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The Gly-His-Lys (GHK) peptide and the Asp-Ala-His-Lys (DAHK) sequences are naturally occurring high-affinity copper(II) chelators found in the blood plasma and are hence of biological interest. A structural study of the copper complexes of these peptides was conducted in the solid state and in solution by determining their X-ray structures, and by using a large range of spectroscopies, including EPR and HYSCORE (hyperfine sub-level correlation), X-ray absorption and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The results indicate that the structures of [Cu(II)(DAHK)] in the solid state and in solution are similar and confirm the equatorial coordination sphere of NH(2), two amidyl N and one imidazole N. Additionally, a water molecule is bound apically to Cu(II) as revealed by the X-ray structure. As reported previously in the literature, [Cu(II)(GHK)], which exhibits a dimeric structure in the solid state, forms a monomeric complex in solution with three nitrogen ligands: NH(2), amidyl and imidazole. The fourth equatorial site is occupied by a labile oxygen atom from a carboxylate ligand in the solid state. We probe that fourth position and study ternary complexes of [Cu(II)(GHK)] with glycine or histidine. The Cu(II) exchange reaction between different DAHK peptides is very slow, in contrast to [Cu(II)(GHK)], in which the fast exchange was attributed to the presence of a [Cu(II)(GHK)(2)] complex. The redox properties of [Cu(II)(GHK)] and [Cu(II)(DAHK)] were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and by measuring the ascorbate oxidation in the presence of molecular oxygen. The measurements indicate that both Cu(II) complexes are inert under moderate redox potentials. In contrast to [Cu(II)(DAHK)], [Cu(II)(GHK)] could be reduced to Cu(I) around -0.62 V (versus AgCl/Ag) with subsequent release of the Cu ion. These complete analyses of structure and redox activity of those complexes gave new insights with biological impact and can serve as models for other more complicated Cu(II)-peptide interactions., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Interaction of Cu ions with the amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide is linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease; hence, determining the coordination of Cu(I) and Cu(II) ions to Abeta and the pathway of the Cu(I)(Abeta)/Cu(II)(Abeta) redox conversion is of great interest. In the present report, we use the room temperature X-ray absorption near edge structure to show that the binding sites of the Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes are similar to those previously determined from frozen-solution studies. More precisely, the Cu(I) is coordinated by the imidazole groups of two histidine residues in a linear fashion. However, an NMR study unravels the involvement of all three histidine residues in the Cu(I) binding due to dynamical exchange between several set of ligands. The presence of an equilibrium is also responsible for the complex redox process observed by cyclic voltammetry and evidenced by a concentration-dependent electrochemical response.

Our previous studies on the met- and met-azido-Hc forms from Octopus vulgaris (mollusc) and Carcinus aestuarii (arthropod) at pH 7.5 and on some related binuclear models without X-ray diffraction have considered and resolved some fundamental aspects of their binuclear type-3 copper site (i.e. correct values of the Cu-Cu distances; apical distortion, when present, at the copper site; presence and type of bridging groups). In this contribution the multiple-scattering (MS) calculations performed in order to refine the EXAFS modulation of the absorption spectra are presented. It is only with a composite and advanced approach that some severe problems, mainly deriving from the presence of two absorbing atoms and from the fact that the metal-metal contribution in the absorption spectra overlaps with the Cu-His signals, have been overcome. Results are also presented which indicate the role of the MS calculations in the XANES edge region, and which show how it is possible to extract quantitative information from this zone of the spectrum in order to refine the structure of the site also in the case of a binuclear centre.

Interaction of Cu ions with the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease; hence, determining the coordination of CuI and CuII ions to Aβ and the pathway of the CuI(Aβ)/CuII(Aβ) redox conversion is of great interest. In the present report, we use the room temperature X-ray absorption near edge structure to show that the binding sites of the CuI and CuII complexes are similar to those previously determined from frozen-solution studies. More precisely, the CuI is coordinated by the imidazole groups of two histidine residues in a linear fashion. However, an NMR study unravels the involvement of all three histidine residues in the CuI binding due to dynamical exchange between several set of ligands. The presence of an equilibrium is also responsible for the complex redox process observed by cyclic voltammetry and evidenced by a concentration-dependent electrochemical response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous studies on the met- and met-azido-Hc forms from Octopus vulgaris (mollusc) and Carcinus aestuarii (arthropod) at pH 7.5 and on some related binuclear models without X-ray diffraction have considered and resolved some fundamental aspects of their binuclear type-3 copper site (i.e. correct values of the Cu-Cu distances; apical distortion, when present, at the copper site; presence and type of bridging groups). In this contribution the multiple- scattering (MS) calculations performed in order to refine the EXAFS modulation of the absorption spectra are presented. It is only with a composite and advanced approach that some severe problems, mainly deriving from the presence of two absorbing atoms and from the fact that the metal-metal contribution in the absorption spectra overlaps with the Cu-His signals, have been overcome. Results are also presented which indicate the role of the MS calculations in the XANES edge region, and which show how it is possible to extract quantitative information from this zone of the spectrum in order to refine the structure of the site also in the case of a binuclear centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It has been suggested that copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) isoforms of distinct isoelectric point (pI) could result from differences in their metallation state. Our aim was then to develop and validate analytical methods for the determination and understanding of metallation states in human CuZnSOD isoforms. To avoid metal losses during sample preparation steps, CuZnSOD isoforms were separated according to their pI using non-denaturing isoelectric focusing (IEF) gel electrophoresis. Metal quantification was directly performed in-gel. Cu/Zn ratios of CuZnSOD isoforms were quantified by Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Cu/Zn ratios were measured close to the value of 1 as expected from the known stoichiometry of CuZnSOD with slight, but statistically significant, differences between acidic and basic isoforms. Overall, this study demonstrates that metal quantification can be performed directly on metalloproteins separated on electrophoresis gels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]