Calcium binding of transglutaminases: a 43Ca NMR study combined with surface polarity analysis.

Transglutaminases (TGases) form cross-links between glutamine and lysine side-chains of polypeptides in a Ca2+-dependent reaction. The structural basis of the Ca2+-effect is poorly defined. 43Ca NMR, surface polarity analysis combined with multiple sequence alignment and the construction of a new homology model of human tissue transglutaminase (tTGase) were used to obtain structural information about Ca2+ binding properties of factor XIII-A2, tTGase and TGase 3 (each of human origin). 43Ca NMR provided higher average dissociation constants titrating on a wide Ca2+-concentration scale than previous studies with equilibrium dialysis performed in shorter ranges. These results suggest the existence of low affinity Ca2+ binding sites on both FXIII-A and tTGase in addition to high affinity ones in accordance with our surface polarity analysis identifying high numbers of negatively charged clusters. Upon increasing the salt concentration or activating with thrombin, FXIII-A2 partially lost its original Ca2+ affinity; the NMR data suggested different mechanisms for the two activation processes. The NMR provided structural evidence of GTP-induced conformational changes on the tTGase molecule diminishing all of its Ca2+ binding sites. NMR data on the Ca2+ binding properties of the TGase 3 are presented here; it binds Ca2+ the most tightly, which is weakened after its proteolytic activation. The investigated TGases seem to have very symmetric Ca2+ binding sites and no EF-hand motifs.

Synthesis, pH-dependent structural characterization, and solution behavior of aqueous aluminum and gallium citrate complexes.

Reactions of Al(III) and Ga(III) with citric acid in aqueous solutions, yielded the complexes (NH(4))(5)[M(C(6)H(4)O(7))(2)].2H(2)O (M(III) = Al (1), Ga (2)) at alkaline pH, and the complexes (Cat)(4)[M(C(6)H(5)O(7))(C(6)H(4)O(7))].nH(2)O (M(III) = Al (3), Ga (4), Cat. = NH(4)(+), n = 3; M(III) = Al (5), Ga (6), Cat. = K(+), n = 4) at acidic pH. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic (FT-IR, (1)H, (13)C, and (27)Al NMR, (13)C-MAS NMR) and X-ray techniques. Complex 1 crystallizes in space group P1, with a = 9.638(5) A, b = 9.715(5) A, c = 7.237(4) A, alpha = 90.96(1) degrees, beta = 105.72(1) degrees, gamma = 119.74(1) degrees, V = 557.1(3) A(3), and Z = 1. Complex 2 crystallizes in space group P1, with a = 9.659(6) A, b = 9.762(7) A, c = 7.258(5) A, alpha = 90.95(2) degrees, beta = 105.86(2) degrees, gamma = 119.28(1) degrees, V = 564.9(7) A(3), and Z = 1. Complex 3 crystallizes in space group I2/a, with a = 19.347(3) A, b = 9.857(1) A, c = 23.412(4) A, beta = 100.549(5) degrees, V = 4389(1) A(3), and Z = 8. Complex 4 crystallizes in space group I2/a, with a = 19.275(1) A, b = 9.9697(6) A, c = 23.476(1) A, beta = 100.694(2) degrees, V = 4432.8(5) A(3), and Z = 8. Complex 5 crystallizes in space group P1, with a = 7.316(1) A, b = 9.454(2) A, c = 9.569(2) A, alpha = 64.218(4) degrees, beta = 69.872(3) degrees, gamma = 69.985(4) degrees, V = 544.9(2) A(3), and Z = 1. Complex 6 crystallizes in space group P1, with a = 7.3242(2) A, b = 9.4363(5) A, c = 9.6435(5) A, alpha = 63.751(2) degrees, beta = 70.091(2) degrees, gamma = 69.941(2) degrees, V = 547.22(4) A(3), and Z = 1. The crystal structures of 1-6 reveal mononuclear octahedral complexes of Al(III) (or Ga(III)) bound to two citrates. Solution NMR, on both 4- and 5- species, reveals rapid intramolecular exchange of the bound and unbound terminal carboxylates. Upon dissolution in water, the complexes, through a complicated reaction cascade, transform to oligonuclear 1:1 species that, in agreement with previous studies, represent the thermodynamically stable state in solution. The data provide, for the first time, structural details of low MW, mononuclear complexes of Al(III) (or Ga(III)) with citrate that are dictated, among other factors, by pH. The properties of 1-6 may provide clues relevant to their biological association with humans.

Surface Complexation Modeling of K(+), NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-), Ca(2+), F(-), Co(2+), and Cr(3+) Ion Adsorption on Silica Gel.

Surface complex formation of K(+), NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-), Ca(2+), F(-), Co(2+), and Cr(3+) ions was determined on the surface of silica gel. Experimental data obtained by acid-base titration of suspensions were interpreted in terms of the triple-layer model. The value of the deprotonation constant of surface OH could be determined precisely but the protonation constant was rather uncertain. The logarithms of ion pair formation constants for K(+), NO(3)(-), Ca(2+), and SO(4)(2-) adsorbed in the beta-plane are log K(ipM,X) approximately 0, therefore these species can be considered inert ions in the investigated pH range. F(-), Co(2+), and Cr(3+) ions were found to be strongly sorbed in the o-plane. In order to provide a good fit and to obtain parameters independent of their initial values, all possible equilibrium must be accounted for in the models. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Rates and mechanisms of water exchange of UO2(2+)(aq) and UO2(oxalate)F(H2O)2-: a variable-temperature 17O and 19F NMR study.

This study consists of two parts: The first part comprised an experimental determination of the kinetic parameters for the exchange of water between UO2(H2O)5(2+) and bulk water, including an ab initio study at the SCF and MP2 levels of the geometry of UO2(H2O)5(2+), UO2(H2O)4(2+), and UO2(H2O)6(2+) and the thermodynamics of their reactions with water. In the second part we made an experimental study of the rate of water exchange in uranyl complexes and investigated how this might depend on inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bond interactions. The experimental studies, made by using 17O NMR, with Tb3+ as a chemical shift reagent, gave the following kinetic parameters at 25 degrees C: kex = (1.30 +/- 0.05) x 10(6) s(-1); deltaH(not equal to) = 26.1 +/- 1.4 kJ/mol; deltaS(not equal to) = -40 +/- 5J J/(K mol). Additional mechanistic indicators were obtained from the known coordination geometry of U(VI) complexes with unidentate ligands and from the theoretical calculations. A survey of the literature shows that there are no known isolated complexes of UO2(2+) with unidentate ligands which have a coordination number larger than 5. This was corroborated by quantum chemical calculations which showed that the energy gains by binding an additional water to UO2(H2O)4(2+) and UO2(H2O)5(2+) are 29.8 and -2.4 kcal/mol, respectively. A comparison of the change in deltaU for the reactions UO2(H2O)5(2+)--> UO2(H2O)4(2+) + H2O and UO2(H2O)5(2+) + H2O --> UO2(H2O)6(2+) indicates that the thermodynamics favors the second (associative) reaction in gas phase at 0 K, while the thermodynamics of water transfer between the first and second coordination spheres, UO2(H2O)5(2+) --> UO2(H2O)4(H2O)2+ and UO2(H2O)5(H2O)2+ --> UO2(H2O)6(2+), favors the first (dissociative) reaction. The energy difference between the associative and dissociative reactions is small, and solvation has to be included in ab initio models in order to allow quantitative comparisons between experimental data and theory. Theoretical calculations of the activation energy were not possible because of the excessive computing time required. On the basis of theoretical and experimental studies, we suggest that the water exchange in UO2(H2O)5(2+) follows a dissociative interchange mechanism. The rates of exchange of water in UO2(oxalate)F(H2O)2- (and UO2(oxalate)F2(H2O)2- studied previously) are much slower than in the aqua ion, kex = 1.6 x 10(4) s(-1), an effect which we assign to hydrogen bonding involving coordinated water and fluoride. The kinetic parameters for the exchange of water in UO2(H2O)52+ and quenching of photo excited *UO2(H2O)5(2+) are very near the same, indicating similar mechanisms.

19F NMR study of the equilibria and dynamics of the Al3+/F- system.

A careful reinvestigation by high-field 19F NMR (470 MHz) spectroscopy has been made of the Al3+/F- system in aqueous solution under carefully controlled conditions of pH, concentration, ionic strength (I), and temperature. The 19F NMR spectra show five distinct signals at 278 K and I = 0.6 M (TMACl) which have been attributed to the complexes AlFi(3-i)+(aq) with i < or = 5. There was no need to invoke AlFi(OH)j(3-i-j)+ mixed complexes in the model under our experimental conditions (pH < or = 6.5), nor was any evidence obtained for the formation of AlF6(3-)(aq) at very high ratios of F-/Al3+. The stepwise equilibrium constants obtained for the complexes by integration of the 19F signals are in good agreement with literature data given the differences in medium and temperature. In I = 0.6 M TMACl at 278 K and in I = 3 M KCl at 298 K the log Ki values are 6.42, 5.41, 3.99, 2.50, and 0.84 (for species i = 1-5) and 6.35, 5.25, and 4.11 (for species i = 1-3), respectively. Disappearance of the 19F NMR signals under certain conditions was shown to be due to precipitation. Certain 19F NMR signals exhibit temperature- and concentration-dependent exchange broadening. Detailed line shape analysis of the spectra and magnetization transfer measurements indicate that the kinetics are dominated by F- exchange rather than complex formation. The detected reactions and their rate constants are AlF2(2+) + *F- reversible AlF*F2+ + F- (k02 = (1.8 +/- 0.3) x 10(6) M-1 s-1), AlF3(0) + *F- reversible AlF2*F0 + F- (k03 = (3.9 +/- 0.9) x 10(6) M-1 s-1), and AlF3(0) + H*F reversible AlF2*F0 + HF (kH03 = (6.6 +/- 0.5) x 10(4) M-1 s-1). The rates of these exchange reactions increase markedly with increasing F- substitution. Thus, the reactions of AlF2+(aq) were too inert to be detected even on the T1 NMR time scale, while some of the reactions of AlF3(0)(aq) were fast, causing large line broadening. The ligand exchange appears to follow an associative interchange mechanism. The cis-trans isomerization of AlF2+(aq), consistent with octahedral geometry for that complex, is slowed sufficiently to be observed at temperatures around 270 K. Difference between the Al3+/F- system and the much studied Al3+/OH- system are briefly commented on.