14N NMR relaxation times of several protein amino acids in aqueous solution--comparison with 17O NMR data and estimation of the relative hydration numbers in the cationic and zwitterionic forms

Exploration of the Existence Forms and Patterns of Dissolved Oxygen Molecules in Water

The structure of liquid water is primarily composed of three-dimensional networks of water clusters formed by hydrogen bonds, and dissolved oxygen is one of the most important indicators for assessing water quality. In this work, distilled water with different concentration of dissolved oxygen were prepared, and a clear negative correlation between the size of water clusters and dissolved oxygen concentration was observed. Besides, a phenomenon of rapid absorption and release of oxygen at the water interfaces was unveiled, suggesting that oxygen molecules predominantly exist at the interfaces of water clusters. Oxygen molecules can move rapidly through the interfaces among water clusters, allowing dissolved oxygen to quickly reach a saturation level at certain partial pressure of oxygen and temperature. Further exploration into the mechanism by molecular dynamics simulations of oxygen and water clusters found that oxygen molecules can only exist stably at the interfaces among water clusters. A semi-empirical formula relating the average number of water molecules in a cluster (n) to 17O NMR half-peak width (W) was summarized: n = 0.1 W + 0.85. These findings provide a foundation for exploring the structure and properties of water.

Harnessing Water to Enhance Quadrupolar NMR Spectroscopy and Imaging

¹⁷ O and ¹⁴ N are attractive targets for in vivo NMR spectroscopy and imaging, but low gyromagnetic ratios γ and fast spin relaxation complicate observations. This work explores indirect ways of detecting some of these sites with the help of proton-detected double resonance techniques. As standard coherence transfer methods are of limited use for such indirect detection, alternative routes for probing the quadrupolar spectra on ¹ H were tested. These centered on modulating the broadening effects imparted onto protons adjacent to the low-γ species through J couplings through either continuous wave or spin-echo double-resonance decoupling/recoupling sequences. As in all cases, the changes imparted by these double-resonance strategies were small due to the fast relaxation undergone by the quadrupoles, the sensitivity of these approaches was amplified by transferring their effects onto the abundant water ¹ H signal. These amplifications were mediated by the spontaneous exchanges that the labile ¹ Hs bound to ¹⁷ O or ¹⁴ N undergo with the water protons. In experiments designed on the basis of double-resonance spin echoes, these enhancements were imparted by looping the transverse encodings together with multiple longitudinal storage periods, leading to decoupling-recoupling with exchange (D-REX) sequences. In experiments designed on the basis of continuous on/off quadrupolar decoupling, these solvent exchanges were incorporated into chemical-exchange saturation transfer schemes, leading to decoupling-recoupling with saturation transfer (D-REST) sequences. Both of these variants harnessed sizable proportions of the easily detectable water signals, in order to characterize the NMR spectra and/or to image with atomic-site specificity the ¹⁷ O and ¹⁴ N species.

Amino Acid Chiral Selection Via Weak Interactions in Stellar Environments: Implications for the Origin of Life

Magnetochiral phenomena may be responsible for the selection of chiral states of biomolecules in meteoric environments. For example, the Supernova Amino Acid Processing (SNAAP) Model was proposed previously as a possible mode of magnetochiral selection of amino acids by way of the weak interaction in strong magnetic fields. In earlier work, this model was shown to produce an enantiomeric excess (ee) as high as 0.014% for alanine. In this paper we present the results of molecular quantum chemistry calculations from which ees are determined for the α-amino acids plus isovaline and norvaline, which were found to have positive ees in meteorites. Calculations are performed for both isolated and aqueous states. In some cases, the aqueous state was found to produce larger ees reaching values as high as a few percent under plausible conditions.

Selection of Amino Acid Chirality via Neutrino Interactions with 14N in Crossed Electric and Magnetic Fields

Previous work has suggested that the chirality of the amino acids could be established in the magnetic field of a nascent neutron star from a core-collapse supernova or massive collapsar. The magnetic field would orient the 14N nuclei, and the alignment of its nuclear spin with respect to those of the electron antineutrinos emitted from the collapsing star would determine the probability of destruction of the 14N nuclei by interactions with the antineutrinos. Subsequent work estimated the bulk polarization of the 14N nuclei in large rotating meteoroids in such an environment. The present work adds a crucial piece of this model by describing the details by which the selective 14N nuclear destruction would produce molecular chiral selectivity. The effects of the neutrino-induced interactions on the 14N nuclei bound in amino acids polarized in strong magnetic fields are studied. It is shown that electric fields in the reference frame of the nuclei modify the magnetic field at the nucleus, creating nuclear magnetizations that are asymmetric in chirality. The antineutrino cross sections depend on this magnetization, creating a selective destructive effect. The environmental conditions and sites in which such a selection mechanism could occur are discussed. Selective destruction of D-enantiomers results in enantiomeric excesses which may be sufficient to drive subsequent autocatalysis necessary to produce the few-percent enantiomeric excesses found in meteorites and subsequent homochirality. Molecular quantum chemical calculations were performed for alanine, and the chirality-dependent effects studied were included. A preference for left-handed molecules was found, and enantiomeric excesses as high as 0.02% were estimated for molecules in the electromagnetic conditions expected from a core-collapse supernova. Key Words: Amino acids-Supernovae-Antineutrinos-Enantiomeric excess-Chirality. Astrobiology 18, 190-206.

On the hydration state of amino acids and their derivatives at different ionization States: a comparative multinuclear NMR and crystallographic investigation

(2)D, (13)C, (14)N, and (17)O NMR and crystallographic data from the literature were critically evaluated in order to provide a coherent hydration model of amino acids and selected derivatives at different ionization states. (17)O shielding variations, longitudinal relaxation times (T(1)) of (2)D and (13)C and line widths (Δν(1/2)) of (14)N and (17)O, may be interpreted with the hypothesis that the cationic form of amino acids is more hydrated by 1 to 3 molecules of water than the zwitterionic form. Similar behaviour was also observed for N-acetylated derivatives of amino acids. An exhaustive search in crystal structure databases demonstrates the importance of six-membered hydrogen-bonded conjugated rings of both oxygens of the α-carboxylate group with a molecule of water in the vicinity. This type of hydrogen bond mode is absent in the case of the carboxylic groups. Moreover, a considerable number of structures was identified with the propensity to form intramolecular hydrogen bond both in the carboxylic acid (NH⋯O=C) and in the carboxylate (NH ⋯ O(-)) ionization state. In the presence of bound molecules of water this interaction is significantly reduced in the case of the carboxylate group whereas it is statistically negligible in the carboxylic group.

pH dependence of the electronic structure of glycine

The carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen K-edge spectra were measured for aqueous solutions of glycine by total electron yield near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (TEY NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The bulk solution pH was systematically varied while maintaining a constant amino acid concentration. Spectra were assigned through comparisons with both previous studies and ab initio computed spectra of isolated glycine molecules and hydrated glycine clusters. Nitrogen K-edge solution spectra recorded at low and moderate pH are nearly identical to those of solid glycine, whereas basic solution spectra strongly resemble those of the gas phase. The carbon 1s --> pi*(C=O) transition exhibits a 0.2 eV red shift at high pH due to the deprotonation of the amine terminus. This deprotonation also effects a 1.4 eV red shift in the nitrogen K-edge at high pH. Two sharp preedge features at 401.3 and 402.5 eV are also observed at high pH. These resonances, previously observed in the vapor-phase ISEELS spectrum of glycine, have been reassigned as transitions to sigma* bound states. The observation of these peaks indicates that the amine moiety is in an acceptor-only hydrogen bond configuration at high pH. At low pH, the oxygen 1s --> pi*(C=O) transition exhibits a 0.25-eV red shift due to the protonation of the carboxylic acid terminus. These spectral differences indicate that the variations in electronic structure observed in the NEXAFS spectra are determined by the internal charge state and hydration environment of the molecule in solution.

14N NMR and Two-Dimensional Suspension1H and13C HRMAS NMR Spectroscopy of Ionic Liquids Immobilized on Silica

A variety of popular ionic liquids have been synthesized and characterized, including by optimized (14)N NMR spectroscopy of the neat and dissolved ionic liquids. Ionic liquids incorporating Si(OEt)(3) groups have been immobilized on silica in a well-defined manner with the imidazolium moiety remaining intact. This has been proved by optimized one- and two-dimensional (1)H and (13)C HRMAS NMR spectroscopy of the materials suspended in suitable solvents.

Local Hydration Environments of Amino Acids and Dipeptides Studied by X-ray Spectroscopy of Liquid Microjets

The nitrogen K-edge spectra of aqueous proline and diglycine solutions have been measured by total electron yield near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy at neutral and high pH. All observed spectral features have been assigned by comparison to the recently reported spectrum of aqueous glycine and calculated spectra of isolated amino acids and hydrated amino acid clusters. The sharp preedge resonances at 401.3 and 402.6 eV observed in the spectrum of anionic glycine indicate that the nitrogen terminus is in an "acceptor-only" configuration, wherein neither amine proton is involved in hydrogen bonding to the solvent, at high pH. The analogous 1s --> sigma(NH) preedge transitions are absent in the NEXAFS spectrum of anionic proline, implying that the acceptor-only conformation observed in anionic glycine arises from steric shielding induced by free rotation of the amine terminus about the glycine CN bond. Anionic diglycine solutions exhibit a broadened 1s --> pi(CN) resonance at 401.2 eV and a broad shoulder resonance at 403 eV, also suggesting the presence of an acceptor-only species. Although this assignment is not as unambiguous as for glycine, it implies that the nitrogen terminus of most proteins is capable of existing in an acceptor-only conformation at high pH. The NEXAFS spectrum of zwitterionic lysine solution was also measured, exhibiting features similar to those of both anionic and zwitterionic glycine, and leading us to conclude that the alpha amine group is present in an acceptor-only configuration, while the end of the butylammonium side chain is fully solvated.

The polyproline II conformation in short alanine peptides is noncooperative

The finding that short alanine peptides possess a high fraction of polyproline II (PII) structure (Phi=-75 degrees, Psi=+145 degrees ) at low temperature has broad implications for unfolded states of proteins. An important question concerns whether or not this structure is locally determined or cooperative. We have monitored the conformation of alanine in a series of model peptides AcGGAnGGNH2 (n=1-3) over a temperature range from -10 degrees C to +80 degrees C. Use of 15N-labeled alanine substitutions makes it possible to measure 3JalphaN coupling constants accurately over the full temperature range. Based on a 1D next-neighbor model, the cooperative parameter sigma of PII nucleation is evaluated from the coupling constant data. The finding that sigma is close to unity (1 +/- 0.2) indicates a noncooperative role for alanine in PII structure formation, consistent with statistical surveys of the Protein Data Bank that suggest that most PII structure occurs in isolated residues. Lack of cooperativity in these models implies that hydration effects that influence PII conformation in water are highly localized. Using a nuclear Overhauser effect ratio strategy to define the alanine Psi angle, we estimate that, at 40 degrees C, the time-averaged alanine conformation (Phi=-80 degrees, Psi=+170 degrees ) deviates from canonical PII structure, indicating that PII melts at high temperature. Thus, the high-temperature state of short alanine peptides seems to be an unfolded ensemble with higher distribution in the extended beta structure basin, but not a coil.