Heat shock proteins and metal ions - Reaction or interaction?

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are part of the cell's molecular chaperone system responsible for the proper folding (or refolding) of proteins. They are expressed in cells of a wide variety of organisms, from bacteria and fungi to humans. While some HSPs require metal ions for proper functioning, others are expressed as a response of the organism to either essential or toxic metal ions. Their presence can influence the occurrence of cellular processes, even those as significant as programmed cell death. The development of research methods and structural modeling has enabled increasingly accurate recognition of new HSP functions, including their role in maintaining metal ion homeostasis. Current investigations on the expression of HSPs in response to heavy metal ions include not only the direct effect of these ions on the cell but also analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the increased production of HSPs with increasing ROS concentration. This minireview contains information about the direct and indirect interactions of heat shock proteins with metal ions, both those of biological importance and heavy metals.

A Comparative Study on Nickel Binding to Hpn-like Polypeptides from Two Helicobacter pylori Strains.

Combined potentiometric titration and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) methods were used to study the interactions of nickel(II) ions with the N-terminal fragments and histidine-rich fragments of Hpn-like protein from two Helicobacter pylori strains (11637 and 26695). The ITC measurements were performed at various temperatures and buffers in order to extract proton-independent reaction enthalpies of nickel binding to each of the studied protein fragments. We bring up the problem of ITC results of nickel binding to the Hpn-like protein being not always compatible with those from potentiometry and MS regarding the stoichiometry and affinity. The roles of the ATCUN motif and multiple His and Gln residues in Ni(II) binding are discussed. The results provided the possibility to compare the Ni(II) binding properties between N-terminal and histidine-rich part of Hpn-like protein and between N-terminal parts of two Hpn-like strains, which differ mainly in the number of glutamine residues.

General Aspects of Metal Ions as Signaling Agents in Health and Disease.

This review focuses on the current knowledge on the involvement of metal ions in signaling processes within the cell, in both physiological and pathological conditions. The first section is devoted to the recent discoveries on magnesium and calcium-dependent signal transduction-the most recognized signaling agents among metals. The following sections then describe signaling pathways where zinc, copper, and iron play a key role. There are many systems in which changes in intra- and extra-cellular zinc and copper concentrations have been linked to important downstream events, especially in nervous signal transduction. Iron signaling is mostly related with its homeostasis. However, it is also involved in a recently discovered type of programmed cell death, ferroptosis. The important differences in metal ion signaling, and its disease-leading alterations, are also discussed.

Ag+ Complexes as Potential Therapeutic Agents in Medicine and Pharmacy.

Silver is a non-essential element with promising antimicrobial and anticancer properties. This work is a detailed summary of the newest findings on the bioinorganic chemistry of silver, with a special focus on the applications of Ag+ complexes and nanoparticles. The coordination chemistry of silver is given a reasonable amount of attention, summarizing the most common silver binding sites and giving examples of such binding motifs in biologically important proteins. Possible applications of this metal and its complexes in medicine, particularly as antibacterial and antifungal agents and in cancer therapy, are discussed in detail. The most recent data on silver nanoparticles are also summarized.

Ferrichrome Has Found Its Match: Biomimetic Analogues with Diversified Activity Map Discrete Microbial Targets.

Siderophores provide an established platform for studying molecular recognition principles in biological systems. Herein, the preparation of ferrichrome (FC) biomimetic analogues varying in length and polarity of the amino acid chain separating between the tripodal scaffold and the pendent FeIII chelating hydroxamic acid groups was reported. Spectroscopic and potentiometric titrations determined their iron affinity to be within the range of efficient chelators. Microbial growth promotion and iron uptake studies were conducted on E. coli, P. putida and U. maydis. A wide range of siderophore activity was observed in the current series: from a rare case of a species-specific growth promotor in P. putida to an analogue matching FC in cross-phylum activity and uptake pathway. A fluorescent conjugate of the broad-range analogue visualized siderophore destination in bacteria (periplasmic space) vs. fungi (cytosol) mapping new therapeutic targets. Quantum dots (QDs) decorated with the most potent FC analogue provided a tool for immobilization of FC-recognizing bacteria. Bacterial clusters formed around QDs may provide a platform for their selection and concentration.

Biomimetic ferrichrome: structural motifs for switching between narrow- and broad-spectrum activities in P. putida and E. coli.

A series of novel ferrichrome (FC) analogs was designed based on the X-ray structure of FC in the FhuA transporter of Escherichia coli. Two strategies were employed: the first strategy optimized the overall size and relative orientation of H-bonding interactions. The second strategy increased H-bonding interactions by introducing external H-donors onto analogs' backbone. Tris-amino templates were coupled to succinic or aspartic acid, and the second carboxyl was used for hydroxamate construction. Succinic acid provided analogs without substituents, whereas aspartic acid generated analogs with external amines (i.e. H-donors). All analogs had similar physicochemical properties, yet the biological activity in Pseudomonas putida and E. coli showed great variation. While some analogs targeted specifically P. putida, others were active in both strains thus exhibiting broad-spectrum activity (as in native FC). Narrow-spectrum or species-specificity might find application in microbial diagnostic kits, while broad-spectrum recognition may have advantages in therapeutics as siderophore-drug conjugates. The differences in the structure and range of microbial recognition helped us in formulating guidelines for minimal essential parameters required for inducing broad-spectrum activity.

Iron chelating strategies in systemic metal overload, neurodegeneration and cancer.

Iron is a trace element required for normal performance of cellular processes. Because both the deficiency and excess of this metal are dangerous, its absorption, distribution and accumulation must be tightly regulated. Disturbances of iron homeostasis and an increase in its level may lead to overload and neurodegenerative diseases. Phlebotomy was for a long time the only way of removing excess iron. But since there are many possible disadvantages of this method, chelation therapy seems to be a logical approach to remove toxic levels of iron. In clinical use, there are three drugs: desferrioxamine, deferiprone and deferasirox. FBS0701, a novel oral iron chelator, is under clinical trials with very promising results. Developing novel iron-binding chelators is an urgent matter, not only for systemic iron overload, but also for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Deferiprone is also used in clinical trials in Parkinson's disease. In neurodegenerative disorders the main goal is not only to remove iron from brain tissues, but also its redistribution in system. Few chelators are tested for their potential use in neurodegeneration, such as nonhalogeneted derivatives of clioquinol. Such compounds gave promising results in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Drugs of possible use in neurodegeneration must meet certain criteria. Their development includes the improvement in blood brain barrier permeability, low toxicity and the ability to prevent lipid peroxidation. One of the compounds satisfying these requirements is VK28. In rat models it was able to protect neurons in very low doses without significantly changing the iron level in liver or serum. Also iron chelators able to regulate activity of monoamine oxidase were tested. Polyphenols and flavonoids are able to prevent lipid peroxidation and demonstrate neuroprotective activity. While cancer does not involve true iron overload, neoplastic cells have a higher iron requirement and are especially prone to its depletion. It was shown, that desferrioxamine and deferasirox are antiproliferative agents active in several types of cancer. Very potent compounds with possible use as anticancer drugs are thiosemicarbazones. They are able to inhibit ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme involved in DNA synthesis. Because the relationship between the development of overload / neurodegenerative disorders, or cancer, and iron are very complex, comprehension of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of iron homeostasis is a crucial factor in the development of new pharmacological strategies based on iron chelation. In view of various factors closely involved in pathogenesis of such diseases, designing multifunctional metal-chelators seems to be the most promising approach, but it requires a lot of effort. In this perspective, the review summarizes systemic iron homeostasis, and in brain and cancer cells, iron dysregulation in neurodegenerative disease and possible chelation strategies in the treatment of metal systemic overload, neurodegeneration and cancer.

Formation in aqueous solution of a non-oxido V(IV) complex with VN6 coordination. Potentiometric, ESI-MS, spectroscopic and computational characterization.

The behaviour of the system formed by V(IV)O(2+) ion with all-cis-2,4,6-trimethoxycyclohexane-1,3,5-triamine (tmca) was characterized in aqueous solution through the combined application of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV-Vis spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), pH-potentiometry and DFT methods. The formation of an unusual non-oxido [V(tmcaH-2)2] species with VN6 coordination, with the ligand in the bianionic form, was demonstrated. The geometry, EPR and UV-Vis spectra and electronic structure of [V(tmcaH-2)2] were simulated with Gaussian 09 and ORCA software and the results were compared with those of similar oxido and non-oxido vanadium(iv) species formed by other polyamine and polyol related ligands, such as 1,3,5-triamino-1,3,5-trideoxy-cis-inositol (taci), 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(dimethylamino)-cis-inositol (tdci), cis-inositol (ino) and 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-trimethoxy-cis-inositol (tmci). The results indicate that V(IV)O(2+) species are formed in acid and weakly basic solution and that [V(tmcaH-2)2] is observed above pH 10. In the non-oxido complex, DFT calculations suggest that the two -NH2 groups are in trans position and that the pre-organization of the ligands favours the metal complexation and the formation of the hexa-coordinated species with VN6 coordination.

Coordination diversity in mono- and oligonuclear copper(II) complexes of pyridine-2-hydroxamic and pyridine-2,6-dihydroxamic acids.

Solution and solid state studies on Cu(II) complexes of pyridine-2-hydroxamic acid (HPicHA) and pyridine-2,6-dihydroxamic acid (H2PyDHA) were carried out. The use of methanol/water solvent allowed us to investigate the Cu(II)-HPicHA equilibria under homogeneous conditions between pH 1 and 11. In agreement with ESI-MS indication, the potentiometric data fitted very well with the model usually reported for copper(II) complexes of α-aminohydroxamate complexes ([CuL](+), [Cu5(LH-1)4](2+), [CuL2], [CuL2H-1](-)), however with much higher stability of the 12-MC-4 species. A series of copper(II) complexes has been isolated in the solid state and characterized by a variety of spectroscopic methods, X-ray structure analysis, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The ligands show the tendency to form bi- and trinuclear species with copper(II) ions due to the {(N,N'); (O,O')} bis-(bidentate) chelating-and-bridging mode involving (O,O')-hydroxamate chelate formation combined with (N,N') chelating with participation of the pyridine and hydroxamic nitrogen atoms, so that the hydroxamate groups play a µ2-(N,O)-bridging role. Molecular and crystal structures of three synthesized complexes [Cu3(PicHA-H)2(dipy)2](ClO4)2·4/3DMSO·2/3H2O (1), [Cu2(PyDHA)(dipy)2(ClO4)2]·DMF·H2O (4), and [Cu3(PyDHA-2H)(tmeda)3](ClO4)2 (5) (dipy, 2,2'-dipyridyl; tmeda, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,2-diaminoethane) have been determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. In 1, two trans-situated doubly deprotonated hydroxamic ligands play a {(O,O')(N,N')}-(bis)bidentate-bridging function forming bridges between the medial, Cu(2) (CuN4), and the terminal, Cu(1) and Cu(3) (CuN2O2), copper(II) ions; the chelating dipy ligands are coordinated to the latter. In 4, the ligand is coordinated in a classical (O,O')-hydroxamate chelating mode with the help of two separate hydroxamic groups while the central tridentate donor compartment remains vacant. In 5, the hydroxamate ligand is coordinated by the {(O,O');(N,N',N″);(O″,O"')}-tridentate-(bis)bidentate mode, bridging three copper(II) ions, while the chelating tmeda ligands are coordinated to all three copper(II) ions. Magnetic susceptibility measurements (1.7-300 K) of powdered samples of the trinuclear complexes 1 and 5 revealed strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the copper(II) ions mediated by the hydroxamate bridges.