxidase, with which glyoxal oxidase shares many properties despite lacking obvious sequence identity, and catalyzing a distinct reaction. The enzymes thus represent members of a growing class of free radical metalloenzymes based on the radical-copper catalytic motif and appear to represent functional variants that have evolved to distinct catalytic roles.