Heme/non-heme diiron(II) complexes and O2, CO, and NO adducts as reduced and substrate-bound models for the active site of bacterial nitric oxide reductase

Bacterial nitric oxide reductase (NorBC) models employing click chemistry

Bacterial NO Reductase (NorBC or cNOR) is a membrane-bound enzyme found in denitrifying bacteria that catalyzes the two-electron reduction of NO to N₂O and water. The mechanism by which NorBC operates is highly debated, due to the fact that this enzyme is difficult to work with, and no intermediates of the NO reduction reaction could have been identified so far. The unique active site of NorBC consists of a heme b₃/non-heme Fe_B diiron center. Synthetic model complexes provide the opportunity to obtain insight into possible mechanistic alternatives for this enzyme. In this paper, we present three new synthetic model systems for NorBC, consisting of a tetraphenylporphyrin-derivative clicked to modified BMPA-based ligands (BMPA = bis(methylpyridyl)amine) that model the non-heme site in the enzyme. These complexes have been characterized by EPR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The reactivity with NO was then investigated, and it was found that the complex with the BMPA-carboxylate ligand as the non-heme component has a very low affinity for NO at the non-heme iron site. If the carboxylate functional group is replaced with a phenolate or pyridine group, reactivity is restored and formation of a diiron dinitrosyl complex was observed. Upon one-electron reduction of the nitrosylated complexes, following the semireduced pathway for NO reduction, formation of dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) was observed in all three cases, but no N₂O could be detected.

The Biologically Relevant Coordination Chemistry of Iron and Nitric Oxide: Electronic Structure and Reactivity

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule that is involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological events in biology. Metal coordination chemistry, especially with iron, is at the heart of many biological transformations involving NO. A series of heme proteins, nitric oxide synthases (NOS), soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), and nitrophorins, are responsible for the biosynthesis, sensing, and transport of NO. Alternatively, NO can be generated from nitrite by heme- and copper-containing nitrite reductases (NIRs). The NO-bearing small molecules such as nitrosothiols and dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) can serve as an alternative vehicle for NO storage and transport. Once NO is formed, the rich reaction chemistry of NO leads to a wide variety of biological activities including reduction of NO by heme or non-heme iron-containing NO reductases and protein post-translational modifications by DNICs. Much of our understanding of the reactivity of metal sites in biology with NO and the mechanisms of these transformations has come from the elucidation of the geometric and electronic structures and chemical reactivity of synthetic model systems, in synergy with biochemical and biophysical studies on the relevant proteins themselves. This review focuses on recent advancements from studies on proteins and model complexes that not only have improved our understanding of the biological roles of NO but also have provided foundations for biomedical research and for bio-inspired catalyst design in energy science.

Molecular understanding of heteronuclear active sites in heme-copper oxidases, nitric oxide reductases, and sulfite reductases through biomimetic modelling

Heme-copper oxidases (HCO), nitric oxide reductases (NOR), and sulfite reductases (SiR) catalyze the multi-electron and multi-proton reductions of O2, NO, and SO32-, respectively. Each of these reactions is important to drive cellular energy production through respiratory metabolism and HCO, NOR, and SiR evolved to contain heteronuclear active sites containing heme/copper, heme/nonheme iron, and heme-[4Fe-4S] centers, respectively. The complexity of the structures and reactions of these native enzymes, along with their large sizes and/or membrane associations, make it challenging to fully understand the crucial structural features responsible for the catalytic properties of these active sites. In this review, we summarize progress that has been made to better understand these heteronuclear metalloenzymes at the molecular level though study of the native enzymes along with insights gained from biomimetic models comprising either small molecules or proteins. Further understanding the reaction selectivity of these enzymes is discussed through comparisons of their similar heteronuclear active sites, and we offer outlook for further investigations.

Heme-FeIII Superoxide, Peroxide and Hydroperoxide Thermodynamic Relationships: FeIII-O2•- Complex H-Atom Abstraction Reactivity

Establishing redox and thermodynamic relationships between metal-ion-bound O₂ and its reduced (and protonated) derivatives is critically important for a full understanding of (bio)chemical processes involving dioxygen processing. Here, a ferric heme peroxide complex, [(F₈)Fe^III-(O₂^2-)]^- (P) (F₈ = tetrakis(2,6-difluorophenyl)porphyrinate), and a superoxide complex, [(F₈)Fe^III-(O₂^•-)] (S), are shown to be redox interconvertible. Using Cr(η-C₆H₆)₂, an equilibrium state where S and P are present is established in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at -80 °C, allowing determination of the reduction potential of S as -1.17 V vs Fc^+/0. P could be protonated with 2,6-lutidinium triflate, yielding the low-spin ferric hydroperoxide species, [(F₈)Fe^III-(OOH)] (HP). Partial conversion of HP back to P using a derivatized phosphazene base gave a P/HP equilibrium mixture, leading to the determination of pK_a = 28.8 for HP (THF, -80 °C). With the measured reduction potential and pK_a, the O-H bond dissociation free energy (BDFE) of hydroperoxide species HP was calculated to be 73.5 kcal/mol, employing the thermodynamic square scheme and Bordwell relationship. This calculated O-H BDFE of HP, in fact, lines up with an experimental demonstration of the oxidizing ability of S via hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from TEMPO-H (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperdine-N-hydroxide, BDFE = 66.5 kcal/mol in THF), forming the hydroperoxide species HP and TEMPO radical. Kinetic studies carried out with TEMPO-H(D) reveal second-order behavior, k_H = 0.5, k_D = 0.08 M^-1 s^-1 (THF, -80 °C); thus, the hydrogen/deuterium kinetic isotope effect (KIE) = 6, consistent with H-atom abstraction by S being the rate-determining step. This appears to be the first case where experimentally derived thermodynamics lead to a ferric heme hydroperoxide OO-H BDFE determination, that Fe^III-OOH species being formed via HAT reactivity of the partner ferric heme superoxide complex.

Heme-Cu Binucleating Ligand Supports Heme/O2 and FeII-CuI/O2 Reactivity Providing High- and Low-Spin FeIII-Peroxo-CuII Complexes

The focus of this study is in the description of synthetic heme/copper/O₂ chemistry employing a heme-containing binucleating ligand which provides a tridentate chelate for copper ion binding. The addition of O₂ (-80 °C, tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent) to the reduced heme compound (P^ImH)Fe^II (1), gives the oxy-heme adduct, formally a heme-superoxide complex Fe^III-(O₂^•-) (2) (resonance Raman spectroscopy (rR): ν_O-O, 1171 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -61 cm^-1); ν_Fe-O, 575 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -24 cm^-1)). Simple warming of 2 to room temperature regenerates reduced complex 1; this reaction is reversible, as followed by UV-vis spectroscopy. Complex 2 is electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-silent and exhibits upfield-shifted pyrrole resonances (δ 9.12 ppm) in ²H NMR spectroscopy, indicative of a six-coordinate low-spin heme. The coordination of the tethered imidazolyl arm to the heme-superoxide complex as an axial base ligand is suggested. We also report the new fully reduced heme-copper complex [(P^ImH)Fe^IICu^I]⁺ (3), where the copper ion is bound to the tethered tridentate portion of P^ImH. This reacts with O₂ to give a distinctive low-temperature-stable, high-spin (S = 2, overall) peroxo-bridged complex [(P^ImH)Fe^III-(O₂^2-)-Cu^II]⁺ (3a): λ_max, 420 (Soret), 545, 565 nm; δ_pyrr, 93 ppm; ν_O-O, 799 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -48 cm^-1); ν_Fe-O, 524 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -23 cm^-1). To 3a, the addition of dicyclohexylimidazole (DCHIm), which serves as a heme axial base, leads to low-spin (S = 0 overall) species complex [(DCHIm)(P^ImH)Fe^III-(O₂^2-)-Cu^II]⁺ (3b): λ_max, 425 (Soret), 538 nm; δ_pyrr, 10.2 ppm; ν_O-O, 817 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -55 cm^-1); ν_Fe-O, 610 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -26 cm^-1). These investigations into the characterization of the O₂-adducts from (P^ImH)Fe^II (1) with/without additional copper chelation advance our understanding of the dioxygen reactivity of heme-only and heme/Cu-ligand heterobinuclear system, thus potentially relevant to O₂ reduction in heme-copper oxidases or fuel-cell chemistry.

Reduction of N2O by H2 Catalyzed by Keggin-Type Phosphotungstic Acid Supported Single-Atom Catalysts: An Insight from Density Functional Theory Calculations

In the present paper, the mechanisms of N₂O reduction by H₂ were systemically examined over various polyoxometalate-supported single-atom catalysts (SACs) M₁/PTA (M = Fe, Co, Mn, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir, and Pt; PTA = [PW₁₂O₄₀]^3-) by means of density functional theory calculations. Among these M₁/PTA SACs, Os₁/PTA SAC possesses high activity for N₂O reduction by H₂ with a relatively low rate-determining barrier. The favorable catalytic pathway involves the first and second N₂O decomposition over the Os₁/PTA SAC and hydrogenation of the key species after the second N₂O decomposition. Molecular geometry and electronic structure analyses along the favorable reaction pathway indicate that a strong charge-transfer cooperative effect of metal and support effectively improves the catalytic activity of Os₁/PTA SAC. The isolated Os atom not only plays the role of adsorption and activation of the N₂O molecule but also works as an electron transfer medium in the whole reaction process. Meanwhile, the PTA support with very high redox stability has also been proven to be capable of transporting the electron to promote the whole reaction. We expect that our computation results can provide ideas for designing new SACs for N₂O reduction by using H₂ selective catalytic reduction technology.

Synthetic Fe/Cu Complexes: Toward Understanding Heme-Copper Oxidase Structure and Function

Heme-copper oxidases (HCOs) are terminal enzymes on the mitochondrial or bacterial respiratory electron transport chain, which utilize a unique heterobinuclear active site to catalyze the 4H+/4e- reduction of dioxygen to water. This process involves a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) from a tyrosine (phenolic) residue and additional redox events coupled to transmembrane proton pumping and ATP synthesis. Given that HCOs are large, complex, membrane-bound enzymes, bioinspired synthetic model chemistry is a promising approach to better understand heme-Cu-mediated dioxygen reduction, including the details of proton and electron movements. This review encompasses important aspects of heme-O2 and copper-O2 (bio)chemistries as they relate to the design and interpretation of small molecule model systems and provides perspectives from fundamental coordination chemistry, which can be applied to the understanding of HCO activity. We focus on recent advancements from studies of heme-Cu models, evaluating experimental and computational results, which highlight important fundamental structure-function relationships. Finally, we provide an outlook for future potential contributions from synthetic inorganic chemistry and discuss their implications with relevance to biological O2-reduction.

The Antimicrobial Activity of a Carbon Monoxide Releasing Molecule (EBOR-CORM-1) Is Shaped by Intraspecific Variation within Pseudomonas aeruginosa Populations

Carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) have been suggested as a new synthetic class of antimicrobials to treat bacterial infections. Here we utilized a novel EBOR-CORM-1 ([NEt4][MnBr2(CO)4]) capable of water-triggered CO-release, and tested its efficacy against a collection of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains that differ in infection-related virulence traits. We found that while EBOR-CORM-1 was effective in clearing planktonic and biofilm cells of P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 in a concentration dependent manner, this effect was less clear and varied considerably between different P. aeruginosa cystic fibrosis (CF) lung isolates. While a reduction in cell growth was observed after 8 h of CORM application, either no effect or even a slight increase in cell densities and the amount of biofilm was observed after 24 h. This variation could be partly explained by differences in bacterial virulence traits: while CF isolates showed attenuated in vivo virulence and growth compared to strain PAO1, they formed much more biofilm, which could have potentially protected them from the CORM. Even though no clear therapeutic benefits against a subset of isolates was observed in an in vivo wax moth acute infection model, EBOR-CORM-1 was more efficient at reducing the growth of CF isolate co-culture populations harboring intraspecific variation, in comparison with efficacy against more uniform single isolate culture populations. Together these results suggest that CORMs could be effective at controlling genetically diverse P. aeruginosa populations typical for natural chronic CF infections and that the potential benefits of some antibiotics might not be observed if tested only against clonal bacterial populations.

Nitric oxide coupling to generate N2O promoted by a single-heme system as examined by density functional theory

Bacteria utilize a heme/non-heme enzyme system to detoxify nitric oxide (NO) to N₂O. In order to probe the capacity of a single-heme system to mediate this NO-to-N₂O transformation, various scenarios for addition of electrons, protons, and a second NO molecule to a heme nitrosyl to generate N₂O were explored by density functional theory calculations. We describe, utilizing this single-heme system, several stepwise intermediates along pathways that enable the critical N-N bond formation step yielding the desired Fe-N₂O product. We also report a hitherto unreported directional second protonation that results in either productive N₂O formation with loss of water, or formation of a non-productive hyponitrous acid adduct Fe{HONNOH}.

Isocyanide or nitrosyl complexation to hemes with varying tethered axial base ligand donors: synthesis and characterization

A series of ferrous-heme 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide (DIMPI) and ferrous-heme mononitrosyl complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The heme portion of the complexes studied is varied with respect to the nature of the axial ligand, including complexes, where it is covalently tethered to the porphyrinate periphery. Reduced heme complexes, [(F8)Fe(II)], [(P(Py))Fe(II)], [(P(Im))Fe(II)], and [(P(ImH))Fe(II)], where F8 = tetrakis(2,6-difluorophenyl)-porphyrinate and P(Py), P(Im), and P(ImH) are partially fluorinated tetraaryl porphyrinates with covalently appended axial base pyridyl/imidazolyl or histamine moieties, were employed; P(ImH) is a new construct. Room temperature addition of DIMPI to these iron(II) complexes affords the bis-isocyanide species [(F8)Fe(II)-(DIMPI)2] in the case of [(F8)Fe(II)], while for the other hemes, mono-DIMPI compounds are obtained, [(P(Py))Fe(II)-(DIMPI)] [(2)-DIMPI], [(P(Im))Fe(II)-(DIMPI)] [(3)-DIMPI], and [(P(ImH))Fe(II)-(DIMPI)] [(4)-DIMPI]. The structures of complexes (3)-DIMPI and (4)-DIMPI have been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography, where interesting H…F(porphryinate aryl group) interactions are observed. (19)F-NMR spectra determined for these complexes suggest that H…F(porphyrinate aryl groups) attractions also occur in solution, the H atom coming either from the DIMPI methyl groups or from a porphyinate axial base imidazole or porphyrinate pyrrole. Similarly, we have used nitrogen monoxide to generate ferrous-nitrosyl complexes, a five-coordinate species for F8, [(F8)Fe(II)-(NO)], or low-spin six-coordinate compounds [(P(Py))Fe(II)-(NO)], [(P(Im))Fe(II)-(NO)], and [(P(ImH))Fe(II)-(NO)]. The DIMPI and mononitrosyl complexes have also been characterized using UV-Vis, IR, (1)H-NMR, and EPR spectroscopies.

Nitric oxide (NO) reactivity studies on mononuclear iron(ii) complexes supported by a tetradentate Schiff base ligand

Mononuclear iron(ii) complexes were synthesised and characterized from tetradentate ligands. The reactivity of NO afforded ligand nitrated iron(ii) complex along with the in situ formation of an unstable nitrosylated iron complex which was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy.

Recent advances in biosynthetic modeling of nitric oxide reductases and insights gained from nuclear resonance vibrational and other spectroscopic studies

This Forum Article focuses on recent advances in structural and spectroscopic studies of biosynthetic models of nitric oxide reductases (NORs). NORs are complex metalloenzymes found in the denitrification pathway of Earth’s nitrogen cycle where they catalyze the proton-dependent two-electron reduction of nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N₂O). While much progress has been made in biochemical and biophysical studies of native NORs and their variants, a clear mechanistic understanding of this important metalloenzyme related to its function is still elusive. We report herein UV–vis and nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) studies of mononitrosylated intermediates of the NOR reaction of a biosynthetic model. The ability to selectively substitute metals at either heme or nonheme metal sites allows the introduction of independent ⁵⁷Fe probe atoms at either site, as well as allowing the preparation of analogues of stable reaction intermediates by replacing either metal with a redox inactive metal. Together with previous structural and spectroscopic results, we summarize insights gained from studying these biosynthetic models toward understanding structural features responsible for the NOR activity and its mechanism. The outlook on NOR modeling is also discussed, with an emphasis on the design of models capable of catalytic turnovers designed based on close mimics of the secondary coordination sphere of native NORs.

New insights into nitric oxide reductases (NORs) are obtained. Using nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy, we probe both iron atoms in mononitrosylated intermediates of the NOR reaction in a biosynthetic protein model that reveal new insights into the structural and electronic features responsible for the NOR activity and its likely mechanism.

CO-releasing Metal Carbonyl Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents in the Post-antibiotic Era

The possibility of a “post-antibiotic era” in the 21st century, in which common infections may kill, has prompted research into radically new antimicrobials. CO-releasing molecules (CORMs), mostly metal carbonyl compounds, originally developed for therapeutic CO delivery in animals, are potent antimicrobial agents. Certain CORMs inhibit growth and respiration, reduce viability, and release CO to intracellular hemes, as predicted, but their actions are more complex, as revealed by transcriptomic datasets and modeling. Progress is hindered by difficulties in detecting CO release intracellularly, limited understanding of the biological chemistry of CO reactions with non-heme targets, and the cytotoxicity of some CORMs to mammalian cells.

Metal-porphyrin: a potential catalyst for direct decomposition of N(2)O by theoretical reaction mechanism investigation

The adsorption of nitrous oxide (N2O) on metal-porphyrins (metal: Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn) has been theoretically investigated using density functional theory with the M06L functional to explore their use as potential catalysts for the direct decomposition of N2O. Among these metal-porphyrins, Ti-porphyrin is the most active for N2O adsorption in the triplet ground state with the strongest adsorption energy (-13.32 kcal/mol). Ti-porphyrin was then assessed for the direct decomposition of N2O. For the overall reaction mechanism of three N2O molecules on Ti-porphyrin, two plausible catalytic cycles are proposed. Cycle 1 involves the consecutive decomposition of the first two N2O molecules, while cycle 2 is the decomposition of the third N2O molecule. For cycle 1, the activation energies of the first and second N2O decompositions are computed to be 3.77 and 49.99 kcal/mol, respectively. The activation energy for the third N2O decomposition in cycle 2 is 47.79 kcal/mol, which is slightly lower than that of the second activation energy of the first cycle. O2 molecules are released in cycles 1 and 2 as the products of the reaction, which requires endothermic energies of 102.96 and 3.63 kcal/mol, respectively. Therefore, the O2 desorption is mainly released in catalytic cycle 2 of a TiO3-porphyrin intermediate catalyst. In conclusion, regarding the O2 desorption step for the direct decomposition of N2O, the findings would be very useful to guide the search for potential N2O decomposition catalysts in new directions.

Spectroscopic and computational study of a nonheme iron nitrosyl center in a biosynthetic model of nitric oxide reductase

A major barrier to understanding the mechanism of nitric oxide reductases (NORs) is the lack of a selective probe of NO binding to the nonheme FeB center. By replacing the heme in a biosynthetic model of NORs, which structurally and functionally mimics NORs, with isostructural ZnPP, the electronic structure and functional properties of the FeB nitrosyl complex was probed. This approach allowed observation of the first S=3/2 nonheme {FeNO}(7) complex in a protein-based model system of NOR. Detailed spectroscopic and computational studies show that the electronic state of the {FeNO}(7) complex is best described as a high spin ferrous iron (S=2) antiferromagnetically coupled to an NO radical (S=1/2) [Fe(2+)-NO(.)]. The radical nature of the FeB -bound NO would facilitate N-N bond formation by radical coupling with the heme-bound NO. This finding, therefore, supports the proposed trans mechanism of NO reduction by NORs.

New heme-dioxygen and carbon monoxide adducts using pyridyl or imidazolyl tailed porphyrins

Inspired by the chemistry relevant to dioxygen storage, transport and activation by metalloproteins, in particular for heme/copper oxidases, and carbon monoxide binding to metal-containing active sites as a probe or surrogate for dioxygen binding, a series of heme derived dioxygen and CO complexes have been designed, synthesized, and characterized with respect to their physical properties and reactivity. The focus of this study is in the description and comparison of three types heme-superoxo and heme-CO adducts. The starting point is in the characterization of the reduced heme complexes, [(F₈)Fe^II], [(P^Py)Fe^II] and [(P^Im)Fe^II], where F₈, P^Py and P^Im are iron(II)-porphyrinates and where P^Py and P^Im possess a covalently tethered axial base pyridyl or imidazolyl group, respectively. The spin-state properties of these complexes vary with solvent. The low temperature reaction between O₂ and these reduced porphyrin Fe^II complex yield distinctive low spin heme-superoxo adducts. The dioxygen binding properties for all three complexes are shown to be reversible, via alternate argon or O₂ bubbling. Carbon monoxide binds to the reduced heme-Fe^II precursors to form low spin heme-CO adducts. The implications for future investigations of these heme O₂ and CO adducts are discussed.

Structural basis for nitrous oxide generation by bacterial nitric oxide reductases

The crystal structure of the bacterial nitric oxide reductase (cNOR) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is reported. Its overall structure is similar to those of the main subunit of aerobic and micro-aerobic cytochrome oxidases (COXs), in agreement with the hypothesis that all these enzymes are members of the haem-copper oxidase superfamily. However, substantial structural differences between cNOR and COX are observed in the catalytic centre and the delivery pathway of the catalytic protons, which should be reflected in functional differences between these respiratory enzymes. On the basis of the cNOR structure, we propose a possible reaction mechanism of nitric oxide reduction to nitrous oxide as a working hypothesis.

Molecular structure and function of bacterial nitric oxide reductase

The crystal structure of the membrane-integrated nitric oxide reductase cNOR from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined. The smaller NorC subunit of cNOR is comprised of 1 trans-membrane helix and a hydrophilic domain, where the heme c is located, while the larger NorB subunit consists of 12 trans-membrane helices, which contain heme b and the catalytically active binuclear center (heme b(3) and non-heme Fe(B)). The roles of the 5 well-conserved glutamates in NOR are discussed, based on the recently solved structure. Glu211 and Glu280 appear to play an important role in the catalytic reduction of NO at the binuclear center by functioning as a terminal proton donor, while Glu215 probably contributes to the electro-negative environment of the catalytic center. Glu135, a ligand for Ca(2+) sandwiched between two heme propionates from heme b and b(3), and the nearby Glu138 appears to function as a structural factor in maintaining a protein conformation that is suitable for electron-coupled proton transfer from the periplasmic region to the active site. On the basis of these observations, the possible molecular mechanism for the reduction of NO by cNOR is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Respiratory Oxidases.

Structural and electronic characterization of non-heme Fe(II)-nitrosyls as biomimetic models of the Fe(B) center of bacterial nitric oxide reductase

The detoxification of nitric oxide (NO) by bacterial NO reductase (NorBC) has gained much attention as this reaction provides a paradigm as to how NO can be detoxified anaerobically in cells. However, a clear mechanistic picture of how the heme/non-heme active site of NorBC activates NO is lacking, mostly as a result of insufficient knowledge about the properties of the non-heme iron(II)-NO adduct. Here we report the first biomimetic model complexes for this species that closely resemble the coordination environment found in the protein, using the ligands BMPA-Pr and TPA. The systematic investigation of these compounds allowed us to gain key insight into the electronic structure and geometric properties of high-spin non-heme iron(II)-NO adducts. In particular, we show how small changes in the ligand environment of iron could be used by NorBC to greatly modulate the properties, and hence, the reactivity of this species.

Bioinspired heme, heme/nonheme diiron, heme/copper, and inorganic NOx chemistry: *NO((g)) oxidation, peroxynitrite-metal chemistry, and *NO((g)) reductive coupling

The focus of this Forum Article highlights work from our own laboratories and those of others in the area of biochemical and biologically inspired inorganic chemistry dealing with nitric oxide [nitrogen monoxide, *NO((g))] and its biological roles and reactions. The latter focus is on (i) oxidation of *NO((g)) to nitrate by nitric oxide dioxygenases (NODs) and (ii) reductive coupling of two molecules of *NO((g)) to give N(2)O(g). In the former case, NODs are described, and the highlighting of possible peroxynitrite/heme intermediates and the consequences of this are given by a discussion of recent works with myoglobin and a synthetic heme model system for NOD action. Summaries of recent copper complex chemistries with *NO((g)) and O(2)(g), leading to peroxynitrite species, are given. The coverage of biological reductive coupling of *NO((g)) deals with bacterial nitric oxide reductases (NORs) with heme/nonheme diiron active sites and on heme/copper oxidases such as cytochrome c oxidase, which can mediate the same chemistry. Recently designed protein and synthetic model compounds (heme/nonheme/diiron or heme/copper) as functional mimics are discussed in some detail. We also highlight examples from the chemical literature, not necessarily involving biologically relevant metal ions, that describe the oxidation of *NO((g)) to nitrate (or nitrite) and possible peroxynitrite intermediates or reductive coupling of *NO((g)) to give nitrous oxide.

Toluene and ethylbenzene aliphatic C-H bond oxidations initiated by a dicopper(II)-mu-1,2-peroxo complex

With an anisole-containing polypyridylamine potential tetradentate ligand (O)L, a mu-1,2-peroxo-dicopper(II) complex [{(O)LCu(II)}(2)(O(2)(2-))](2+) forms from the reaction of the mononuclear compound [Cu(I)((O)L)(MeCN)]B(C(6)F(5))(4) ((O)LCu(I)) with O(2) in noncoordinating solvents at -80 degrees C. Thermal decay of this peroxo complex in the presence of toluene or ethylbenzene leads to rarely seen C-H activation chemistry; benzaldehyde and acetophenone/1-phenylethanol mixtures, respectively, are formed. Experiments with (18)O(2) confirm that the oxygen source in the products is molecular O(2) and deuterium labeling experiments indicate k(H)/k(D) = 7.5 +/- 1 for the toluene oxygenation. The O(2)-reaction of [Cu(I)((Bz)L)(CH(3)CN)](+) ((Bz)LCu(I)) leads to a dicopper(III)-bis-mu-oxo species [{(Bz)LCu(III)}(2)(mu-O(2-))(2)](2+) at -80 degrees C, and from such solutions, very similar toluene oxygenation chemistry occurs. Ligand (Bz)L is a tridentate chelate, possessing the same moiety found in (O)L, but without the anisole O-atom donor. In these contexts, the nature of the oxidant species in or derived from [{(O)LCu(II)}(2)(O(2)(2-))](2+) is discussed and likely mechanisms of reaction initiated by toluene H-atom abstraction chemistry are detailed. To confirm the structural formulations of the dioxygen-adducts, UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopic studies have been carried out and these results are reported and compared to previously described systems including [{Cu(II)((Py)L)}(2)(O(2))](2+) ((Py)L = TMPA = tris(2-methylpyridyl)amine). Using (L)Cu(I), CO-binding properties (i.e., nu(C-O) values) along with electrochemical property comparisons, the relative donor abilities of (O)L, (Bz)L, and (Py)L are assessed.

Reductive coupling of nitrogen monoxide (*NO) facilitated by heme/copper complexes

The interactions of nitrogen monoxide (*NO; nitric oxide) with transition metal centers continue to be of great interest, in part due to their importance in biochemical processes. Here, we describe *NO((g)) reductive coupling chemistry of possible relevance to that process (i.e., nitric oxide reductase (NOR) biochemistry), which occurs at the heme/Cu active site of cytochrome c oxidases (CcOs). In this report, heme/Cu/*NO((g)) activity is studied using 1:1 ratios of heme and copper complex components, (F(8))Fe (F(8) = tetrakis(2,6-difluorophenyl)porphyrinate(2-)) and [(tmpa)Cu(I)(MeCN)](+) (TMPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine). The starting point for heme chemistry is the mononitrosyl complex (F(8))Fe(NO) (lambda(max) = 399 (Soret), 541 nm in acetone). Variable-temperature (1)H and (2)H NMR spectra reveal a broad peak at delta = 6.05 ppm (pyrrole) at room temperature (RT), which gives rise to asymmetrically split pyrrole peaks at 9.12 and 8.54 ppm at -80 degrees C. A new heme dinitrosyl species, (F(8))Fe(NO)(2), obtained by bubbling (F(8))Fe(NO) with *NO((g)) at -80 degrees C, could be reversibly formed, as monitored by UV-vis (lambda(max) = 426 (Soret), 538 nm in acetone), EPR (silent), and NMR spectroscopies; that is, the mono-NO complex was regenerated upon warming to RT. (F(8))Fe(NO)(2) reacts with [(tmpa)Cu(I)(MeCN)](+) and 2 equiv of acid to give [(F(8))Fe(III)](+), [(tmpa)Cu(II)(solvent)](2+), and N(2)O((g)), fitting the stoichiometric *NO((g)) reductive coupling reaction: 2*NO((g)) + Fe(II) + Cu(I) + 2H(+) --> N(2)O((g)) + Fe(III) + Cu(II) + H(2)O, equivalent to one enzyme turnover. Control reaction chemistry shows that both iron and copper centers are required for the NOR-type chemistry observed and that, if acid is not present, half the *NO is trapped as a (F(8))Fe(NO) complex, while the remaining nitrogen monoxide undergoes copper complex promoted disproportionation chemistry. As part of this study, [(F(8))Fe(III)]SbF(6) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, along with EPR (77 K: g = 5.84 and 6.12 in CH(2)Cl(2) and THF, respectively) and variable-temperature NMR spectroscopies. These structural and physical properties suggest that at RT this complex consists of an admixture of high and intermediate spin states.

Roles of glutamates and metal ions in a rationally designed nitric oxide reductase based on myoglobin

A structural and functional model of bacterial nitric oxide reductase (NOR) has been designed by introducing two glutamates (Glu) and three histidines (His) in sperm whale myoglobin. X-ray structural data indicate that the three His and one Glu (V68E) residues bind iron, mimicking the putative Fe(B) site in NOR, while the second Glu (I107E) interacts with a water molecule and forms a hydrogen bonding network in the designed protein. Unlike the first Glu (V68E), which lowered the heme reduction potential by approximately 110 mV, the second Glu has little effect on the heme potential, suggesting that the negatively charged Glu has a different role in redox tuning. More importantly, introducing the second Glu resulted in a approximately 100% increase in NOR activity, suggesting the importance of a hydrogen bonding network in facilitating proton delivery during NOR reactivity. In addition, EPR and X-ray structural studies indicate that the designed protein binds iron, copper, or zinc in the Fe(B) site, each with different effects on the structures and NOR activities, suggesting that both redox activity and an intermediate five-coordinate heme-NO species are important for high NOR activity. The designed protein offers an excellent model for NOR and demonstrates the power of using designed proteins as a simpler and more well-defined system to address important chemical and biological issues.

Heme-copper-dioxygen complexes: toward understanding ligand-environmental effects on the coordination geometry, electronic structure, and reactivity

The nature of the ligand is an important aspect of controlling the structure and reactivity in coordination chemistry. In connection with our study of heme-copper-oxygen reactivity relevant to cytochrome c oxidase dioxygen-reduction chemistry, we compare the molecular and electronic structures of two high-spin heme-peroxo-copper [Fe(III)O(2)(2-)Cu(II)](+) complexes containing N(4) tetradentate (1) or N(3) tridentate (2) copper ligands. Combining previously reported and new resonance Raman and EXAFS data coupled to density functional theory calculations, we report a geometric structure and more complete electronic description of the high-spin heme-peroxo-copper complexes 1 and 2, which establish mu-(O(2)(2-)) side-on to the Fe(III) and end-on to Cu(II) (mu-eta(2):eta(1)) binding for the complex 1 but side-on/side-on (mu-eta(2):eta(2)) mu-peroxo coordination for the complex 2. We also compare and summarize the differences and similarities of these two complexes in their reactivity toward CO, PPh(3), acid, and phenols. The comparison of a new X-ray structure of mu-oxo complex 2a with the previously reported 1a X-ray structure, two thermal decomposition products respectively of 2 and 1, reveals a considerable difference in the Fe-O-Cu angle between the two mu-oxo complexes ( angleFe-O-Cu = 178.2 degrees in 1a and angleFe-O-Cu = 149.5 degrees in 2a). The reaction of 2 with 1 equiv of an exogenous nitrogen-donor axial base leads to the formation of a distinctive low-temperature-stable, low-spin heme-dioxygen-copper complex (2b), but under the same conditions, the addition of an axial base to 1 leads to the dissociation of the heme-peroxo-copper assembly and the release of O(2). 2b reacts with phenols performing H-atom (e(-) + H(+)) abstraction resulting in O-O bond cleavage and the formation of high-valent ferryl [Fe(IV)=O] complex (2c). The nature of 2c was confirmed by a comparison of its spectroscopic features and reactivity with those of an independently prepared ferryl complex. The phenoxyl radical generated by the H-atom abstraction was either (1) directly detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy using phenols that produce stable radicals or (2) indirectly detected by the coupling product of two phenoxyl radicals.

Inhibition of electrocatalytic O(2) reduction of functional CcO models by competitive, non-competitive, and mixed inhibitors

Electrocatalytic reduction of O(2) by functional cytochrome C Oxidase (CcO) models is studied in the presence of several known inhibitors like CO, N(3)(-), CN(-), and NO(2)(-). These models successfully reproduce the inhibitions observed in CcO at similar concentrations reported for these inhibitors. Importantly, the data show very different electrochemical responses depending on the nature of the inhibitor, that is, competitive, non-competitive and mixed. Chemical models have been provided for these observed differences in the electrochemical behavior. Using the benchmark electrochemical behaviors for known inhibitors, the inhibition by NO(2)(-) is investigated. Electrochemical data suggests that NO(2)(-) acts as a competitive inhibitor at high concentrations. Spectroscopic data suggests that NO released during oxidation of the reduced catalyst in presence of excess NO(2)(-) is the source of the competitive inhibition by NO(2)(-). Presence of the distal Cu(B) lowers the inhibitory effect of CN(-) and NO(2)(-). While for CN(-) it weakens its binding affinity to the reduced complex by approximately 4.5 times, for NO(2)(-), it allows regeneration of the active catalyst from a catalytically inactive, air stable ferrous nitrosyl complex via a proposed superoxide mediated pathway.

Iron-porphyrin NO complexes with covalently attached N-donor ligands: formation of a stable six-coordinate species in solution

A series of substituted tetraphenylporphyrin type macrocycles (TMP or To-F(2)PP) with covalently attached N-donor ligands (pyridine or imidazole linker) have been synthesized. Linkers with varying chain lengths and designs have been applied to systematically investigate the effect of chain length and rigidity on the binding affinity of the linker to the corresponding Fe(II)-NO heme complexes. The binding of the linker is monitored in solution using a variety of spectroscopic methods including UV-vis absorption, EPR, and IR spectroscopy. Both the N-O stretching frequency and the imidazole (14)N hyperfine coupling constants show a good correlation with the Fe-(N-donor) bond strength in these systems. The complexes with covalently attached pyridyl and alkyl imidazole ligands only exhibit weak interactions of the linker with iron(II). However, the stable six-coordinate complex [Fe(To-F(2)PP-BzIM)(NO)] (4) is obtained when a rigid benzyl linker is applied. This complex exhibits typical properties of six-coordinate ferrous heme-nitrosyls in which an N-donor ligand is bound trans to NO, including the Soret band at 427 nm and the typical nine line (14)N hyperfine splitting in the EPR spectrum. A crystal structure has been obtained for the corresponding zinc complex. Here, we report the first systematic study on the requirements for the formation of stable six-coordinate ferrous heme nitrosyl complexes in solution at room temperature in the absence of excess axial N-donor ligand.

Rational design of a structural and functional nitric oxide reductase

Protein design provides an ultimate test of our knowledge about proteins and allows the creation of novel enzymes for biotechnological applications. While progress has been made in designing proteins that mimic native proteins structurally^1–3, it is more difficult to design functional proteins^4–8. In comparison to recent successes in designing non-metalloproteins^4,6,7,9,10, it is even more challenging to rationally design metalloproteins that reproduce both the structure and function of native metalloenzymes^5,8,11–20, since protein metal binding sites are much more varied than non-metal containing sites, in terms of different metal ion oxidation states, preferred geometry and metal ion ligand donor sets. Because of their variability, it has been difficult to predict metal binding site properties in silico, as many of the parameters for metal binding sites, such as force fields are ill-defined. Therefore, the successful design of a structural and functional metalloprotein will greatly advance the field of protein design and our understanding of enzymes. Here, we report a successful, rational design of a structural and functional model of a metalloprotein, nitric oxide reductase (NOR), by introducing three histidines and one glutamate, predicted as ligands in the active site of NOR, into the distal pocket of myoglobin. A crystal structure of the designed protein confirms that the minimized computer model contains a heme/non-heme Fe_B center that is remarkably similar to that in the crystal structure. This designed protein also exhibits NOR activity. This is the first designed protein that models both the structure and function of NOR, offering insight that the active site glutamate is required for both iron binding and activity. These results show that structural and functional metalloproteins can be rationally designed in silico.

A functional nitric oxide reductase model

A functional heme/nonheme nitric oxide reductase (NOR) model is presented. The fully reduced diiron compound reacts with two equivalents of NO leading to the formation of one equivalent of N(2)O and the bis-ferric product. NO binds to both heme Fe and nonheme Fe complexes forming individual ferrous nitrosyl species. The mixed-valence species with an oxidized heme and a reduced nonheme Fe(B) does not show NO reduction activity. These results are consistent with a so-called "trans" mechanism for the reduction of NO by bacterial NOR.

Biofunctional nanocomposite of carbon nanofiber with water-soluble porphyrin for highly sensitive ethanol biosensing

A biofunctional hybrid nanocomposite of carbon nanofiber (CNF) with water-soluble iron(III) meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinum-4-yl) porphyrin (FeTMPyP) was designed via non-covalent interaction for preparation of highly sensitive ethanol biosensor. The prepared nanocomposite showed good dispersion in water and was characterized with steady-state electronic absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. The nanocomposite combined the good conductivity of CNF and the excellent catalytic activity of both CNF and FeTMPyP toward the reduction of dissolved oxygen, producing a method for amperometric detection of oxygen ranging from 6.5 nM to 6.4 microM at a low overpotential. The nanocomposite modified electrode was further used for assembly of alcohol oxidase to construct an amperometric biosensor for ethanol. The biosensor showed rapid and highly sensitive response to ethanol with a linear range from 2.0 microM to 112 microM. The immobilized alcohol oxidase also showed its direct electrochemistry. The biofunctional nanocomposite provides a new way to not only construct the highly sensitive biosensors but also mimic the catalytic activity of enzyme in the life process.