Insight into nucleophilic fragmentation mechanisms by glutamic acid side chain in singly protonated glutathione and related peptidyl ions

Fragmentation mechanisms of the singly protonated glutathione ( γ-ECG) and its synthetic analogue peptides (ECG and PPECG) have been investigated by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry and theoretical calculations. In the mass spectra, similar fragmentation patterns were observed for γ-ECG and ECG, but a completely different one was found in the case of PPECG. The E–C amide bond cleavage is the predominant pathway for the fragmentation of γ-ECG and ECG, whereas the additional N-terminal prolyl residues in PPECG significantly suppress the E–C amide bond cleavage. Theoretical calculations reveal that the fragmentation efficiencies of the E–C bonds in the protonated γ-ECG and ECG are much higher than that in the protonated PPECG, being attributed to their lower barriers of the potential energy; clearly the introduction of two prolyl residues can increase substantially the potential energy barrier. In the proposed mechanism, the protonated E–C amide bonds in the three peptides are first weakened followed by a nucleophilic addition by the glutamyl carboxyl oxygen atom in side chain, leading to the breaking of the E–C amide bonds. However, the processes of E–C bond fragmentation for three protonated analogs were not collaborative. Protonated amide bonds first fragment, then the nucleophilic addition by the side chain of glutamyl carboxyl oxygen atom takes places. On the other hand, the prolyl residues in PPECG can largely diminish the nucleophilic addition, resulting in a much lower efficiency of its E–C amide bond breaking. Distance analysis indicates that breaking the E–C amide bonds in the protonated γ-ECG, ECG, and PPECG ions could not occur without the assistance from the nucleophilic attack, highlighting an asynchronous collaborative process in the bond breakings.

A Density Functional Theory Study of 3,5-dichlorosalicyliden-p-iminoacetophenone oxime Complexes with Co, Ni, Cu and Zn Metals

In this work, new Schiff baz ligand was synthesized by reaction of p-iminoacetophenone oxime with 3,5-dichlorosalicylaldehyde. Metal complexes of Co+2, Ni+2, Cu+2 and Zn+2 acetate metal salts were synthesized with this ligand. The ligand and complexes are characterized in experimental by their elemental analyses, X-ray, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, UV-Vis, FT-IR, magnetic susceptibility and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and also have been investigated by using quantum mechanical methods. The transition metals are coordinated to the schiff base through the azomethine nitrogen and the carboxyl oxygen atom. Obtained metal complexes were studied the magnetic properties and their geometries were determined. Co+2, Ni+2 and Zn+2 complexes have been found tetrahedral geometry and Cu+2 complex has been found four coordinated geometry.

Preparation and Spectral Properties of Mixed-Ligand Complexes of VO(IV), Ni(II), Zn(II), Pd(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) with Dimethylglyoxime andN-acetylglycine

A number of mixed-ligand complexes of the general formula [M(D)(G)] where D=dimethylglyoximato monoanion, G=N-acetylglycinato and M=VO(IV), Ni(II), Zn(II), Pd(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) were prepared. Each complex was characterized by elemental analysis, determination of metal, infrared spectra, electronic spectra, (1H and13C) NMR spectra, conductivity and magnetic moments. All these complexes were not soluble in some of the organic solvent but highly soluble in dimethylformamide. The conductivity data showed the non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. The electronic spectra exhibited absorption bands in the visible region caused by the d-d electronic transition such as VO(IV), Ni(II) and Pd(II). The IR and (1H,13C) NMR spectra which have indicate that the dimethylglyoxime was coordinated with the metal ions through the N and O atoms of the oxime group andN-acetylglycine was coordinated with metal ions through the N atom and terminal carboxyl oxygen atom.

Role of trinuclear Zn(II) complexes in promoting the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate

Potentiometric determination shows that trinuclear Zn(II) complexes of the four tripods 1,3,5-tri(2′,5′-diazahexyl)benzene (L1), 1,3,5-tri(2′,5′-diazaheptyl)benzene (L2), 1,3,5-tri(2′,5′-diazaoctyl)benzene (L3), and 1,3,5-tri(2′,5′-diazanonyl)benzene (L4) could be potential hydrolytic catalysts. CH3CN solutions containing [3Zn:L]T (0.5~2 × 10–3 mol·dm–3) with I = 0.10 mol·dm–3 of KNO3 and Good's buffer (10% volume fraction) were studied for the catalyzing hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate (NA, 0.5~2 × 10–3 mol·dm–3), at 298 K, in the 6.5–8.2 pH range. The observed rate constants, kobs, fit the equilibrium equation kobs = kcom [3Zn:L]T + kOH[OH–] + k0. The sigmoid pH~kcom profiles for NA hydrolysis suggest that either the Zn(II)-bound hydroxyl or the Zn(II)-bound water forms of the catalysts can be the active species. The observed second-order rate constants are 0.0082, 0.011, 0.0059, and 0.0019 mol–1·dm3·s–1 for the four Zn3L–H2O complexes (kA) and 0.342, 0.257, 0.382, and 0.091 mol–1·dm3·s–1 for the four Zn3L–OH- groups (kB), respectively. However, under the condition that [NA] = 0.5 × 10–3 mol·dm–3 and [3Zn:L1]T = 2~4 × 10–2 mol·dm–3 at pH 7.6, the observed rate constants, kobs, obey the equilibrium kobs = kcom[3Zn:L]T/(1/K′ + [3Zn:L]T). This indicates that the 3:1 complex (or its deprotonated hydroxide form) mediates NA hydrolysis by nucleophilic attack of the carboxyl center with the pre-formation of a coordination bond between the carboxyl oxygen atom and the Zn(II) ion. Comparison with other models was made, and the reasons for the high catalytic efficiency of the tripodal complexes were given.Key words: tripod, Zn(II), catalysis, NA hydrolysis, polynuclear.