Electrochemical Characterization of Biochemically Active Cu(II) Mixed Ligand Complex with Histidine and Cysteine.

Copper(II) complexes with cysteine and histidine, amino acids that coordinate copper(II) in human body, were investigated. Cu-His and Cu-Cys complexes were detected in pH range from 5.0 to 9.0 using voltammetric techniques. [CuHis2] complex reduces by two-electron reversible process at ≈−0.40 V, while [CuCys] complex by one-electron quasireversible process at −0.6 V, revealing strong adsorption at the electrode surface. When both amino acids are present in the solution, new peak appeared at −0.5 V, which corresponded to the [CuHisCys] complex reduction. Formation and characterization of mixed ligand complex was also supported by UV-Vis spectra recorded at fixed histidine and various cysteine concentrations. Formation of [CuHisCys] complex in the solution was detected and stability constant calculated to amount to log KCuHisCys=16.9±0.3. This study was the first attempt to characterize formation of Cu(II) mixed ligand complexation process with biochemically important amino acids in electron transport and oxygenation reactions in human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]