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Peptide tags are extensively used for affinity purification of proteins. In an optimal case, these tags can be completely removed from the purified protein by a specific protease mediated hydrolysis. However, the interactions of these tags with the target protein may also be utilized for the modulation of the protein function. Here we show that the C-terminal hexahistidine (6 × His) tag can influence the catalytic activity of the nuclease domain of the Colicin E7 metallonuclease (NColE7) used by E. coli to kill competing bacteria under stress conditions. This enzyme non-specifically cleaves the DNA that results in cytotoxicity. We have successfully cloned the genes of NColE7 protein and its R447G mutant into a modified pET-21a DNA vector fusing the affinity tag to the protein upon expression, which would be otherwise not possible in the absence of the gene of the Im7 inhibitory protein. This reflects the inhibitory effect of the 6 × His fusion tag on the nuclease activity, which proved to be a complex process via both coordinative and non-specific steric interactions. The modulatory effect of Zn 2+ ion was observed in the catalytic activity experiments. The DNA cleavage ability of the 6 × His tagged enzyme was first enhanced by an increase of metal ion concentration, while high excess of Zn 2+ ions caused a lower rate of the DNA cleavage. Modelling of the coordinative effect of the fusion tag by external chelators suggested ternary complex formation instead of removal of the metal ion from the active center., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In order to improve the fluorescence properties of the green fluorescent protein chromophore, p‑HOBDI ((5‑(4‑hydroxybenzylidene)‑2,3‑dimethyl‑3,5‑dihydro‑4H‑imidazol‑4‑one), sixteen dihydroimidazolone derivates were synthesized from thiohydantoin and arylaldehydes. The synthesis developed is an efficient, novel, one-pot procedure. The study provides a detailed description of the spectroscopic characteristics of the newly synthesized compounds, using p‑HOBDI as a reference. The new compounds all exhibited significantly stronger fluorescence than p‑HOBDI, up to 28 times higher quantum yields. An experimental and theoretical investigation of the relationship of the fluorescence properties with the molecular structure was also carried out. A good correlation was found between the emission wavenumber and the Hammett constant of the functional group, which suggests the intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism between the aromatic groups., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In order to mimic the active center of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), we synthesized a pentadecapeptide (Ac-KAHEFGHSLGLDHSK-NH2) corresponding to the catalytic zinc(II) binding site of human MMP-13. The multi-domain structural organization of MMPs fundamentally determines their metal binding affinity, catalytic activity and selectivity. Our potentiometric, UV-visible, CD, EPR, NMR, mass spectrometric and kinetic studies are aimed to explore the usefulness of such flexible peptides to mimic the more rigid metal binding sites of proteins, to examine the intrinsic metal binding properties of this naked sequence, as well as to contribute to the development of a minimalist, peptide-based chemical model of MMPs, including the catalytic properties. Since the multiimidazole environment is also characteristic for copper(II), and recently copper(II) containing variants of MMPs have been identified, we also studied the copper(II) complexes of the above peptide. Around pH 6-7 the peptide, similarly to MMPs, offers a {3Nim} coordination binding site for both zinc(II) and copper(II). In the case of copper(II), the formation of amide coordinated species at higher pH abolished the analogy with the copper(II) containing MMP variant. On the other hand, the zinc(II)-peptide system mimics some basic features of the MMP active sites: the main species around pH7 (ZnH2L) possesses a {3Nim,H2O} coordination environment, the deprotonation of the zinc-bound water takes place near the physiological pH, it forms relatively stable ternary complexes with hydroxamic acids, and the species ZnH2L(OH) and ZnH2L(OH)2 have notable hydrolytic activity between pH7 and 9., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Speciation of the complexes of zinc(II) with a dodecapeptide (Ac-SCPGDQGSDCSI-NH2), inspired by the metal binding domain of MerR metalloregulatory proteins, have been studied by pH-potentiometric titrations, UV, SRCD (synchrotron radiation circular dichroism) and (1)H NMR experiments. (MerR is a family of transcriptional regulators the archetype of which is the Hg(2+)-responsive transcriptional repressor-activator MerR protein.) The aim of the ligand-design was to retain the advantageous metal binding features of MerR proteins in a model peptide for the efficient capture of toxic metal ions. The peptide binds zinc(II) via two deprotonated Cys-thiol groups and one of the Asp-carboxylates in the ZnL parent complex, possessing a remarkably high stability (logK=9.93). In spite of the relatively long peptide loop, bis-complexes are also formed with the metal ion under basic conditions. In a competition with cadmium(II) or mercury(II), zinc(II) cannot prevent the binding of toxic metal ions by the thiolate donor groups of the ligand. Around neutral pH one equivalent of mercury(II) was shown to fully replace zinc(II) from the ZnL species. Partial replacement of zinc(II) from the peptide by one equivalent of cadmium(II), relative to zinc(II) and the ligand, is also presumable, nevertheless, spectroscopic data may suggest the formation of mixed metal ion complexes, as well. Based on the obtained results the investigated dodecapeptide can be a promising candidate for capturing toxic metal ions in practical applications., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Cu,Zn superoxide dismutases (Cu,Zn SOD) isolated from some Gram-negative bacteria possess a His-rich N-terminal metal binding extension. The N-terminal domain of Haemophilus ducreyi Cu,Zn SOD has been previously proposed to play a copper(II)-, and may be a zinc(II)-chaperoning role under metal ion starvation, and to behave as a temporary (low activity) superoxide dismutating center if copper(II) is available. The N-terminal extension of Cu,Zn SOD from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae starts with an analogous sequence (HxDHxH), but contains considerably fewer metal binding sites. In order to study the possibility of the generalization of the above mentioned functions over all Gram-negative bacteria possessing His-rich N-terminal extension, here we report thermodynamic and solution structural analysis of the copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of a peptide corresponding to the first eight amino acids (HADHDHKK-NH(2), L) of the enzyme isolated from A. pleuropneumoniae. In equimolar solutions of Cu(II)/Zn(II) and the peptide the MH(2)L complexes are dominant in the neutral pH-range. L has extraordinary copper(II) sequestering capacity (K(D,Cu)=7.4×10(-13)M at pH 7.4), which is provided only by non-amide (side chain) donors. The central ion in CuH(2)L is coordinated by four nitrogens {NH(2),3N(im)} in the equatorial plane. In ZnH(2)L the peptide binds to zinc(II) through a {NH(2),2N(im),COO(-)} donor set, and its zinc binding affinity is relatively modest (K(D,Zn)=4.8×10(-7)M at pH 7.4). Consequently, the presented data do support a general chaperoning role of the N-terminal His-rich region of Gram-negative bacteria in copper(II) uptake, but do not confirm similar function for zinc(II). Interestingly, the complex CuH(2)L has very high SOD-like activity, which may further support the multifunctional role of the copper(II)-bound N-terminal His-rich domain of Cu,Zn SODs of Gram-negative bacteria. The proposed structure for the MH(2)L complexes has been verified by semiempirical quantum chemical calculations (PM6), too., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Copper(II) and nickel(II) binding properties of two pseudo tetrapeptides, N-Boc-Gly-Gly-Gly-Histamine (BGGGHa) and Gly-Gly-Gly-Histamine (GGGHa) have been investigated by pH-potentiometric titrations, UV-visible-, EPR-, NMR- and ESI-HRMS (electrospray ionization high resolution MS) spectroscopies, in order to compare the role of N-terminal amino group and imidazole moiety at the fourth position in the complex formation processes. Substantially higher stabilities were determined for the ML complexes of GGGHa, compared to those of BGGGHa, supporting the coordination of the terminal amino group and the histamine imidazole of the non-protected ligand. A dimeric Cu(2)H(-2)L(2) species, formed through the deprotonation of peptide groups of the ligands, was found in the GGGHa-copper(II) system. Deprotonation and coordination of further amide nitrogens led to CuH(-2)L and, above pH~10, CuH(-3)L. Experimental data supports a {NH(2), 2 × N(amide),N(im)} macrochelate structure in CuH(-2)L whereas a {NH(2), 3 × N(amide)} coordination environment in CuH(-3)L. The first two amide deprotonation processes were found to be strongly cooperative with nickel(II) and spectroscopic studies proved the transformation of the octahedral parent complexes to square planar, yellow, diamagnetic species, NiH(-2)L and above pH~9, NiH(-3)L. In the basic pH-range deprotonation and coordination of the amide groups also took place in the BGGGHa containing systems, leading to complexes with a {3 × N(amide),N(im)} donor set, and in parallel the re-dissolving of precipitate. Above pH~11, a further proton release from the pyrrolic NH group of the imidazole ring of BGGGHa occurred providing an additional proof for the different binding modes of the two ligands., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The zinc(II) and copper(II) binding ability of two oligopeptide fragments, Ac-HHPHG-NH(2) and Ac-HHPHGHHPHG-NH(2), derived from the repeat-region of the His-Pro-rich domain of histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) and the structure of the formed complexes have been investigated by potentiometry, NMR-, UV-visible-, CD-, SRCD- and EPR spectroscopy. Exclusive coordination of the side-chain imidazoles of the peptides has been observed with both metal ions in the acidic and neutral pH range. While the three His units of the pentapeptide resulted in a modest stability of the ML complexes, the decapeptide with its increased number of His residues offered a high-affinity metal binding site for both metal ions with the participation of at least four nitrogen donors. Due to the high number of potential donor groups, the formation of binding isomers of the protonated and parent complexes is very likely. Both peptides show a synchrotron radiation (SR) CD-pattern resembling to that of the polyproline II structure, similarly to that of the His-Pro-rich domain of the HRG protein. The longer sequence was shown to bind a second metal ion in the slightly acidic pH-range. The determined stability data suggest a remarkable extra stabilization emerging in the decapeptide for the coordination of the second metal ions, as compared to the ML complexes of the pentapeptide. Whether the observed cooperativity has similarities to the cooperative metal binding feature of HRG or the two phenomena have different sources is a question yet to be clarified.

A histidine-rich peptide HSHRDFQPVLHL-NH(2) (L), identical with the N-terminal fragment of the anti-angiogenic human endostatin has been synthesized. Endostatin is a recently identified broad spectrum angiogenesis inhibitor, which inhibits 65 different tumor types. The N-terminal 25-mer peptide fragment of human endostatin has the same antitumor effect as the entire protein. The zinc(II) binding is crucial for the antitumor effect in both cases. Our peptide may provide all critical interactions for zinc(II) binding present in the N-terminal 25-mer peptide fragment. In addition, the N-terminus of human endostatin has a supposedly high affinity binding site for copper(II), similar to human serum albumin. Since copper(II) is intimately involved in angiogenesis, this may have biological relevance. In order to determine the metal binding properties of the N-terminal fragment of endostatin, we performed equilibrium, UV-visible (UV-vis), CD, EPR and NMR studies on the zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes of L. In the presence of zinc(II) the formation of a stable [NH(2),3N(im),COO(-)] coordinated complex was detected in the neutral pH-range. This coordination mode is probably identical to that present in the zinc(II) complex of the above mentioned N-terminal 25-mer peptide fragment of human endostatin. Moreover, L has extremely high copper(II) binding affinity, close to those of copper-containing metalloenzymes, and forms albumin-like [NH(2),N(-),N(-),N(im)] coordinated copper(II) complex in the neutral pH-range, which may suggest that copper(II) binding is involved in the biological activity of endostatin.

The Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu,ZnSOD) isolated from Haemophilus ducreyi possesses a His-rich N-terminal metal binding domain, which has been previously proposed to play a copper(II) chaperoning role. To analyze the metal binding ability and selectivity of the histidine-rich domain we have carried out thermodynamic and solution structural analysis of the copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of a peptide corresponding to the first 11 amino acids of the enzyme (H(2)N-HGDHMHNHDTK-OH, L). This peptide has highly versatile metal binding ability and provides one and three high affinity binding sites for zinc(II) and copper(II), respectively. In equimolar solutions the MHL complexes are dominant in the neutral pH-range with protonated lysine epsilon-amino group. As a consequence of its multidentate nature, L binds zinc and copper with extraordinary high affinity (K(D,Zn)=1.6x10(-9)M and K(D,Cu)=5.0x10(-12)M at pH 7.4) and appears as the strongest zinc(II) and copper(II) chelator between the His-rich peptides so far investigated. These K(D) values support the already proposed role of the N-terminal His-rich region of H. ducreyi Cu,ZnSOD in copper recruitment under metal starvation, and indicate a similar function in the zinc(II) uptake, too. The kinetics of copper(II) transfer from L to the active site of Cu-free N-deleted H. ducreyi Cu,ZnSOD showed significant pH and copper-to-peptide ratio dependence, indicating specific structural requirements during the metal ion transfer to the active site. Interestingly, the complex CuHL has significant superoxide dismutase like activity, which may suggest multifunctional role of the copper(II)-bound N-terminal His-rich domain of H. ducreyi Cu,ZnSOD.

The copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) binding ability of the multi-histidine peptide N-acetyl-His-Pro-His-His-NH(2) has been studied by combined pH-potentiometry and visible, CD and EPR spectroscopies. The internal proline residue, preventing the metal ion induced successive amide deprotonations, resulted in the shift of this process toward higher pH values as compared to other peptides. The metal ions in the parent [ML](2+) complexes are exclusively bound by the three imidazole side chains. In [CuH(-1)L](+), formed between pH 6-8, the side chains of the two adjacent histidines and the peptide nitrogen between them are involved in metal ion binding. The next deprotonation results in the proton loss of the coordinated water molecule (CuH(-1)L(OH)). The latter two species exert polyfunctional catalytic activity, since they possess superoxide dismutase-, catecholase- (the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol) and phosphatase-like (transesterification of the activated phosphoester 2-hydroxypropyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphate) properties. On further increase of the pH rearrangement of the coordination sphere takes place leading to the [CuH(-3)L](-) species, the deprotonated amide nitrogen displaces a coordinated imidazole nitrogen from the equatorial position of the metal ion. The shapes of the visible and CD spectra reflect a distorted arrangement of the donor atoms around the metal ion. In presence of zinc(II) the species [ZnL](2+) forms only above pH 6, which is shortly followed by precipitation. On the other hand, the [NiL](2+) complex is stable over a wide pH range, its deprotonation takes place only above pH 8. At pH 10 an octahedral NiH(-2)L species is present at first, which transforms slowly to a yellow square planar complex.

The equilibrium and solution structural properties of the iron(III) and copper(II) complexes of an asymmetric salen-like ligand (N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-2,3-diamino-propionic acid, H(3)bhbdpa) bearing a pendant carboxylate group were characterized in aqueous solution by potentiometric, pH-dependent electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV-Vis (UV-Visible) measurements. In the equimolar systems the pentadentate ligand forms very stable, differently protonated mononuclear complexes with both metal ions. In the presence of iron(III) {NH, PhO(-), COO(-)}, {2NH, 2PhO(-), COO(-)} and {2NH, 2PhO(-), COO(-), OH(-)} coordinated complexes are dominant. The EPR titrations reflected the presence of microscopic complex formation pathways, leading to the formation of binding isomers in case of Cu(H(2)bhbdpa)(+), Cu(Hbhbdpa) and Cu(bhbdpa)(-). The {2NH, 2PhO(-)+COO(-)/H(2)O} coordinated Cu(bhbdpa) is the only species between pH 6-11. At twofold excess of metal ion dinuclear complexes were detected with both iron(III) and copper(II). In presence of iron(III) a mu-carboxylato-mu-hydroxo-bridged dinuclear complex (Fe(2)(bhbdpa)(OH)(3)) is formed from Fe(H(2)bhbdpa)(2+) through overlapping proton release processes, providing one of the rare examples for the stabilization of an endogenous carboxylate bridged diiron core in aqueous solution. The complex Cu(2)(bhbdpa)(+) detected in the presence of copper(II) is a paramagnetic (S=1) species with relatively weakly coupled metal ions.

Copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of a polyamino-polyol ligand 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(methylamino)-cis-inositol (tmci) have been investigated as potential candidates for the selective elimination of the 5'-cap structure of mRNA. A cap-model compound ApppA has been utilised as substrate for studying the effect of the different metal ion complex catalysts on the hydrolysis of the triphosphate bridge. Kinetic experiments have been performed by the variation of pH, metal-to-ligand ratio and total concentrations of the metal ion and ligand. The zinc(II) complexes of tmci have been proved to possess a remarkable activity for the hydrolysis of ApppA. The observed rate enhancement compared to the uncatalysed reaction was found to be 12,000-fold, in the presence of 4.5mM zinc(II) and 1.5mM tmci at pH approximately 7.5. In contrast with the copper(II) containing systems, an extra product has also been formed during the cleavage process, beside the expected AMP and ADP. According to the ESI-MS characterisation of the samples, the additional product is a covalent phosphoester adduct of AMP and the ligand. The formation of this species is initiated by a nucleophilic attack of a zinc(II)-bound alcohol or alkoxo group on one of the alpha phosphate groups of ApppA, which leads to the formation of a phosphodiester bond. In an alternative pathway, the substrate is cleaved into AMP and ADP. According to the pH-potentiometric studies, performed with the tmci-zinc(II) system, di- and trinuclear complexes are responsible for the accelerated ApppA hydrolysis. The copper(II)-tmci 2:1 system showed only a modest kinetic activity. The rate acceleration significantly increased when threefold excess of copper(II) was applied. Although, the detailed investigations above pH approximately 6.6 have been prevented by precipitate formation during the addition of the substrate into the reaction solution, the activity of the copper(II)-tmci 3:1 system does not exceed that of the zinc(II) complexes. Due to the specific mechanism leading to the covalent extra product, the zinc(II) complexes of tmci provide a comparable rate enhancement for ApppA hydrolysis to the widely studied lanthanide or copper(II) species, in spite of the fact that they are stronger Lewis acids.