Biomedical subjects

Edward I Solomon

Publications and source records attributed to Edward I Solomon.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

EPR spectroscopy of [Fe2O2(5-Et3-TPA)2]3+: electronic origin of the unique spin-Hamiltonian parameters of the Fe2(III,IV)O2 diamond core.

The electronic origins of the magnetic signatures of [Fe(2)O(2)(5-Et(3)-TPA)(2)](ClO(4))(3), where 5-Et(3)-TPA = tris(5-ethyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine, were investigated by density functional calculations. These signatures consist of a near-axial EPR spectrum, anisotropic superhyperfine broadening upon (17)O substitution in the Fe(2)O(2) core, and an unusually large, positive zero-field splitting parameter, D = 38 +/- 3 cm(-1). Density functional calculations identify the anisotropic (17)O superhyperfine broadening to be due to a preponderance of oxo 2p density perpendicular to the plane of the Fe(2)O(2) core in the three singly occupied molecular orbitals of the S = (3)/(2) ground state. The near-axial g-matrix arises from DeltaS = 0 spin-orbit mixing between the singly and doubly occupied d(pi) orbitals of the iron d-manifold. The large D is due to DeltaS = +/-1 spin-orbit mixing with low-lying d(pi) excited states. These experimental observables reflect the dominance of iron-oxo (rather than Fe-Fe) bonding in the Fe(2)O(2) core, and define the low-lying valence orbitals responsible for reactivity.

Diamond↗

PubMed2003

Spectroscopic and electronic structure studies of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase: O2 reactivity of the non-heme ferrous site in extradiol dioxygenases.

The extradiol dioxygenase, 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (DHBD, EC 1.13.11.39), has been studied using magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), variable-temperature variable-field (VTVH) MCD, X-ray absorption (XAS) pre-edge, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies, which are analogous to methods used in earlier studies on the extradiol dioxygenase catechol 2,3-dioxygenase [Mabrouk et al. J. Am. Chem Soc. 1991, 113, 4053-4061]. For DHBD, the spectroscopic data can be correlated to the results of crystallography and with the results from density functional calculations to obtain detailed geometric and electronic structure descriptions of the resting and substrate (DHB) bound forms of the enzyme. The geometry of the active site of the resting enzyme, square pyramidal with a strong Fe-glutamate bond in the equatorial plane, localizes the redox active orbital in an orientation appropriate for O(2) binding. However, the O(2) reaction is not favorable, as it would produce a ferric superoxide intermediate with a weak Fe-O bond. Substrate binding leads to a new square pyramidal structure with the strong Fe-glutamate bond in the axial direction as indicated by a decrease in the (5)E(g) and increase in the (5)T(2g) splitting. Electronic structure calculations provide insight into the relative lack of dioxygen reactivity for the resting enzyme and its activation upon substrate binding.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2003

Spectroscopic investigation of stellacyanin mutants: axial ligand interactions at the blue copper site.

Detailed electronic and geometric structural descriptions of the blue copper sites in wild-type (WT) stellacyanin and its Q99M and Q99L axial mutants have been obtained using a combination of XAS, resonance Raman, MCD, EPR, and DFT calculations. The results show that the origin of the short Cu-S(Cys) bond in blue copper proteins is the weakened axial interaction, which leads to a shorter (based on EXAFS results) and more covalent (based on S K-edge XAS) Cu-S bond. XAS pre-edge energies show that the effective nuclear charge on the copper increases going from O(Gln) to S(Met) to no axial (Leu) ligand, indicating that the weakened axial ligand is not fully compensated for by the increased donation from the thiolate. This is further supported by EPR results. MCD data show that the decreased axial interaction leads to an increase in the equatorial ligand field, indicating that the site acquires a more trigonally distorted tetrahedral structure. These geometric and electronic structural changes, which result from weakening the bonding interaction of the axial ligand, allow the site to maintain efficient electron transfer (high H(DA) and low reorganization energy), while modulating the redox potential of the site to the biologically relevant range. These spectroscopic studies are complemented by DFT calculations to obtain insight into the factors that allow stellacyanin to maintain a trigonally distorted tetrahedral structure with a relatively strong axial Cu(II)-oxygen bond.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2003

Rapid-freeze-quench magnetic circular dichroism of intermediate X in ribonucleotide reductase: new structural insight.

To elucidate the electronic structure of intermediate X in the oxygen activation reaction of the R2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, a protocol has been developed to perform magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) on a rapid-freeze-quench, strain free optical sample. RFQ-MCD data have been collected on intermediate X in the double mutant of R2, Y122/Y356F. While X has been reported to exhibit a broad absorption band at 365 nm, there are at least 10 electronic transitions observed at low-temperature MCD. From C0/D0 ratios, the transitions of X can be divided into three regions: 16 000-22 000 cm-1 region involving spin-allowed ligand field transitions of the Fe(IV), 23 000-24 000 cm-1 region of spin-forbidden, spin-flip transitions on the Fe(IV), and the charge transfer (CT) region from 26 000 to 32 000 cm-1. The C0/D0 ratios from d --> d and CT transitions strongly support significant Fe(IV) character coupled into the paramagnetic center. Ligand field (spin-allowed d --> d region) analysis allows the bis-mu-oxo and mu-oxo plus other monoanionic bridge possibilities for the structure of intermediate X to be distinguished, providing new insight into the molecular mechanism of the cluster formation in R2.

Circular Dichroism↗

PubMed2003

Spectroscopic studies of the interaction of ferrous bleomycin with DNA.

Bleomycin is an antibiotic used in cancer chemotherapy for its ability to achieve both single- and double-strand cleavage of DNA through abstraction of the deoxyribose C4'-H. Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and X-ray absorption (XAS) spectroscopies have been used to study the interaction of the biologically relevant FeIIBLM complex with DNA. Calf thymus DNA was used as the substrate as well as short oligonucleotides, including one with a preferred 5'-G-pyrimidine-3' cleavage site [d(GGAAGCTTCC)2] and one without [d(GGAAATTTCC)2]. DNA binding to FeIIBLM significantly perturbs the FeII active site, resulting in a change in intensity ratio of the d d transitions and a decrease in excited-state orbital splitting (5Eg). Although this effect is somewhat dependent on length and composition of the oligonucleotide, it is not correlated to the presence of a 5'-G-pyrimidine-3' cleavage site. No effect is observed on the charge-transfer transitions, indicating that the H-bonding recognition between the pyrimidine and guanine base does not perturb Fe-pyrimidine backbonding. Azide binding studies indicate that FeIIBLM bound to either oligomer has the same affinity for N3-. Parallel studies of BLM structural derivatives indicate that FeIIiso-PEPLM, in which the carbamoyl group is shifted on the mannose sugar, forms the same DNA-bound species as FeIIBLM. In contrast, FeIIDP-PEPLM, in which the -aminoalanine group is absent, forms a new species upon DNA binding. These data are consistent with a model in which the primary amine from the -aminoalanine is an FeII ligand and the mannose carbamoyl provides either a ligand to the FeII or significant second-sphere effects on the FeII site; intercalation of the bithiazole tail into the double helix likely brings the metal-bound complex close enough to the DNA to create steric interactions that remove the sugar groups from interaction with the FeII. The fact that the FeII active site is perturbed regardless of DNA sequence is consistent with the fact that cleavage is observed for both 5'-GC-3' and nonspecific oligomers and indicates that different reaction coordinates may be active, depending on orientation of the deoxyribose C4'-H.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Description of the ground state wave functions of Ni dithiolenes using sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

The pterin-dithiolene cofactor is an essential component of the catalytic sites of all molybdoenzymes except nitrogenase. Understanding its bonding to transition metals allows for development of electronic structure/function correlations in catalysis. The electronic structure description for a series of bis(dithiolene) complexes ([NiL(2)](Z)(), L = 1,2-Me(2)C(2)S(2); Z = 2-, 1-, 0) using sulfur XAS provides the basis for extension to the biologically relevant metal-containing dithiolenes. The transition dipole integral has been developed for the dithiolene sulfur through correlation of XAS pre-edge energy positions of sulfide-, thiolate-, and enedithiolate-S. The ground state wave functions of all three NiL(2) complexes have more than 50% S character experimentally demonstrating the noninnocent behavior of the dithiolene ligand. The S K-edge experimental results are correlated with spin-unrestricted, broken-symmetry density functional calculations. These show only limited spin polarization in the neutral complex and delocalized, ligand based ground states for the mono- and dianionic complexes. These XAS and DFT results are correlated with other spectroscopic features and provide insight into reactivity.

Models, Molecular↗

PubMed2003

Spectroscopic characterization of the Leu513His variant of fungal laccase: effect of increased axial ligand interaction on the geometric and electronic structure of the type 1 Cu site.

A variety of spectroscopic techniques, combined with density functional calculations, are used to describe the electronic structure of the Leu513His variant of the type 1 Cu site in Myceliophthora thermophila laccase. This mutation changes the type 1 Cu from a blue to a green site. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical absorption, circular dichroism, and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies reveal that, relative to the trigonal planar blue type 1 Cu site in wild-type fungal laccase, the covalency and the ligand field strength at the Leu513His green type 1 Cu center decrease. Additionally, there is a significant reorientation of the d(x)()()2(-)(y)()()2( )singly occupied MO, such that the overlap with the Cys sulfur valence orbital changes from pi to sigma. A density functional study in which internal coordinates are systematically altered reveals that these changes are due to the increased strength of the axial ligand (none to His), leading to a tetragonal distortion and elongation of the equatorial Cu-ligand bonds. These calculations provide insight into the experimental differences in the EPR parameters, charge-transfer absorption spectrum, and ligand-field MCD spectrum between the axial-His variant and blue Cu centers (plastocyanin and the type 1 site in fungal laccase). There are also significant differences between the green site in the Leu513His variant and other naturally occurring, green type 1 Cu sites such as in nitrite reductase, which have short axial Cu-S(Met) bonds. The large difference in EPR parameters between these green type 1 sites derives from a change in ligand field excitation energies observed by MCD, which reflects a decrease in ligand field strength. This is associated with different steric interactions of a His vs an axial Met ligand in a tetragonally distorted type 1 site. Changes in the electronic structure of the Cu site correlate with the difference in reactivity of the green His variant relative to blue wild-type fungal laccase.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2003

Spectroscopic characterization of soybean lipoxygenase-1 mutants: the role of second coordination sphere residues in the regulation of enzyme activity.

Lipoxygenases are non-heme iron enzymes, which catalyze the stereo- and regiospecific hydroperoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Spectroscopic studies on soybean lipoxygenase have shown that the ferrous form of the enzyme is a mixture of five- and six-coordinate species (40 and 60%, respectively). Addition of substrate leads to a purely six-coordinate form. A series of mutations in the second coordination sphere (Q697E, Q697N, Q495A, and Q495E) were generated, and the structures of the mutants were solved by crystallography [Tomchick et al. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 7509-7517]. While this study clearly showed the contribution of H-bond interactions between the first and the second coordination spheres in catalysis, no correlation with the coordination environment of the Fe(II) was observed. A recent study using density-functional theory [Lehnert and Solomon (2002) J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 8, 294-305] indicated that coordination flexibility, involving the Asn694 ligand, is regulated via H-bond interactions. In this paper, we investigate the solution structures of the second coordination sphere mutants using CD and MCD spectroscopy since these techniques are more sensitive indicators of the first coordination sphere ligation of Fe(II) systems. Our data demonstrate that the iron coordination environment directly relates to activity, with the mutations that have the ability to form a five-coordinate/six-coordinate mixture being more active. We propose that the H-bond between the weak Asn694 ligand and the Gln697 plays a key role in the modulation of the coordination flexibility of Asn694, and thus, is crucial for the regulation of enzyme reactivity.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2003

Spectroscopic study of [Fe2O2(5-Et3-TPA)2]3+: nature of the Fe2O2 diamond core and its possible relevance to high-valent binuclear non-heme enzyme intermediates.

The spectroscopic properties and electronic structure of an Fe(2)(III,IV) bis-mu-oxo complex, [Fe(2)O(2)(5-Et(3)-TPA)(2)](ClO(4))(3) where 5-Et(3)-TPA = tris(5-ethyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine, are explored to determine the molecular origins of the unique electronic and geometric features of the Fe(2)O(2) diamond core. Low-temperature magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) allows the two features in the broad absorption envelope (4000-30000 cm(-)(1)) to be resolved into 13 transitions. Their C/D ratios and transition polarizations from variable temperature-variable field MCD saturation behavior indicate that these divide into three types of electronic transitions; t(2) --> t(2) involving excitations between metal-based orbitals with pi Fe-O overlap (4000-10000 cm(-)(1)), t(2)/t(2) --> e involving excitations to metal-based orbitals with sigma Fe-O overlap (12500-17000 cm(-)(1)) and LMCT (17000-30000 cm(-)(1)) and allows transition assignments and calibration of density functional calculations. Resonance Raman profiles show the C(2)(h)() geometric distortion of the Fe(2)O(2) core results in different stretching force constants for adjacent Fe-O bonds (k(str)(Fe-O(long)) = 1.66 and k(str)(Fe-O(short)) = 2.72 mdyn/A) and a small ( approximately 20%) difference in bond strength between adjacent Fe-O bonds. The three singly occupied pi-metal-based orbitals form strong superexchange pathways which lead to the valence delocalization and the S = (3)/(2) ground state. These orbitals are key to the observed reactivity of this complex as they overlap with the substrate C-H bonding orbital in the best trajectory for hydrogen atom abstraction. The electronic structure implications of these results for the high-valent enzyme intermediates X and Q are discussed.

Circular Dichroism↗

PubMed2003

Spectroscopic evidence for a heme-superoxide/Cu(I) intermediate in a functional model of cytochrome c oxidase.

A superstructured tetraphenylporphyrin with a covalently attached proximal imidazole axial base and three distal imidazole pickets has been developed as a model for the active site of terminal oxidases such as cytochrome c oxidase. The oxygen adduct of the Fe-only heme (at low temperature) has a diamagnetic NMR and is EPR silent, which taken together with a resonance Raman oxygen isotope sensitive band (nuFe-O) at 575/554 cm-1 (16O2/18O2) indicates formation of a six-coordinate heme-superoxide complex. Unexpectedly, the Fe/Cu complex, where the copper is in a trisimidazole environment approximately 5 A above the heme plane, displays similar characteristics: a diamagnetic NMR, EPR silence, and nuFe-O at 570/544 cm-1. This indicates the dioxygen adduct of this Fe/Cu system is also a superoxide. This contrasts with previously characterized partially reduced dioxygen intermediates of binuclear heme/copper complexes that form Fe/Cu mu-peroxo complexes.

Biomimetic Materials↗

PubMed2003

Spectroscopy and bonding in side-on and end-on Cu2(S2) cores: comparison to peroxide analogues.

Spectroscopic methods combined with density functional calculations were used to study the disulfide-Cu(II) bonding interactions in the side-on micro -eta(2):eta(2)-bridged Cu(2)(S(2)) complex, [[Cu(II)[HB(3,5-Pr(i)(2)pz)(3)]](2)(S(2))], and the end-on trans- micro -1,2-bridged Cu(2)(S(2)) complex, [[Cu(II)(TMPA)](2)(S(2))](2+), in correlation to their peroxide structural analogues. Resonance Raman shows weaker S-S bonds and stronger Cu-S bonds in the disulfide complexes relative to the O-O and Cu-O bonds in the peroxide analogues. The weaker S-S bonds come from the more limited interaction between the S 3p orbitals relative to that of the O 2s/p hybrid orbitals. The stronger Cu-S bonds result from the more covalent Cu-disulfide interactions relative to the Cu-peroxide interactions. This is consistent with the higher energy of the disulfide valence level relative to that of the peroxide. The ground states of the side-on Cu(2)(S(2))/Cu(2)(O(2)) complexes are more covalent than those of the end-on Cu(2)(S(2))/Cu(2)(O(2)) complexes. This derives from the larger sigma-donor interactions in the side-on micro -eta(2):eta(2) structure, which has four Cu-disulfide/peroxide bonds, relative to the end-on trans- micro -1,2 structure, which forms two bonds to the Cu. The larger disulfide/peroxide sigma-donor interactions in the side-on complexes are reflected in their more intense higher energy disulfide/peroxide to Cu charge transfer transitions in the absorption spectra. The large ground-state covalencies of the side-on complexes result in significant nuclear distortions in the ligand-to-metal charge transfer excited states, which give rise to the strong resonance Raman enhancements of the metal-ligand and intraligand vibrations. Particularly, the large covalency of the Cu-disulfide interaction in the side-on Cu(2)(S(2)) complex leads to a different rR enhancement profile, relative to the peroxide analogues, reflecting a S-S bond distortion in the opposite directions in the disulfide/peroxide pi(sigma) to Cu charge transfer excited states. A ligand sigma back-bonding interaction exists only in the side-on complexes, and there is more sigma mixing in the side-on Cu(2)(S(2)) complex than in the side-on Cu(2)(O(2)) complex. This sigma back-bonding is shown to significantly weaken the S-S/O-O bond relative to that of the analogous end-on complex, leading to the low nu(S)(-)(S)/nu(O)(-)(O) vibrational frequencies observed in the resonance Raman spectra of the side-on complexes.

Copper↗

PubMed2003

Spectroscopic and kinetic studies of PKU-inducing mutants of phenylalanine hydroxylase: Arg158Gln and Glu280Lys.

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) is a tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent, nonheme iron enzyme that catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-Phe to L-Tyr in the rate-limiting step of phenylalanine catabolism. This reaction is tightly coupled in the wild-type enzyme to oxidation of the tetrahydropterin cofactor. Dysfunction of PAH activity in humans leads to the disease phenylketonuria (PKU). We have investigated two PKU-inducing mutants, Arg158Gln and Glu280Lys, using kinetic methods, magnetic circular dichrosim (MCD) spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Analysis of the products produced by the mutant enzymes shows that although both oxidize pterin at more than twice the rate of wild-type enzyme, these reactions are only approximately 20% coupled to production of L-Tyr. Previous MCD and XAS studies had demonstrated that the resting Fe(II) site is six-coordinate in the wild-type enzyme and converts to a five-coordinate site when both L-Phe and reduced pterin are present in the active site. Although the Arg158Gln mutant forms the five-coordinate site when both cosubstrates are bound, the Fe(II) site of the Glu280Lys mutant remains six-coordinate. These results provide insight into the PAH reaction and disease mechanism at a molecular level, indicating that the first step of the mechanism is formation of a peroxy-pterin species, which subsequently reacts with the Fe(II) site if the pterin is properly oriented for formation of an Fe-OO-pterin bridge and an open coordination position is available on the Fe(II).

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2003

Resonance raman investigation of equatorial ligand donor effects on the Cu(2)O(2)(2+) core in end-on and side-on mu-peroxo-dicopper(II) and bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) complexes.

The effect of endogenous donor strength on Cu(2)O(2) bonds was studied by electronically perturbing [[(R-TMPA)Cu(II)]](2)(O(2))](2+) and [[(R-MePY2)Cu](2)(O(2))](2+) (R = H, MeO, Me(2)N), which form the end-on mu-1,2 bound peroxide and an equilibrium mixture of side-on peroxo-dicopper(II) and bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) isomers, respectively. For [[(R-TMPA)Cu(II)](2)(O(2))](2+), nu(O-O) shifts from 827 to 822 to 812 cm(-1) and nu(Cu)(-)(O(sym)) shifts from 561 to 557 to 551 cm(-1), respectively, as R- varies from H to MeO to Me(2)N. Thus, increasing the N-donor strength to the copper decreases peroxide pi(sigma) donation to the copper, weakening the Cu-O and O-O bonds. A decrease in nu(Cu-O) of the bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) complex was also observed with increasing N-donor strength for the R-MePY2 ligand system. However, no change was observed for nu(O-O) of the side-on peroxo. This is attributed to a reduced charge donation from the peroxide pi(sigma) orbital with increased N-donor strength, which increases the negative charge on the peroxide and adversely affects the back-bonding from the Cu to the peroxide sigma orbital. However, an increase in the bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) isomer relative to side-on peroxo-dicopper(II) species is observed for R-MePY2 with R = H < MeO < Me(2)N. This effect is attributed to the thermodynamic stabilization of the bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) isomer relative to the side-on peroxo-dicopper(II) isomer by strong donor ligands. Thus, the side-on peroxo-dicopper(II)/bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) equilibrium can be controlled by electronic as well as steric effects.

Amines↗

PubMed2003

Targeted suppression of the ferroxidase and iron trafficking activities of the multicopper oxidase Fet3p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Fet3 protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a multicopper oxidase tethered to the outer surface of the yeast plasma membrane. Fet3p catalyzes the oxidation of Fe(2+) to Fe(3+); this ferroxidation reaction is an obligatory first step in high-affinity iron uptake through the permease Ftr1p. Here, kinetic analyses of several Fet3p mutants identify residues that contribute to the specificity that Fet3p has for Fe(2+), one of which is essential also to the coupling of the ferroxidase and uptake processes. The spectral and kinetic properties of the D278A, E185D and A, Y354F and A, and E185A/Y354A mutants of a soluble form of Fet3p showed that all of the mutants exhibited the normal absorbance at 330 nm and 608 nm due to the type 3 and type 1 copper sites in Fet3p, respectively. The EPR spectra of the mutants were also equivalent to wild-type, showing that the type 1 and type 2 Cu(II) sites in the proteins were not perturbed. The only marked kinetic defects measured in vitro were increases in K(M) for Fe(2+) exhibited by the D278A, E185A, Y354A, and E185A/Y354A mutants. These results suggest that these three residues contribute to the ferroxidase specificity site in Fet3p. In vivo analysis of these mutant proteins in their membrane-bound form showed that only E185 mutants exhibited kinetic defects in (59)Fe uptake. For the Fet3p(E185D) mutant, K(M) for iron was 300-fold greater than the wild-type K(M), while Fet3p(E185A) was completely inactive in support of iron uptake. In situ fluorescence demonstrated that all of the mutant Fet3 proteins, in complex with an Ftr1p:YFP fusion protein, were trafficked normally to the plasma membrane. These results suggest that E185 contributes to Fe(2+ )binding to Fet3p and to the subsequent trafficking of the Fe(3+) produced to Ftr1p.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2003

Non-heme iron enzymes: contrasts to heme catalysis.

Non-heme iron enzymes catalyze a wide range of O(2) reactions, paralleling those of heme systems. Non-heme iron active sites are, however, much more difficult to study because they do not exhibit the intense spectral features characteristic of the porphyrin ligand. A spectroscopic methodology was developed that provides significant mechanistic insight into the reactivity of non-heme ferrous active sites. These studies reveal a general mechanistic strategy used by these enzymes and differences in substrate and cofactor interactions dependent on their requirement for activation by iron. Contributions to O(2) activation have been elucidated for non-heme relative to heme ligand sets, and major differences in reactivity are defined with respect to the heterolytic and homolytic cleavage of O-O bonds.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2003

Electronic structure contributions to electron-transfer reactivity in iron-sulfur active sites: 1. Photoelectron spectroscopic determination of electronic relaxation.

Electronic relaxation, the change in molecular electronic structure as a response to oxidation, is investigated in [FeX(4)](2)(-)(,1)(-) (X = Cl, SR) model complexes. Photoelectron spectroscopy, in conjunction with density functional methods, is used to define and evaluate the core and valence electronic relaxation upon ionization of [FeX(4)](2)(-). The presence of intense yet formally forbidden charge-transfer satellite peaks in the PES data is a direct reflection of electronic relaxation. The phenomenon is evaluated as a function of charge redistribution at the metal center (Deltaq(rlx)) resulting from changes in the electronic structure. This charge redistribution is calculated from experimental core and valence PES data using a valence bond configuration interaction (VBCI) model. It is found that electronic relaxation is very large for both core (Fe 2p) and valence (Fe 3d) ionization processes and that it is greater in [Fe(SR)(4)](2)(-) than in [FeCl(4)](2)(-). Similar results are obtained from DFT calculations. The results suggest that, although the lowest-energy valence ionization (from the redox-active molecular orbital) is metal-based, electronic relaxation causes a dramatic redistribution of electron density ( approximately 0.7ē) from the ligands to the metal center corresponding to a generalized increase in covalency over all M-L bonds. The more covalent tetrathiolate achieves a larger Deltaq(rlx) because the LMCT states responsible for relaxation are significantly lower in energy than those in the tetrachloride. The large observed electronic relaxation can make significant contributions to the thermodynamics and kinetics of electron transfer in inorganic systems.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Electronic structure contributions to electron-transfer reactivity in iron-sulfur active sites: 2. Reduction potentials.

This study utilizes photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) combined with theoretical methods to determine the electronic structure contributions to the large reduction potential difference between [FeCl(4)](2)(-)(,1)(-) and [Fe(SR)(4)](2)(-)(,1)(-) (DeltaE(0) approximately 1 V). Valence PES data confirm that this effect results from electronic structure differences because there is a similarly large shift in the onset of valence ionization between the two reduced species (DeltaI(vert) = 1.4 +/- 0.3 eV). Specific electronic contributions to DeltaI(vert) have been investigated and defined. Ligand field effects, which are often considered to be of great importance, contribute very little to DeltaI(vert) (DeltaE(LF) < -0.05 eV). By contrast, electronic relaxation, a factor that is often neglected in the analysis of chemical reactivity, strongly affects the valence ionization energies of both species. The larger electronic relaxation in the tetrathiolate allows it to more effectively stabilize the oxidized state and lowers its I(vert) relative to that of the chloride (DeltaE(rlx) = 0.2 eV). The largest contribution to the difference in redox potentials is the much lower effective charge () of the tetrathiolate in the reduced state, which results in a large difference in the energy of the Fe 3d manifold between the two redox couples (DeltaE(Fe)( )(3d) = 1.2 eV). This difference derives from the significantly higher covalency of the iron-thiolate bond, which decreases and significantly lowers its redox potential.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Electronic structure contributions to electron-transfer reactivity in iron-sulfur active sites: 3. Kinetics of electron transfer.

The kinetics of electron transfer for rubredoxins are examined using density functional methods to determine the electronic structure characteristics that influence and allow for fast electron self-exchange in these electron-transport proteins. Potential energy surfaces for [FeX(4)](2-,1-) models confirm that the inner-sphere reorganization energy is inherently small for tetrathiolates ( approximately 0.1 eV), as evidenced by the only small changes in the equilibrium Fe-S bond distance during redox (Deltar(redox) approximately 0.05 A). It is concluded that electronic relaxation and covalency in the reduced state allow for this small in this case relative to other redox couples, such as the tetrachloride. Using a large computational model to include the protein medium surrounding the [Fe(SCys)(4)](2-,1-) active site in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Rubredoxin, the electronic coupling matrix element for electron self-exchange is defined for direct active-site contact (H0(DA)). Simple Beratan-Onuchic model is used to extend coupling over the complete surface of the protein to provide an understanding of probable electron-transfer pathways. Regions of similar coupling properties are grouped together to define a surface coupling map, which reveals that very efficient self-exchange occurs only within 4 sigma-bonds of the active site. Longer-range electron transfer cannot support the fast rates of electron self-exchange observed experimentally. Pathways directly through the two surface cysteinate ligands dominate, but surface-accessible amides hydrogen-bonded to the cysteinates also contribute significantly to the rate of electron self-exchange.

Journal Article↗