Reactions of Nitrogen Oxides with the Five-Coordinate FeIII(porphyrin) Nitrito Intermediate Fe(Por)(ONO) in Sublimed Solids

Reversible thermally induced spin crossover in the myoglobin-nitrito adduct directly monitored by resonance Raman spectroscopy

Myoglobin has been demonstrated to function as a nitrite reductase to produce nitric oxide during hypoxia. One of the most intriguing aspects of the myoglobin/nitrite interactions revealed so far is the unusual O-binding mode of nitrite to the ferric heme iron, although conflicting data have been reported for the electronic structure of this complex also raising the possibility of linkage isomerism. In this work, we applied resonance Raman spectroscopy in a temperature-dependent approach to investigate the binding of nitrite to ferric myoglobin and the properties of the formed adduct from ambient to low temperatures (293 K to 153 K). At ambient temperature the high spin state of the ferric heme Fe-O-N[double bond, length as m-dash]O species is present and upon decreasing the temperature the low spin state is populated, demonstrating that a thermally-induced spin crossover phenomenon takes place analogous to what has been observed in many transition metal complexes. The observed spin crossover is fully reversible and is not due to linkage isomerism, since the O-binding mode is retained upon the spin transition. The role of the heme pocket environment in controlling the nitrite binding mode and spin transition is discussed.

Bio-inspired nitrogen oxide (NOx) interconversion reactivities of synthetic heme Compound-I and Compound-II intermediates

Dioxygen activating heme enzymes have long predicted to be powerhouses for nitrogen oxide interconversion, especially for nitric oxide (NO) oxidation which has far-reaching biological and/or environmental impacts. Lending credence, reactivity of NO with high-valent heme‑oxygen intermediates of globin proteins has recently been implicated in the regulation of a variety of pivotal physiological events such as modulating catalytic activities of various heme enzymes, enhancing antioxidant activity to inhibit oxidative damage, controlling inflammatory and infectious properties within the local heme environments, and NO scavenging. To reveal insights into such crucial biological processes, we have investigated low temperature NO reactivities of two classes of synthetic high-valent heme intermediates, Compound-II and Compound-I. In that, Compound-II rapidly reacts with NO yielding the six-coordinate (NO bound) heme ferric nitrite complex, which upon warming to room temperature converts into the five-coordinate heme ferric nitrite species. These ferric nitrite complexes mediate efficient substrate oxidation reactions liberating NO; i.e., shuttling NO₂^- back to NO. In contrast, Compound-I and NO proceed through an oxygen-atom transfer process generating the strong nitrating agent NO₂, along with the corresponding ferric nitrosyl species that converts to the naked heme ferric parent complex upon warmup. All reaction components have been fully characterized by UV-vis, ²H NMR and EPR spectroscopic methods, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and semi-quantitative determination of NO₂^- anions. The clean, efficient, potentially catalytic NO_x interconversions driven by high-valent heme species presented herein illustrate the strong prospects of a heme enzyme/O₂/NO_x dependent unexplored territory that is central to human physiology, pathology, and therapeutics.

Nitric Oxide Dioxygenation by O2 Adducts of Manganese Porphyrins

We describe here nitric oxide dioxygenation (NOD) by the dioxygen manganese porphyrin adducts Mn(Por)(η²-O₂) (Por^2- = the meso-tetra-phenyl or meso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrinato dianions, TPP^2- and TTP^2-). The Mn(Por)(η²-O₂) was assembled by adding O₂ to sublimed layers of Mn^II(Por). When NO was introduced and the temperature was slowly raised from 80 to 120 K, new IR bands with correlated intensities grew concomitant with depletion of the υ(O₂) band. Isotope labeling experiments with ¹⁸O₂, ¹⁵NO, and N¹⁸O combined with DFT calculations provide the basis for identifying the initial intermediates as the six-coordinate peroxynitrito complexes (ON)Mn(Por)(η¹-OONO). Further warming to room temperature led to formation of the nitrato complexes Mn(Por)(η¹-ONO₂), thereby demonstrating the ability of these metal centers to promote NOD. However, comparable quantities of the nitrito complexes Mn(Por)(η¹-ONO) are also formed. In contrast, when the analogous reactions were initiated with the weak σ-donor ligand tetrahydrofuran or dimethyl sulfide present in the layers, formation of Mn(Por)(η¹-ONO₂) is strongly favored (∼90%). The latter are formed via a 6-coordinate intermediate (L)Mn(Por)(η¹-ONO₂) (L = THF or DMS) that loses L upon warming. These reaction patterns are compared to those observed previously with analogous iron and cobalt porphyrin complexes.

Distinguishing Nitro vs Nitrito Coordination in Cytochrome c' Using Vibrational Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory

Nitrite coordination to heme cofactors is a key step in the anaerobic production of the signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO). An ambidentate ligand, nitrite has the potential to coordinate via the N- (nitro) or O- (nitrito) atoms in a manner that can direct its reactivity. Distinguishing nitro vs nitrito coordination, along with the influence of the surrounding protein, is therefore of particular interest. In this study, we probed Fe(III) heme-nitrite coordination in Alcaligenes xylosoxidans cytochrome c' (AXCP), an NO carrier that excludes anions in its native state but that readily binds nitrite (Kd ∼ 0.5 mM) following a distal Leu16 → Gly mutation to remove distal steric constraints. Room-temperature resonance Raman spectra (407 nm excitation) identify ν(Fe-NO2), δ(ONO), and νs(NO2) nitrite ligand vibrations in solution. Illumination with 351 nm UV light results in photoconversion to {FeNO}6 and {FeNO}7 states, enabling FTIR measurements to distinguish νs(NO2) and νas(NO2) vibrations from differential spectra. Density functional theory calculations highlight the connections between heme environment, nitrite coordination mode, and vibrational properties and confirm that nitrite binds to L16G AXCP exclusively through the N atom. Efforts to obtain the nitrite complex crystal structure were hampered by photochemistry in the X-ray beam. Although low dose crystal structures could be modeled with a mixed nitrite (nitro)/H2O distal population, their photosensitivity and partial occupancy underscores the value of the vibrational approach. Overall, this study sheds light on steric determinants of heme-nitrite binding and provides vibrational benchmarks for future studies of heme protein nitrite reactions.

Probing nitrite coordination in horseradish peroxidase by resonance Raman spectroscopy: Detection of two binding sites

Nitrite is a powerful oxidant that affects the activity of peroxidases towards various substrates and leads to heme macrocycle modifications in members of the peroxidase family, such as the horseradish peroxidase (HRP). We have applied resonance Raman spectroscopy to investigate the structural properties of the species formed in the reaction of NO₂^- with the ferric form of HRP. Our data demonstrate that the heme nitrovinyl group is partially formed at near neutral pH, without coordination of NO₂^- to the heme Fe. Nitrite coordinates to the heme Fe at acidic pH in the nitro binding mode, characterized by the detection of the ν(Fe-NO₂) at 563cm^-1, δ(FeNO₂) at 822cm^-1 and ν_sym(NO₂) at 1272cm^-1. The sensitivity of the vibrations of the heme Fe-nitro complex to H/D exchange indicates H-bonding interaction of the heme-bound ligand with the distal environment that determines the NO₂^- binding mode. A model describing the different modes of NO₂^- binding in HRP is presented.

Catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane by substituted metalloporphyrins: experimental and molecular simulation

The metalloporphyrins and metalloporphyrin intermediates with lower energy gap have stronger ability to activate the oxygen and cyclohexane respectively.

Six-coordinate nitrito and nitrato complexes of manganese porphyrin

Reaction of small increments of NO2 gas with sublimed amorphous layers of Mn(II)(TPP) (TPP = meso-tetra-phenylporphyrinato dianion) in a vacuum cryostat leads to formation of the 5-coordinate monodentate nitrato complex Mn(III)(TPP)(η(1)-ONO2) (II). This transformation proceeds through the two distinct steps with initial formation of the five coordinate O-nitrito complex Mn(III)(TPP)(η(1)-ONO) (I) as demonstrated by the electronic absorption spectra and by FTIR spectra using differently labeled nitrogen dioxide. A plausible mechanism for the second stage of reaction is offered based on the spectral changes observed upon subsequent interaction of (15)NO2 and NO2 with the layered Mn(TPP). Low-temperature interaction of I and II with the vapors of various ligands L (L = O-, S-, and N-donors) leads to formation of the 6-coordinate O-nitrito Mn(III)(TPP)(L)(η(1)-ONO) and monodentate nitrato Mn(III)(TPP)(L)(η(1)-ONO2) complexes, respectively. Formation of the 6-coordinate O-nitrito complex is accompanied by the shifts of the ν(N═O) band to lower frequency and of the ν(N-O) band to higher frequency. The frequency difference between these bands Δν = ν(N═O) - ν(N-O) is a function of L and is smaller for the stronger bases. Reaction of excess NH3 with I leads to formation of Mn(TPP)(NH3)(η(1)-ONO) and of the cation [Mn(TPP)(NH3)2](+) plus ionic nitrite. The nitrito complexes are relatively unstable, but several of the nitrato species can be observed in the solid state at room temperature. For example, the tetrahydrofuran complex Mn(TPP)(THF)(η(1)-ONO2) is stable in the presence of THF vapors (∼5 mm), but it loses this ligand upon high vacuum pumping at RT. When L = dimethylsulfide (DMS), the nitrato complex is stable only to ∼-30 °C. Reactions of II with the N-donor ligands NH3, pyridine, or 1-methylimidazole are more complex. With these ligands, the nitrato complexes Mn(III)(TPP)(L)(η(1)-ONO2) and the cationic complexes [Mn(TPP)(L)2](+) coexist in the layer at room temperature, the latter formed as a result of NO3(-) displacement when L is in excess.

Polarized continuum model study of bond dissociation energies of the O–NO2 bond — A density functional theory study and natural bond order analysis

Density functional methods (B3LYP, B3PW91, B3P86, and MPWB95) with 6–31G** basis sets and complete basis methods are employed to investigate the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of the O–NO2 bond for seven O-nitroalcohol compounds in acetonitrile solution. B3LYP/6–31+G**, (RO)B3LYP/6–311++G(2df,2p), and B3LYP/6–311G(d,p) methods are also used. By comparing the calculated results with the experimental values, B3LYP/6–31+G** is the most accurate method to compute the reliable BDEs for the studied compounds. The substituent effects on the O–NO2 BDEs are analyzed. It is found that electron-withdrawing groups increase the BDE of the parent compound, whereas electron-donating groups decrease the BDE of the parent compound. Further, the natural bond orbital analysis shows that there exist good linear correlations between E(2) and Hammett constants, the BDE, and the difference of the second-order stabilization energies E(2) of lpO3 → BD*(O1–N1) and lpO3 → BD*(O2–N1).

Linkage isomerization in heme-NOx compounds: understanding NO, nitrite, and hyponitrite interactions with iron porphyrins

Nitric oxide (NO) and its derivatives such as nitrite and hyponitrite are biologically important species of relevance to human health. Much of their physiological relevance stems from their interactions with the iron centers in heme proteins. The chemical reactivities displayed by the heme-NOx species (NOx = NO, nitrite, hyponitrite) are a function of the binding modes of the NOx ligands. Hence, an understanding of the types of binding modes extant in heme-NOx compounds is important if we are to unravel the inherent chemical properties of these NOx metabolites. In this Forum Article, the experimentally characterized linkage isomers of heme-NOx models and proteins are presented and reviewed. Nitrosyl linkage isomers of synthetic iron and ruthenium porphyrins have been generated by photolysis at low temperatures and characterized by spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. Nitrite linkage isomers in synthetic metalloporphyrin derivatives have been generated from photolysis experiments and in low-temperature matrices. In the case of nitrite adducts of heme proteins, both N and O binding have been determined crystallographically, and the role of the distal H-bonding residue in myoglobin in directing the O-binding mode of nitrite has been explored using mutagenesis. To date, only one synthetic metalloporphyrin complex containing a hyponitrite ligand (displaying an O-binding mode) has been characterized by crystallography. This is contrasted with other hyponitrite binding modes experimentally determined for coordination compounds and computationally for NO reductase enzymes. Although linkage isomerism in heme-NOx derivatives is still in its infancy, opportunities now exist for a detailed exploration of the existence and stabilities of the metastable states in both heme models and heme proteins.

The distal pocket histidine residue in horse heart myoglobin directs the O-binding mode of nitrite to the heme iron

It is now well-established that mammalian heme proteins are reactive with various nitrogen oxide species and that these reactions may play significant roles in mammalian physiology. For example, the ferrous heme protein myoglobin (Mb) has been shown to reduce nitrite (NO(2)(-)) to nitric oxide (NO) under hypoxic conditions. We demonstrate here that the distal pocket histidine residue (His64) of horse heart metMb(III) (i.e., ferric Mb(III)) has marked effects on the mode of nitrite ion coordination to the iron center. X-ray crystal structures were determined for the mutant proteins metMb(III) H64V (2.0 A resolution) and its nitrite ion adduct metMb(III) H64V-nitrite (1.95 A resolution), and metMb(III) H64V/V67R (1.9 A resolution) and its nitrite ion adduct metMb(III) H64V/V67R-nitrite (2.0 A resolution). These are compared to the known structures of wild-type (wt) hh metMb(III) and its nitrite ion adduct hh metMb(III)-nitrite, which binds NO(2)(-) via an O-atom in a trans-FeONO configuration. Unlike wt metMb(III), no axial H(2)O is evident in either of the metMb(III) mutant structures. In the ferric H64V-nitrite structure, replacement of the distal His residue with Val alters the binding mode of nitrite from the nitrito (O-binding) form in the wild-type protein to a weakly bound nitro (N-binding) form. Reintroducing a H-bonding residue in the H64V/V67R double mutant restores the O-binding mode of nitrite. We have also examined the effects of these mutations on reactivities of the metMb(III)s with cysteine as a reducing agent and of the (ferrous) Mb(II)s with nitrite ion under anaerobic conditions. The Mb(II)s were generated by reduction of the Mb(III) precursors in a second-order reaction with cysteine, the rate constants for this step following the order H64V/V67R > H64V >> wt. The rate constants for the oxidation of the Mb(II)s by nitrite (giving NO as the other product) follow the order wt > H64V/V67R >> H64V and suggest a significant role of the distal pocket H-bonding residue in nitrite reduction.

Isoform-specific differences in the nitrite reductase activity of nitric oxide synthases under hypoxia

Nitrite (NO(2)(-)) recycling to nitric oxide (NO) is catalysed by a number of enzymes and induces a protective vasodilation effect under hypoxia/ischaemia. In the present work, we tested the in vitro ability of the three NOS (nitric oxide synthase) isoforms to release NO from nitrite under anoxia using electrochemical detection, chemiluminescence and absorption spectroscopy. The release of free NO from anoxic nitrite solutions at 15 muM was specific to the endothelial NOS isoform (eNOS) and did not occur with the neuronal (nNOS) or inducible (iNOS) isoforms. Unlike xanthine oxidase, the eNOS reductase domain did not recycle nitrite to NO, and wild-type eNOS did not reduce nitrate. Our data suggest that structural and, by inference, dynamic differences between nNOS and eNOS in the distal haem side account for eNOS being the only isoform capable of converting nitrite into NO at pH 7.6. In human dermal microvascular endothelial cells under careful control of oxygen tension, the rates of NO formation determined by chemiluminescence were enhanced approximately 3.6- and approximately 8.3-fold under hypoxia (2 p.p.m. O(2)) and anoxia (argon) respectively compared with normoxia ( approximately 22 p.p.m. O(2)) using 10 muM extracellular nitrite. NOS inhibitors inhibited this hypoxic NO release. Our data show that eNOS is unique in that it releases NO under all oxygen levels from normoxia to complete anoxia at physiological micromolar nitrite concentrations. The magnitude of the hypoxic NO release by the endothelial cells suggest that the endothelium could provide an appropriate response to acute episodic ischaemia and may explain the observed eNOS-expression-specific protective effect as a short-term response in animal models of acute hypoxia.

Reaction of the Five-Coordinate O-Nitrito Complex Fe(Por)(ONO) (Por = meso-tetra-arylporphyrinato) with THF Gives Two Six-Coordinate Isomers

The effect of the proximal ligand on the coordination of the nitrite ligand to the heme model systems Fe(Por)(η1-ONO) (Por = meso-tetraarylporphyrinato dianion) was investigated by FTIR and UV-vis spectra in solvent free, low temperature, porous layered solids and by density functional computations. The reaction of the five-coordinate complex Fe(Por)(η1-ONO) with the ether tetrahydrofuran gives a mixture of the O-nitrito and N-nitrito isomers Fe(Por)(THF)(η1-ONO) and Fe(Por)(THF)(NO2), respectively. This observation is in contrast to earlier studies with nitrogen donor Lewis bases where the N-nitrito isomers were clearly the more stable of the six-coordinated complexes. The adduct formation is reversible; the five-coordinate O-nitrito complexes Fe(Por)(η1-ONO) were largely restored upon warming under vacuum pumping.

Interaction of NO2 gas with sublimed microporous layers of iron(II)-meso-mono-4-pyridyl-tri-aryl-porphyrins: Two different reaction pathways

Sublimed layers of Fe II MPyTPP and Fe II MPyTTP ( MPyTPP and MPyTTP are meso-mono-4-pyridyl-triphenyl- and meso-mono-4-pyridyl-tri-p-tolyl-porphyrin dianions, respectively) consist of coordination oligomers that are formed by binding of pyridyl nitrogen atoms with the iron centers of the adjacent molecules in the film. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy including experiments with the 15 NO 2 isotopomer demonstrates that the reaction of low pressure NO 2 gas with these layers leads to the formation of two types of complexes: six-coordinate nitro-complexes, in which the fifth site is occupied by the pyridyl group of the neighboring molecule in the layer and five-coordinate nitrito-complexes that terminate the oligomers. Further addition of NO 2 increments leads to the preferential oxidation of these nitrito ligands to bidentate nitrato ligands. These layers conserve their porosity upon standing and allow study of the oxo-transfer reactivity from coordinated nitro-groups to appropriate oxygen acceptors.