Copper(II) and zinc(II) ion binding properties of a MAP type branched ligand with histidines as surface functionalities.

A novel branched peptide type ligand consisting of three lysines as branching units and four histidines as functional groups has been designed and prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis. The N-terminal histidines offer eight primary protonation/metal ion binding sites: four amino and four imidazole groups, capable of binding up to two metal ions. We examined the protonation equilibria, and the complex formation processes with copper(II) and zinc(II) ions in c(M):c(L) = 1:1 and 2:1 initial concentration ratio in aqueous solutions. The composition, speciation and the solution structure of the complexes have been determined by combined pH-potentiometric titrations, visible absorption, circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy. In the case of both metal ions, mono- and dimetallic complexes formed with bis-histamine type coordination as the main species. While above pH 8 the precipitation of a neutral complex was observed for both metal ions, in the copper(II) containing systems it dissolved in alkaline solutions (pH > 11.0). The resulting complex in an equimolar system displays deprotonated amide-nitrogen coordination, with fused five-membered chelate rings around the metal ion in [CuLH(-3)](-). At the same time, only one copper(II) is able to coordinate in the same manner in the [Cu(2)LH(-5)](-) species. The second metal ion is probably surrounded by two amide nitrogens and two others either from amino or imidazole donor groups.

Design of histidine containing peptides for better understanding of their coordination mode toward copper(II) by CD spectroscopy.

The systematic investigation of the copper(II) complexes of tripeptides Xaa-Xaa-His, Xaa-His-Xaa and His-Xaa-Xaa, where Xaa=Gly or Ala was performed by combined pH-metry, spectrophotometry, CD and in part EPR spectroscopy. The matrix rank analysis of the spectral data revealed the number of the coloured and optically active species as a basis for the solution speciation. A critical evaluation on the speciation and solution structure of the complexes formed is presented on the basis of their d-d band optical activity. The replacement of a Gly residue with the chiral Ala amino acid allowed us to gain decisive information on the solution structure of the complexes by CD spectroscopy. It was shown that the tripeptides with histidine in the third position formed CuH(-2)L species with (NH(2), 2N(-), ImN - where Im stands for imidazole) coordination sphere as a major species, and only the macrochelated CuL complexes as minor species around pH 5.0. In copper(II)-Xaa-His-Xaa tripeptide systems the CuH(-1)L (NH(2), N(-), ImN) is the most stable species at physiological pH, but the vacant fourth site around copper(II)ions is offered for further deprotonation, most probably resulting in mixed hydroxo species at low (<5 x 10(-4)M) metal ion concentrations, while a tetrameric complex is dominant when the copper concentration exceeds 3 x 10(-3)M. The histamine type coordination mode in CuL and CuL(2) complexes of His-Xaa-Xaa ligands predominates at low pH. The structural consequences drawn from the CD spectra for the mono and bis parent complexes were supported by theoretical calculations. CD spectra strongly suggest the participation of the imidazole nitrogen both in the Cu(2)H(-2)L(2) and CuH(-2)L complexes.