Molecular and crystal structure of 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole-3-carboxylic acid derivatives

The analysis of molecular structures of three derivatives: 5-amino-3-carbomethoxy-1-methyl-1H-[1,2,4]-triazole (1), 1-acetyl-5-amino-3-carbomethoxy-1H-[1,2,4]-triazole (2) and 5-acetylamino-3-carbomethoxy-1-methyl-1H-[1,2,4]triazole (3) indicate the sensitivity of the N2–N1–C5 fragment of the triazole ring to the substitution. Molecular conformations are influenced by several intra- and intermolecular contacts. In all structures very extensive N–H···N/O and C–H(methyl)···O/N net of secondary interactions is formed. This kind of interactions is common in crystal structures which are proton-deficient and for this reason various types of multi-point interactions are forced. Besides, triazole π···π stacking interactions are observed.

Conformational properties of N',N'-dimethylamides of N-acetyldehydroalanine and N-acetyl-(Z)-dehydrophenylalanine

Conformational preferences of Ac-deltaAla-NMe2 and Ac-(Z)-deltaPhe-NMe2 were studied and compared with those of their monomethyl counterparts as well as with those of their saturated analogues. X-Ray data and energy calculations revealed a highly conservative conformation of the dehydro dimethylamides, which is located in a high-energy region of the Ramachandran map.

Acetylation of methyl 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole-3-carboxylate

Acetylation with acetic anhydride of methyl 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole-3-carboxylate, one of the hetareneamino acids, was studied using HPLC, H NMR, FTIR and GC-MS. The compound has a significantly decreased susceptibility to acetylation compared to 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole itself. Two isomeric diacetylated products were found.

Conformational investigation of alpha,beta-dehydropeptides. X. Molecular and crystal structure of Ac-DeltaAla-NMe2 compared with those of Ac-L-Ala-NMe2, Ac-DL-Ala-NMe2 and other dimethylamides

A series of three homologous dimethyldiamides Ac-DeltaAla-NMe2, Ac-L-Ala-NMe2 and Ac-DL-Ala-NMe2 has been synthesized and the structures of these amides determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. To learn more about the conformational preferences of compounds studied, the fully relaxed (phi-psi) conformational energy maps in vacuo (AM1) of Ac-DeltaAla-NMe2 and Ac-L-Ala-NMe2 were obtained, and the calculated minima reoptimized with the DFT/B3LYP/6-31G** method. The crystal-state results have been compared with the literature data. Ac-DeltaAla-NMe2 and other alpha,beta-dehydroamino acid dimethyldiamides, Ac-DeltaXaa-NMe2 adopt the conservative conformation of the torsion angles phi, psi = approximately -45 degrees, approximately 130 degrees, which are located in the high-energy region (region H) of Ramachandran diagram. Ac-L-Ala-NMe2 and Ac-DL-Ala-NMe2, as well as other saturated amino acid dimethylamides Ac-L/DL-Xaa-NMe2, present common peptide structures, and no conformational preferences are observed. Molecular packing of the amides analysed reveals two general hydrogen-bonded motifs. Dehydro and DL-species are paired into centrosymmetric dimers, and L-compounds form catemers. However, Ac-DeltaAla-NMe2 and Ac-DL-Ala-NMe2 constitute exceptions: their molecules also link into catemers.

Conformational properties of N',N'-dimethylamides of N-acetyldehydroalanine and N-acetyl-(Z)-dehydrophenylalanine

Conformational preferences of Ac-deltaAla-NMe2 and Ac-(Z)-deltaPhe-NMe2 were studied and compared with those of their monomethyl counterparts as well as with those of their saturated analogues. X-Ray data and energy calculations revealed a highly conservative conformation of the dehydro dimethylamides, which is located in a high-energy region of the Ramachandran map.

Acetylation of methyl 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole-3-carboxylate

Acetylation with acetic anhydride of methyl 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole-3-carboxylate, one of the hetareneamino acids, was studied using HPLC, H NMR, FTIR and GC-MS. The compound has a significantly decreased susceptibility to acetylation compared to 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole itself. Two isomeric diacetylated products were found.

The molecular and crystal structure of tert-butyl Nalpha-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-(S-trityl)cysteinate and the conformation-stabilizing function of weak intermolecular bonding

The title compound, C31H37NO4S [systematic name: (R)-tert-butyl-2-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-3-(tritylsulfanyl)propanoate] is an L-cysteine derivative with three functions: NH2, COOH and SH, blocked by protecting groups tert-butoxycarbonyl, tert-butyl and trityl, respectively. The main chain of the molecule adopts the extended, nearly all-trans C5 conformation with the intramolecular N-H...O=C hydrogen bond. The urethane group is not involved in any intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Only weak intermolecular hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts are observed in the crystal structure. These are C-H...O hydrogen bonds and CH/pi interactions with donor...acceptor distances, C...O ca. 3.5 A and C...C ca. 3.7 A, respectively. The first type of interaction links phenyl H-atoms and carbonyl groups. The second type of interaction is formed between a methyl group of the tert-butyl fragment and a trityl phenyl ring. The resulting molecular conformation in the crystal is very close to an ab initio minimum energy conformer of the isolated molecule. The extended C5 conformation of the main peptide chain is the same and there is slight discrepancy in the disposition of trityl phenyl rings. Their small dislocation creates the possibility of forming the entire network above of extensive, specific, weak intermolecular interactions; these constrain the molecule and permit it to retain the minimum energy C5 conformation of its main chain in the solid state. In contrast, in n-hexane solution, where such specific interactions cannot occur, only a small population of the molecules adopts the extended C5 conformation.

Interaction of L-gamma-glutamyl-alpha,beta-dehydroamino acids with gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase

Three gamma-glutamyl alpha,beta-dehydroamino acids: L-gamma-glutamyl-dehydroalanine, L-gamma-glutamyl-(Z)-dehydrobutyrine and L-gamma-glutamyl-(E)-dehydrobutyrine have been prepared as potential ligands (inhibitors or substrates) for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Both isomers of gamma-glutamyl-dehydrobutyrines proved to be inhibitors of GGT, slightly better than the saturated analogue, L-gamma-glutamyl-L-butyrine. However, their solvolysis catalysed by the enzyme is slower than that of the latter. L-gamma-Glutamyl-(E)-dehydrobutyrine seems to be a more active compound in both enzymatic tests. L-gamma-Glutamyl-dehydroalanine elicited only low inhibitory activity and, moreover, was unstable under conditions of the solvolysis test.

Synthesis of peptides with alpha,beta-dehydroamino acids. XIII photoisomerization of Ac-(Z)-delta Phe-NHMe: Ac-(E)-delta Phe-NHMe

Easily accessible Ac-(Z)-delta Phe-NHMe was photoisomerized to so far unknown Ac-(E)-delta Phe-NHMe. Some parameters of the process leading to a diastereomeric mixture of ratio 90(Z):10(E) have been tested and the photoisomerization has been carried out on a preparative milligram scale. The isomers were separated via crystallization followed by preparative HPLC.

Conformational investigation of alpha,beta-dehydropeptides. IX. N-Acetyl-(E)-alpha,beta-methylamide: stereoelectronic properties from infrared and theoretical studies

The Fourier transform infrared spectra of Ac-(E)-deltaAbu-NHMe were analyzed to determine the predominant solution conformation(s) of this (E)-alpha,beta-dehydropeptide-related compound and the electron density perturbation in its amide groups. The measurements were performed in dichloromethane and acetonitrile in the region of mode vs (N-H), amide I, amide II and vs (C(alpha)=Cbeta). The equilibrium geometrical parameters, calculated by a method based on the density functional theory with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G* basis set, were used to support spectroscopic interpretation and gain some deeper insight into the molecule. The experimental and theoretical data were compared with those of three previously described molecules: isomeric Ac-(Z)-deltaAbu-NHMe, Ac-deltaAla-NHMe, which is deprived of any beta-substituent, and saturated species Ac-Abu-NHMe. The titled compound assumes two conformational states in equilibrium in the DCM solution. One conformer is extended almost fully and like Ac-deltaAla-NHMe is C5 hydrogen-bonded. The other adopts a warped C5 structure similar to that of Ac-(Z)-deltaAbu-NHMe. The C5 hydrogen bond, unlike the H-bond in Ac-deltaAla-NHMe, is disrupted by acetonitrile. The resonance within the N-terminal amide groups in either of the (E)-deltaAbu conformers is not as well developed as the resonance in Ac-Abu-NHMe. However, these N-terminal groups, compared with the other unsaturated compounds, constitute better resonance systems in each conformationally related couple: the C5 hydrogen-bonded Ac-(E)-deltaAbu-NHMe/Ac-deltaAla-NHMe and the warped C5 Ac-(E)-deltaAbu-NHMe/Ac-(Z)-deltaAbu-NHMe. The resonance within the C-terminal groups of the latter couple apparently is similar, but less developed than the resonance in Ac-Abu-NHMe. The electron distribution within the C-terminal group of the hydrogen-bonded C5 (E)-deltaAbu conformer apparently is determined mainly by the electron influx from the C(alpha)=Cbeta double bond.

Conformational investigation of alpha,beta-dehydropeptides. VIII. N-acetyl-alpha,beta-dehydroamino acid N'-methylamides: conformation and electron density perturbation from infrared and theoretical studies

The Fourier transform infrared spectra are analyzed in the regions of Vs(N-H), amide I, amide II and Vs(C alpha = C beta) bands for a series of Ac-delta Xaa-NHMe, where delta Xaa = delta Ala, (Z)-delta Abu, (Z)-delta Leu, (Z)-delta Phe and delta Val, to determine the predominant solution conformation of these alpha,beta-dehydropeptide-related molecules and the electron distribution perturbation in their amide bonds. The measurements were performed in dichloromethane (DCM). To confirm and rationalize the assignments, the spectra of the respective series of saturated Ac-Xaa-NHMe, recorded in DCM, and the spectra of these two series of unsaturated and saturated compounds, recorded in acetonitrile, were examined. To help interpret the spectroscopic results, the equilibrium geometrical parameters for some selected amides were used. These were optimized with ab initio methods in the 6-31G** basis set. Each of the dehydroamides studied adopted a C5 structure, which in Ac-delta Ala-NHMe is fully extended and accompanied by the strong C5 hydrogen bond. Interaction with the C alpha = C beta bond lessened the amidic resonance within each of the flanking amide groups. The N-terminal C = O bond was noticeably shorter, both amide bonds were longer than the corresponding bonds in the saturated entities and the N-terminal amide system was distorted. Ac-delta Ala-NHMe constituted an exception. Its C-terminal amide bond was shorter than the standard one and both amide systems were prototypically planar.

Binding of Cu2+, Zn2+, and Ni(2+)-GnRH complexes with the rat pituitary receptor

Complex of copper with the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, GnRH, competed more efficiently for the GnRH receptor than native GVRH, while complexes of nickel with GnRH and zinc with GnRH had slightly lower affinity. Copper ion added to the incubation mixture inhibited the buserelin binding to the receptor.

Conformational investigation of alpha,beta-dehydropeptides. VII. Conformation of Ac-Pro-deltaAla-NHCH3 and Ac-Pro-(E)-deltaAbu-NHCH3: comparison with (Z)-substituted alpha,beta-dehydropeptides

The crystal structure and solution conformation of Ac-Pro-deltaAla-NHCH3 and the solution conformation of Ac-Pro-(E)-deltaAbu-NHCH3 were investigated by X-ray diffraction method and NMR, FTIR and CD spectroscopies. Ac-Pro-deltaAla-NHCH3 adopts an extended-coil conformation in the crystalline state, with all-trans peptide bonds and the deltaAla residue being in a C5 form, phi(1)=-71.4(4), psi(1)=-16.8(4), phi(2)= -178.4(3) and psi(2)= 172.4(3) degrees. In inert solvents the peptide also assumes the C5 conformation, but a gamma-turn on the Pro residue cannot be ruled out. In these solvents Ac-Pro-(E)-deltaAbu-NHCH3 accommodates a beta(II)-turn, but a minor conformer with a nearly planar disposition of the CO-NH and C=C bonds (phi(2) approximately 0 degrees) is also present. Previous spectroscopic studies of the (Z)-substituted dehydropeptides Ac-Pro-(Z)-deltaAbu-NHCH3 and Ac-Pro-deltaVal-NHCH3 reveal that both peptides prefer a beta(II)-turn in solution. Comparison of conformations in the family of four Ac-Pro-deltaXaa-NHCH3 peptides let us formulate the following order of their tendency to adopt a beta-turn in solution: (Z)-deltaAbu > (E)-deltaAbu > deltaVal; deltaAla does not. None of the folded structures formed by the four compounds is stable in strongly solvating media.

Thymidylate synthases from Hymenolepis diminuta and regenerating rat liver: purification, properties, and inhibition by substrate and cofactor analogues

Comparative studies of thymidylate synthases, isolated from the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, and regenerating liver of its host, rat, aimed at a possibility of specific inhibition of the helminthic enzyme, are presented. While similar in structure (dimers with monomer molecular masses of 33.7 kDa and 34.9 kDa, respectively) and parameters describing interactions with substrates and products, the tapeworm and rat enzymes differed in the dependences of reaction velocity on temperature (Arrhenius plots biphasic and linear, respectively). The tapeworm, compared with the host, enzyme was less sensitive to the competitive slow-binding inhibition by 5-fluoro-dUMP and its 2-thio congener, but equally sensitive to inhibition by 4-thio-5-fluoro-dUMP, N4-hydroxy-dCMP and N4-hydroxy-5-fluoro-dCMP, the latter being more potent inhibitor of the parasite enzyme than 5-fluoro-dUMP. alpha-Anomer of 5-fluoro-dUMP behaved as a very weak competitive slow-binding inhibitor of both enzymes. Both enzymes differed markedly in sensitivity to inhibition by 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate and its di- and triglutamates (pddPteGlu1-3), with pddPteGlu1 being stronger inhibitor of the mammalian enzyme, but pddPteGlu3 showing opposite specificity. Sulfonamidobenzoylglutamate analogue of pddPteGlu (pddPteSO2Glu) and 2-desamino-2-methyl derivative of this analogue (CH3pddPteSO2Glu) were weaker inhibitors of both enzymes than the parent compound. Substitution of the glutamyl residue in CH3pddPteSO2Glu with either norvaline or alanine increased inhibition potency, whereas similar substitutions with glycine, valine or phenylglycine were without a distinct effect with the host enzyme but weakened inhibition of the tapeworm enzyme.

Conformational investigation of alpha, beta-dehydropeptides. Part VI. Molecular and crystal structure of benzyloxycarbonylglycyl-(Z)-dehydrophenylalanine

The structure of a peptide containing C-terminal dehydrophenylalanine, Z-Gly-(Z)-delta Phe (C19H18N2O5, MW = 354) was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Needle-shaped crystals were grown from a 1:1 mixture of methanol-acetone in the monoclinic space group P2(1) with a = 14.717(4), b = 4.941(2), c = 12.073(4) A, beta = 103.72(4) degrees; V = 852.86(8) A3, Z = 2 and Dc = 1.32 g cm-3. The structure was solved by direct methods using SHELXS-86 and refined to a final R-index of 0.032 for 1714 observed reflections. The peptide adopts a conformation folded at the glycine residue, and principal torsion angles are omega 0 = -167.6(2) degrees, phi 1 = -71.8(3) degrees, psi 1 = -31.6(4) degrees, omega 1 = -165.7(3) degrees, phi 2 = 65.6(4) degrees, psi 1(2) = -174.4(3) degrees and psi 2(2) = 5.2(4) degrees. Two intermolecular hydrogen bonds, N1-H...O0' and O2-H...O1', join the folded molecules into columns and link columns to each other, respectively. FTIR spectroscopy shows the presence of three hydrogen bonds. This third one has been interpreted as an intramolecular hydrogen bond of the N2-H...N1 type.

Conformational investigation of alpha, beta-dehydropeptides. V*. Stability of reverse turns in saturated and alpha, beta-unsaturated peptides Ac-Pro-Xaa-NHCH3: CD studies in various solvents

Conformations of three series of model peptides: homochiral Ac-Pro-L-Xaa-NHCH3 and heterochiral Ac-Pro-D-Xaa-NHCH3 (Xaa = Phe, Val, Leu, Abu, Ala) as well as alpha, beta-dehydro Ac-Pro-delta Xaa-NHCH3 [delta Xaa = (Z)-delta Phe, delta Val,(Z)-delta Leu,(Z)-delta Abu] were investigated by CD spectroscopy in 2% dichloromethane-cyclohexane, trifluoroethanol, water, and occasionally in other solvents. The spectra of homochiral peptides show a significant solvent dependence. Folded structures are present in 2% dichloromethane-cyclohexane and unordered ones occur in water. The folded conformers are of the inverse gamma-turn type for all the peptides but Ac-Pro-L-Phe-NHCH3 for which the type-I beta-turn is preferred. The changes in the spectra of the heterochiral peptides are limited. The compounds adopt the type-II beta-turn in 2% dichloromethane-cyclohexane, represented by class B spectra, and retain this conformation in water as well as in fluorinated alcohols but not always to a full extent. The CD spectra of the unsaturated peptides in 2% dichloromethane-cyclohexane, although they cannot be assigned to any common spectral class, must be attributed to the beta II-turn conformation as determined for these compounds by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The CD spectra of dehydropeptides exhibit a considerable solvent dependence and suggest unordered structures in water.

Increased LH and FSH release from the anterior pituitary of ovariectomized rat, in vivo, by copper-, nickel-, and zinc-LHRH complexes

The effect of Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and their complexes with LHRH on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was estimated in in vivo experiments with the use of the method proposed by Ramirez and McCann. Ovariectomized, estradiol, and progesterone pretreated rats were injected intravenously either with LHRH alone, a metal ion alone, a mixture of metal and hormone, or a metal-LHRH complex. A metal alone or a mixture of it with LHRH did not affect gonadotropin release at all or no more than LHRH alone. However, the complex of Cu2+ with LHRH brought about a high release of LH and even higher release of FSH. This indicates that copper complex is more effective than metal-free LHRH. The nickel complex showed a similar although lesser effect. The zinc complex had similar potency to free LHRH though higher FSH-releasing ability was noticed. We conclude that copper-, nickel-, and zinc-LHRH complexes were more potent than the peptide hormone itself and promoted the FSH release in the ovariectomized, estradiol, and progesterone pretreated rats.

Behavioural effects of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in rats

Behavioural effects of intracerebroventricularly-injected (icv) LHRH were studied in female rats. Locomotor and exploratory activities as well as irritability were determined. A pronounced inhibitory effect of 10 micrograms doses of LHRH was found. At 100 micrograms doses of LHRH, barrel behaviour was observed. We conclude that LHRH can modify the activity of central serotonergic receptors in rats.

Conformational investigation of alpha, beta-dehydropeptides. Part III. Molecular and crystal structure of acetyl-L-prolyl-alpha, beta-dehydrovaline methylamide

The crystal structure of Ac-Pro-delta Val-NHCH3 was examined to determine the influence of the alpha,beta-dehydrovaline residue on the nature of peptide conformation. The peptide crystallizes from methanol-diethyl ether solution at 4 degrees in needle-shaped form in orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a = 11.384(2) A, b = 13.277(2) A, c = 9.942(1) A, V = 1502.7(4) A3, Z = 4, Dm = 1.17 g.cm-3 and Dc = 1.18 g.cm-3. The structure was solved by direct methods using SHELXS-86 and refined to an R value of 0.057 for 1922 observed reflections. The peptide is found to adopt a beta-bend between the type I and the type III conformation with phi 1 = -68.3(4) degrees, psi 1 = -20.1(4) degrees, phi 2 = -73.5(4) degrees and psi 2 = -14.1(4) degrees. An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen of ith residue and the NH of (i + 3)th residue stabilizes the beta-bend. An additional intermolecular N...O hydrogen bond joins molecules into infinite chains. In the literature described crystal structures of peptides having a single alpha,beta-dehydroamino acid residue in the (i + 2) position and forming a beta-bend reveal a type II conformation.

Synthesis, crystal structure and molecular conformation of the tBuCO-D,L-Ala-delta Z-Phe-NHiPr alpha,beta-unsaturated dipeptide

The crystal structure of the tBuCO-D,L-Ala-delta Z-Phe-NHiPr dipeptide has been solved by X-ray diffraction. The peptide crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 13.445 (3) A, b = 35.088 (4) A, c = 14.755 (3) A, beta = 116.73 (1) degree, Z = 12 and dc = 1.151 g.cm-3. The three independent molecules per asymmetric unit accommodate a beta II-folded conformation, but only one of them contains the typical i + 3----i interaction characterizing a beta-turn. In the other two molecules, the N...O distance exceeds 3.2 A, a value generally considered the upper limit for hydrogen bonds in peptides. In solution, the beta II-turn conformation is largely predominant.

Ovulation-inducing activity of luliberin (LHRH) complexed by copper(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II) ions

We have shown that the complexation of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, luliberin (LHRH), a hypothalamic neurohormone, by Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) may affect its basic, ovulation-inducing potency in the dose responsive manner. Some explanation of the obtained results are offered here.

LHRH interaction with Zn(II) ions

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), a hypothalamic neurohormone, forms a complex with Zn ions in solution. In order to explain the structure of this complex, the stability constants of Zn(II) complexes of LHRH and also pyroglutamyl-histidine-methylester, N-acetyl-histamine, and N-acetyl-histidine were established with the use of potentiometric technique. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy shows that the mode of coordination of Zn(II) to LHRH consists of binding to the imidazole nitrogen and the peptide oxygen of the His-Trp bond.

Quinazoline antifolates inhibiting thymidylate synthase: synthesis of four oligo(L-gamma-glutamyl) conjugates of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid and their enzyme inhibition

The synthesis is described of four oligo(gamma-glutamyl) conjugates of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid containing a total of two, three, four, and five L-glutamic acid residues. The tert-butyl group was chosen as the carboxyl protecting group in order to obviate the use of alkali and thus the possibility of gamma----alpha transpeptidation. The starting material, di-tert-butyl glutamate, was coupled to N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-glutamic acid alpha-tert-butyl ester via a mixed anhydride with isobutyl chloroformate. Hydrogenolysis of the benzyloxycarbonyl group in the product gave a carboxyl-protected diglutamate, which either was acylated with 4-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino] benzoyl chloride to give a protected aminobenzamide or was cycled further by using the above mixed anhydride/hydrogenolysis sequence into tri-, tetra-, and pentaglutamates. Each of the last named was also acylated, as above, to give a benzamide. The benzyloxycarbonyl group in the benzamides was removed by hydrogenolysis and the amino groups thus exposed were N-alkylated with propargyl bromide. The resulting proparglyamines were further alkylated with 2-amino-6-(bromomethyl)-4-hydroxyquinazoline hydrobromide to give the antifolate poly(t-Bu) esters. Deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid in the final step delivered the desired antifolates as their trifluoroacetate salts. The di- to pentaglutamates were, respectively, 31-, 97-, 171-, and 167-fold more inhibitory to WI-L2 human thymidylate synthase than the parent compound.

Metal complexes of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). potentiometric and spectroscopic studies

The results are reported of a potentiometric and spectroscopic study of the H+, Cu2+, and Ni2+ complexes of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH, HL) at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength 0.10 mol dm-3 (KNO3), since there is much evidence that the in vivo release of LHRH is influenced by the concentration of copper ions. With Cu2+ the hormone has been shown to behave similarly to the thyrotropin releasing factor, forming a very stable [CuH-1L] complex involving coordination of three nitrogen donors: the Nim atom of the imidazole side chain and the two amido-N atoms of the pyroglutamylhistidyl unit. With Ni2+, coordination proceeds differently to give four nitrogen coordination.