Modulation of the oxygen affinity of cobalt-porphyrin by globin

Molecular Dynamics of Cobalt Protoporphyrin Antagonism of the Cancer Suppressor REV-ERBβ

Nuclear receptor REV-ERBβ is an overexpressed oncoprotein that has been used as a target for cancer treatment. The metal-complex nature of its ligand, iron protoporphyrin IX (Heme), enables the REV-ERBβ to be used for multiple therapeutic modalities as a photonuclease, a photosensitizer, or a fluorescence imaging agent. The replacement of iron with cobalt as the metal center of protoporphyrin IX changes the ligand from an agonist to an antagonist of REV-ERBβ. The mechanism behind that phenomenon is still unclear, despite the availability of crystal structures of REV-ERBβ in complex with Heme and cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP). This study used molecular dynamic simulations to compare the effects of REV-ERBβ binding to Heme and CoPP, respectively. The initial poses of Heme and CoPP in complex with agonist and antagonist forms of REV-ERBβ were predicted using molecular docking. The binding energies of each ligand were calculated using the MM/PBSA method. The computed binding affinity of Heme to REV-ERBβ was stronger than that of CoPP, in agreement with experimental results. CoPP altered the conformation of the ligand-binding site of REV-ERBβ, disrupting the binding site for nuclear receptor corepressor, which is required for REV-ERBβ to regulate the transcription of downstream target genes. Those results suggest that a subtle change in the metal center of porphyrin can change the behavior of porphyrin in cancer cell signaling. Therefore, modification of porphyrin-based agents for cancer therapy should be conducted carefully to avoid triggering unfavorable effects.

Structure of REV-ERBβ ligand-binding domain bound to a porphyrin antagonist

REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ are members of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of ligand-regulated transcription factors that play important roles in the regulation of circadian physiology, metabolism, and immune function. Although the REV-ERBs were originally characterized as orphan receptors, recent studies have demonstrated that they function as receptors for heme. Here, we demonstrate that cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP) and zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP) are ligands that bind directly to the REV-ERBs. However, instead of mimicking the agonist action of heme, CoPP and ZnPP function as antagonists of REV-ERB function. This was unexpected because the only distinction between these ligands is the metal ion that is coordinated. To understand the structural basis by which REV-ERBβ can differentiate between a porphyrin agonist and antagonist, we characterized the interaction between REV-ERBβ with heme, CoPP, and ZnPP using biochemical and structural approaches, including x-ray crystallography and NMR. The crystal structure of CoPP-bound REV-ERBβ indicates only minor conformational changes induced by CoPP compared with heme, including the porphyrin ring of CoPP, which adopts a planar conformation as opposed to the puckered conformation observed in the heme-bound REV-ERBβ crystal structure. Thus, subtle changes in the porphyrin metal center and ring conformation may influence the agonist versus antagonist action of porphyrins and when considered with other studies suggest that gas binding to the iron metal center heme may drive alterations in REV-ERB activity.

How to evaluate blood substitutes for endothelial cell toxicity

The most common and widely transplanted tissue worldwide is blood. But concerns about safety and adequacy of blood transfusion have fostered 20 years of research into blood substitutes such as oxygen carriers based on modified hemoglobin (Hb). Chemically modified or genetically engineered Hb developed as oxygen therapeutics are designed to restore blood volume and to correct oxygen deficit due to ischemia in a variety of clinical settings. Uncontrolled oxidative reactions mediated by large amounts of cell-free Hb and their reactions with various oxidant/antioxidant and cell signalling systems emerge as an important pathway of toxicity. Hemoglobin can react with oxygen and NO, leading to the production of reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. Inside the bloodstream, oxidized Hb and ROS/RNS are in direct contact with endothelial cells (EC). Thus, chain reactions may trigger molecular and cellular biology, causing oxidative stress-related pathologies. This editorial presents an overview of interactions between Hb (modified or not) and EC. We also propose a wide range of techniques and methods to assess oxidative stress and inflammation responses of EC after exposure to Hb. This editorial can serve as a guide to evaluate in vitro toxicity of new Hb molecules.

Preparation and O2 Binding Study of Myoglobin Having a Cobalt Porphycene

Sperm whale myoglobin, an oxygen-storage hemoprotein, was reconstituted with 2,7-diethyl-3,6,12,17-tetramethyl-13,16-bis(carboxyethyl)porphycenatocobalt(II) in order to investigate the reactivities of a cobalt porphycene in a protein matrix. Similar to the previously reported finding for the myoglobin with the iron porphycene, the reconstituted myoglobin with the cobalt porphycene was also found to have an O2 affinity 2 orders of magnitude greater than that of the myoglobin possessing cobalt protoporphyrin IX. The EPR spectra of the deoxy and oxy myoglobins having the cobalt porphycene at 77 K also have features similar to those of the myoglobin with cobalt protoporphyrin IX. These spectra suggest that the porphycene cobalt in the deoxy form is coordinated by one nitrogenous ligand postulated to be the imidazole ring of His93, and that the bond configuration of CoII-O2 is regarded as the CoIII-Omicron2*- species.

Drugs for increasing oxygen and their potential use in doping: a review

Blood oxygenation is a fundamental factor in optimising muscular activity. Enhancement of oxygen delivery to tissues is associated with a substantial improvement in athletic performance, particularly in endurance sports. Progress in medical research has led to the identification of new chemicals for the treatment of severe anaemia. Effective and promising molecules have been created and sometimes used for doping purposes. The aim of this review is to present methods, and drugs, known to be (or that might be) used by athletes to increase oxygen transport in an attempt to improve endurance capacity. These methods and drugs include: (i) blood transfusion; (ii) endogenous stimulation of red blood cell production at altitude, or using hypoxic rooms, erythropoietins (EPOs), EPO gene therapy or EPO mimetics; (iii) allosteric effectors of haemoglobin; and (iv) blood substitutes such as modified haemoglobin solutions and perfluorochemicals. Often, new chemicals are used before safety tests have been completed and athletes are taking great health risks. Such new chemicals have also created the need for new instrumental strategies in doping control laboratories, but not all of these chemicals are detectable. Further progress in analytical research is necessary.

Syntheses and structural characterization of the (OCnOPor) capped porphyrins: Co(OC2OPor).CH2Cl2, Co(OC2OPor)(NO)out.0.46CHCl3, Co(OC3OPor).CHCl3, and Co(OC3OPor)(MeIm).3C7H8

The compounds Co(OC2OPor).CH2Cl2 (1), Co(OC2OPor)(NO)out.0.46CHCl3 (2), Co(OC3OPor).CHCl3 (3), and Co(OC3OPor)(MeIm).3C7H8 (4) (OC2OPor = 5,10,15,20-(benzene-1,2,4,5- tetrakis(2-phenyloxy)ethoxy)-2',2",2"',2""-tetraylporphyrinato dianion; OC3OPor = 5,10,15,20-(benzene-1,2,4,5-tetrakis(2- phenyloxy)propoxy)-2',2",2"',2""-tetraylporphyrinato dianion; MeIm = 1-methylimidazole), have been synthesized, and their structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods at T = -120 degrees C: 1, a = 8.824(1) A, b = 16.674(1) A, c = 16.836(1) A, alpha = 104.453(1) degrees, beta = 92.752(1) degrees, gamma = 90.983(1) degrees, P1, Z = 2; 2, a = 9.019(1) A, b = 16.588(2) A, c = 16.909(2) A, alpha = 103.923(2) degrees, beta = 92.082(2) degrees, gamma = 93.583(2) degrees, P1, Z = 2; 3, a = 13.484(3) A, b = 14.404(3) A, c = 14.570(3) A, alpha = 105.508(3) degrees, beta = 100.678(3) degrees, gamma = 93.509(4) degrees, P1, Z = 2; 4, a = 16.490(1) A, b = 22.324(2) A, c = 17.257(1) A, b = 92.437(1) degrees, P2(1)/n, Z = 4. These compounds are the first structurally characterized Co-bound members of the OCnOPor ligand system. The NO ligand in 2 and the MeIm ligand in 4 bind asymmetrically and lead to several metrical changes in these porphyrins, e.g., variations in average porphyrin deviations and Co atom displacements relative to the porphyrinato N atoms and the mean porphyrin planes.