1
|
Abstract
Ferric heme b (= ferric protoporphyrin IX = hemin) is an important prosthetic group of different types of enzymes, including the intensively investigated and widely applied horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In HRP, hemin is present in monomeric form in a hydrophobic pocket containing among other amino acid side chains the two imidazoyl groups of His170 and His42. Both amino acids are important for the peroxidase activity of HRP as an axial ligand of hemin (proximal His170) and as an acid/base catalyst (distal His42). A key feature of the peroxidase mechanism of HRP is the initial formation of compound I under heterolytic cleavage of added hydrogen peroxide as a terminal oxidant. Investigations of free hemin dispersed in aqueous solution showed that different types of hemin dimers can form, depending on the experimental conditions, possibly resulting in hemin crystallization. Although it has been recognized already in the 1970s that hemin aggregation can be prevented in aqueous solution by using micelle-forming amphiphiles, it remains a challenge to prepare hemin-containing micellar and vesicular systems with peroxidase-like activities. Such systems are of interest as cheap HRP-mimicking catalysts for analytical and synthetic applications. Some of the key concepts on which research in this fascinating and interdisciplinary field is based are summarized, along with major accomplishments and possible directions for further improvement. A systematic analysis of the physico-chemical properties of hemin in aqueous micellar solutions and vesicular dispersions must be combined with a reliable evaluation of its catalytic activity. Future studies should show how well the molecular complexity around hemin in HRP can be mimicked by using micelles or vesicles. Because of the importance of heme b in virtually all biological systems and the fact that porphyrins and hemes can be obtained under potentially prebiotic conditions, ideas exist about the possible role of heme-containing micellar and vesicular systems in prebiotic times.
Collapse
|
2
|
de la Concepción JG, Cerdán L, Marcos-Arenal P, Burillo-Villalobos M, Fonseca-Bonilla N, Lizcano-Vaquero R, López-Cayuela MÁ, Caballero JA, Gómez F. Phot0, a plausible primeval pigment on Earth and rocky exoplanets. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:16979-16987. [PMID: 35731548 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01703b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In view of the existing controversy around the origin of the photosynthesis and, therefore, the first photosynthetic pigments, our work focuses on the theoretical study of a hypothetical first pigment, simpler than those existing today, that collects energy from solar radiation on Earth-like exoplanets. Our theoretical results show that there could exist geochemical conditions that allow the abiotic formation of a primeval pigment that might become sufficiently abundant in the early stages of habitable rocky exoplanets. These conditions would place this pigment before the appearance of life in a very young planet, thanks to chemical routes instead of biochemical transformations. Thus, our results may refute the currently accepted hypothesis that the complex biomolecules that allowed the photosynthesis to be carried out were synthesized through complex and evolved metabolic pathways. In addition, we show that the proposed primeval pigment, which we call Phot0, is also a precursor of the more evolved pigments known today on Earth and demonstrate, for the first time, an abiotic chemical route leading to tetrapyrroles not involving pyrrole derivatives. Our proposal places simple and very abundant raw materials in never-before-proposed geochemical conditions that lead to the formation of biomolecules of biological interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis Cerdán
- Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMoL), Universidad de Valencia, 46071 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Marcos-Arenal
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Ctra. de Ajalvir km. 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Nuria Fonseca-Bonilla
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Ctra. de Ajalvir km. 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rubén Lizcano-Vaquero
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Ángeles López-Cayuela
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Atmospheric Research and Instrumentation Branch, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Caballero
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), European Space Astronomy Centre, Camino bajo del Castillo, 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Gómez
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Ctra. de Ajalvir km. 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Efimov IV, Kulikova LN, Miftyakhova AR, Matveeva MD, Voskressensky LG. Recent Advances for the Synthesis of N‐Unsubstituted Pyrroles. ChemistrySelect 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202103486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ilya V. Efimov
- Research Center: Molecular Design and Synthesis of Innovative Compounds for Medicine Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) Miklukho-Maklaya st, 6 117198 Moscow Russia
| | - Larisa N. Kulikova
- Research Center: Molecular Design and Synthesis of Innovative Compounds for Medicine Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) Miklukho-Maklaya st, 6 117198 Moscow Russia
| | - Almira R. Miftyakhova
- Research Center: Molecular Design and Synthesis of Innovative Compounds for Medicine Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) Miklukho-Maklaya st, 6 117198 Moscow Russia
| | - Maria D. Matveeva
- A.V. Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky pr. 29 119991 Moscow Russia
| | - Leonid G. Voskressensky
- Research Center: Molecular Design and Synthesis of Innovative Compounds for Medicine Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) Miklukho-Maklaya st, 6 117198 Moscow Russia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Campitelli P, Crucianelli M. On the Capability of Oxidovanadium(IV) Derivatives to Act as All-Around Catalytic Promoters Since the Prebiotic World. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25133073. [PMID: 32640541 PMCID: PMC7412518 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25133073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
For a long time the biological role of vanadium was not known, while now the possibility of using its derivatives as potential therapeutic agents has given rise to investigations on their probable side effects. Vanadium compounds may inhibit different biochemical processes and lead to a variety of toxic effects and serious diseases. But, on the other hand, vanadium is an essential element for life. In recent years, increasing evidence has been acquired on the possible roles of vanadium in the higher forms of life. Despite several biochemical and physiological functions that have been suggested for vanadium and notwithstanding the amount of the knowledge so far accumulated, it still does not have a clearly defined role in the higher forms of life. What functions could vanadium or its very stable oxidovanadium(IV) derivatives have had in the prebiotic world and in the origins of life? In this review, we have briefly tried to highlight the most useful aspects that can be taken into consideration to give an answer to this still unresolved question and to show the high versatility of the oxidovanadium(IV) group to act as promoter of several oxidation reactions when coordinated with a variety of ligands, including diketones like acylpyrazolones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizio Campitelli
- School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy;
| | - Marcello Crucianelli
- Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito-Due, 67100 L’Aquila (AQ), Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0862-433308
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kong HH, Pan HL, Ding MW. Synthesis of 2-Tetrazolyl-Substituted 3-Acylpyrroles via a Sequential Ugi-Azide/Ag-Catalyzed Oxidative Cycloisomerization Reaction. J Org Chem 2018; 83:12921-12930. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b01984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Han-Han Kong
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong-Ling Pan
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming-Wu Ding
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Taniguchi M, Deans RM, Chandrashaker V, Ptaszek M, Lindsey JS. Scope and limitations of two model prebiotic routes to tetrapyrrole macrocycles. NEW J CHEM 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6nj01423b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Aqueous reaction (35 °C, 72 h) of two acyclic compounds, an α-aminoketone + β-ketoester or β-diketone (not shown), affords a pyrrole that self-condenses to give the porphyrinogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard M. Deans
- Department of Chemistry
- North Carolina State University
- Raleigh
- USA
| | | | - Marcin Ptaszek
- Department of Chemistry
- North Carolina State University
- Raleigh
- USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chandrashaker V, Ptaszek M, Taniguchi M, Lindsey JS. Synthesis of diverse acyclic precursors to pyrroles for studies of prebiotic routes to tetrapyrrole macrocycles. NEW J CHEM 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6nj02048h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Some 50 ketones, β-diketones, β-ketoesters and α-aminoketones have been prepared for studies of the formation of trisubstituted pyrroles equipped for self-condensation leading to tetrapyrrole macrocycles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcin Ptaszek
- Department of Chemistry
- North Carolina State University
- Raleigh
- USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Deans RM, Taniguchi M, Chandrashaker V, Ptaszek M, Lindsey JS. Complexity in structure-directed prebiotic chemistry. Reaction bifurcation from a β-diketone in tetrapyrrole formation. NEW J CHEM 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6nj00545d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
An unsymmetrical β-diketone with δ-aminolevulinic acid affords both a “defective” and a “normal” pyrrole; upon combinatorial reaction the former terminates chain-growth of the latter on the path to tetrapyrrole macrocycles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard M. Deans
- Department of Chemistry
- North Carolina State University
- Raleigh
- USA
| | | | | | - Marcin Ptaszek
- Department of Chemistry
- North Carolina State University
- Raleigh
- USA
| | | |
Collapse
|