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Kenneth N Raymond

Publications and source records attributed to Kenneth N Raymond.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Brilliant Sm, Eu, Tb, and Dy chiral lanthanide complexes with strong circularly polarized luminescence.

The synthesis, characterization, and luminescent behavior of trivalent Sm, Eu, Dy, and Tb complexes of two enantiomeric, octadentate, chiral, 2-hydroxyisophthalamide ligands are reported. These complexes are highly luminescent in solution. Functionalization of the achiral parent ligand with a chiral 1-phenylethylamine substituent on the open face of the complex in close proximity to the metal center yields complexes with strong circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) activity. This appears to be the first example of a system utilizing the same ligand architecture to sensitize four different lanthanide cations and display CPL activity. The luminescence dissymmetry factor, g(lum), recorded for the Eu(III) complex is one of the highest values reported, and this is the first time the CPL effect has been demonstrated for a Sm(III) complex with a chiral ligand. The combination of high luminescence intensity with CPL activity should enable new bioanalytical applications of macromolecules in chiral environments.

Circular Dichroism↗

Anthrax pathogen evades the mammalian immune system through stealth siderophore production.

Systemic anthrax, caused by inhalation or ingestion of Bacillus anthracis spores, is characterized by rapid microbial growth stages that require iron. Tightly bound and highly regulated in a mammalian host, iron is scarce during an infection. To scavenge iron from its environment, B. anthracis synthesizes by independent pathways two small molecules, the siderophores bacillibactin (BB) and petrobactin (PB). Despite the great efficiency of BB at chelating iron, PB may be the only siderophore necessary to ensure full virulence of the pathogen. In the present work, we show that BB is specifically bound by siderocalin, a recently discovered innate immune protein that is part of an antibacterial iron-depletion defense. In contrast, neither PB nor its ferric complex is bound by siderocalin. Although BB incorporates the common 2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl iron-chelating subunit, PB is novel in that it incorporates the very unusual 3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl chelating subunit. This structural variation results in a large change in the shape of both the iron complex and the free siderophore that precludes siderocalin binding, a stealthy evasion of the immune system. Our results indicate that the blockade of bacterial siderophore-mediated iron acquisition by siderocalin is not restricted to enteric pathogenic organisms and may be a general defense mechanism against several different bacterial species. Significantly, to evade this innate immune response, B. anthracis produces PB, which plays a key role in virulence of the organism. This analysis argues for antianthrax strategies targeting siderophore synthesis and uptake.

Anthrax↗

Molecular recognition and stabilization of iminium ions in water.

Iminium ions are known to exist only transiently in aqueous solution due to their high reactivity toward hydrolysis. In this communication, we report on the generation and stabilization of iminium ions in aqueous solution via molecular encapsulation using a K12Ga4L6 host. Our studies revealed that tetrahedral host 1 can encapsulate a variety of iminium cations in a molecular recognition process that is selective based on the charge, hydrophobicity, size, and shape of the guest.

Imines↗

The pathogen-associated iroA gene cluster mediates bacterial evasion of lipocalin 2.

Numerous bacteria cope with the scarcity of iron in their microenvironment by synthesizing small iron-scavenging molecules known as siderophores. Mammals have evolved countermeasures to block siderophore-mediated iron acquisition as part of their innate immune response. Secreted lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) sequesters the Escherichia coli siderophore enterobactin (Ent), preventing E. coli from acquiring iron and protecting mammals from infection by E. coli. Here, we show that the iroA gene cluster, found in many pathogenic strains of Gram-negative enteric bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella spp., and Klebsiella pneumoniae, allows bacteria to evade sequestration of Ent by Lcn2. We demonstrate that C-glucosylated derivatives of Ent produced by iroA-encoded enzymes do not bind purified Lcn2, and an iroA-harboring strain of E. coli is insensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of Lcn2 in vitro. Furthermore, we show that mice rapidly succumb to infection by an iroA-harboring strain of E. coli but not its wild-type counterpart, and that this increased virulence depends on evasion of host Lcn2. Our findings indicate that the iroA gene cluster allows bacteria to evade this component of the innate immune system, rejuvenating their Ent-mediated iron-acquisition pathway and playing an important role in their virulence.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Substituent effects on Gd(III)-based MRI contrast agents: optimizing the stability and selectivity of the complex and the number of coordinated water molecules.

Hydroxypyridinone (HOPO)-based Gd(III) complexes have previously been shown to exhibit high relaxivity, especially at the high magnetic fields that are clinically relevant for present and future clinical use. This is due to more than one coordinated water molecule exchanging rapidly with bulk solvent. These complexes, however, present poor water solubility. Heteropodal complexes which include a terephthalamide (TAM) moiety maintain the high relaxivity characteristics of the HOPO family and have been functionalized with solubilizing substituents of various charges. The charge of the substituent significantly affects the stability of the Gd(III) complex, with the most stable complex presenting a neutral charge. The solubilizing substituent also moderately affects the affinity of the complex for physiological anions, with the highest affinity observed for the positively charged complex. In any case, only two anions, phosphate and oxalate, measureably bind the Gd(III) complex with weak affinities that are comparable to other q = 1 complexes and much weaker than DO3A, q = 2 based complexes. Furthermore, unlike poly(amino-carboxylate)-based complexes, HOPO-based Gd(III) complexes do not show any noticeable interaction with carbonates. The nature of the substituent can also favorably stabilize the coordination of a third water molecule on the Gd(III) center and lead to a nine-coordinate ground state. Such complexes that attain q = 3 incorporate a substituent beta to the terminal amide of the TAM podand that is a hydrogen-bond acceptor, suggesting that the third water molecule is coordinated to the metal center through a hydrogen-bond network. These substituents include alcohols, primary amines, and acids. Moreover, the coordination of a third water molecule has been achieved without destabilizing the complex.

Contrast Media↗

Microbial evasion of the immune system: structural modifications of enterobactin impair siderocalin recognition.

The mammalian protein siderocalin binds and inactivates the ferric complex of the bacterial siderophore enterobactin with a Kd value similar to that of the bacterial receptor FepA. However, microorganisms can evade this immune response by structural modifications of the siderophore. The binding of siderophores by siderocalin relies in part on electrostatic interactions and does not depend greatly on what metal is in the complex. It is also sterically limited by the rigid conformation of the protein calyx; methylation of the three catecholate rings of enterobactin hinders siderocalin recognition. The siderocalin binding has been probed for a series of enterobactin analogues in order to investigate in detail the specificity of siderocalin recognition.

Enterobactin↗

"Cymothoe sangaris": an extremely stable and highly luminescent 1,2-hydroxypyridinonate chelate of Eu(III).

The synthesis, structure, and characterization of a new class of luminescent agents based on the 1,2-hydroxypyridinone chelator are reported. The prototype complex, [Eu(5LIO-1,2-HOPO)2]-, demonstrates superb aqueous stability [pEu = 18.64(10)] and is highly emissive [Phit = 0.21(3)], emitting almost pure "red" light (lambdaem = 612 nm). The crystal structure reveals a coordination geometry reminiscent of a "butterfly", hence the soubriquet of "Cymothoe sangaris" to identify with the unique species of red butterfly found only in Central Africa.

Chelating Agents↗

Siderophore-mediated iron transport in Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Hexadentate bacillibactin is the siderophore of Bacillus subtilis and is structurally similar to the better known enterobactin of Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Although both are triscatecholamide trilactones, the structural differences of these two siderophores result in opposite metal chiralities, different affinity for ferric ion, and dissimilar iron transport behaviors. Bacillibactin was first reported as isolated from Corynebacterium glutamicum and called corynebactin. However, failure of iron-starved C. glutamicum to transport 55Fe bacillibactin and lack of required bacillibactin biosynthetic genes suggest that bacillibactin is not the siderophore produced by this organism. Iron transport mediated by siderophores in B. subtilis occurs through a transport process that is specific for the iron chelating moiety, with parallel pathways for catecholates and hydroxamates. For bacillibactin, enterobactin, and their analogs, neither chirality nor presence of an amino acid spacer affects the uptake and transport process, but alteration of the net charge and size of the molecule impedes the recognition.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Supramolecular catalysis of unimolecular rearrangements: substrate scope and mechanistic insights.

A cavity-containing metal-ligand assembly is employed as a catalytic host for the 3-aza Cope rearrangement of allyl enammonium cations. Upon binding, the rates of rearrangement are accelerated for all substrates studied, up to 850-fold. Activation parameters were measured for three enammonium cations in order to understand the origins of acceleration. Those parameters reveal that the supramolecular structure is able to reduce both the entropic and enthalpic barriers for rearrangement and is highly sensitive to small structural changes of the substrate. The space-restrictive cavity preferentially binds closely packed, preorganized substrate conformations, which resemble the conformations of the transition states. This hypothesis is also supported by quantitative NOE studies of two encapsulated substrates, which place the two reacting carbon atoms in close proximity. The capsule can act as a true catalyst, since release and hydrolysis facilitate catalytic turnover. The question of product hydrolysis was addressed through detailed kinetic studies. We conclude that the iminium product must dissociate from the cavity interior and the assembly exterior before hydroxide-mediated hydrolysis, and propose the intermediacy of a tight ion pair of the polyanionic host with the exiting product.

Journal Article↗

Scope and mechanism of the C-H bond activation reactivity within a supramolecular host by an iridium guest: a stepwise ion pair guest dissociation mechanism.

A chiral self-assembled supramolecular M(4)L(6) assembly has been shown to be a suitable host for a series of reactive monocationic half-sandwich iridium guests 1, 3, and 4 that are capable of activating C-H bonds. Upon encapsulation, selective C-H bond activation of organic substrates occurs. Precise size and shape selectivity are observed in the C-H bond activation of aldehydes and ether substrates. The reactions exhibit significant kinetic diastereoselectivities. Thermodynamic studies have shown that the iridium starting materials and products are bound strongly by the host assembly. The encapsulation process is largely entropy-driven. Kinetic investigations with water-soluble phosphine traps and added salts have provided evidence for a unique stepwise mechanism of guest dissociation for [4 subset Ga(4)L(6)]. Iridium guest 4 first dissociates from the host cavity to form an ion pair with the host exterior. This species then fully dissociates from the host exterior into the bulk solution. Model ion pair intermediates were characterized directly with (1)H NMR NOESY techniques. The rate of iridium guest dissociation is slower than the rate observed for the C-H bond activation processes, indicating that the selective C-H bond activation reactivity occurs within the cavity of the supramolecular host.

Journal Article↗

Fe(III)-templated Gd(III) self-assemblies-a new route toward macromolecular MRI contrast agents.

The self-assembly of supramolcular clusters of Gd(III) hydroxypyridinone complexes, templated by an Fe(III) terephthalamide center, is presented. The peripheral Gd(III) ions are each coordinated by two water molecules which exchange rapidly with the bulk solvent. These properties, along with the high rigidity of the supramolecules, efficiently increase the rotational correlation times of the cluster, resulting in high relaxivities at high magnetic fields and hence making these complexes good candidates for MRI contrast agents.

Contrast Media↗

d-orbital effects on stereochemical non-rigidity: twisted Ti(IV) intramolecular dynamics.

The isomerization dynamics of tris-catecholate complexes have been investigated by variable-temperature NMR methods, demonstrating that the intramolecular racemization of Delta and Lambda enantiomers of d0 Ti(IV) is facile and faster than that of d10 Ga(III) and Ge(IV) analogues. Activation parameters for the racemization of K2[Ti2(3)] (H(2)2 = 2,3-dihydroxy-N,N'-diisopropylterephthalamide) were determined from line shape analysis of 1H NMR spectra [methanol-d4: deltaH++ = 47(1) kJ/mol; deltaS++ = -34(4) J/mol K; deltaG++(298) = 57(3) kJ/mol; DMF-d7: deltaH++ = 55(1) kJ/mol; deltaS++ = -16(4) J/mol K; deltaG++(298) = 59(3) kJ/mol; D2O (pD* = 8.6, 20% MeOD): deltaH++ = 48(3) kJ/mol; deltaS++ = -28(10) J/mol K; deltaG++(298) = 56(3) kJ/mol]. The study of K2[Ti4(3)] (H(2)4 = 2,3-dihydroxy-N-tert-butyl-N'-benzylterephthalamide) reveals two distinct isomerization processes: faster racemization of mer-[Ti4(3)]2- by way of a Bailar twist mechanism (D3h transition state) [T(c) approximately 242 K, methanol-d4], and a slower merright harpoon over left harpoonfac [Ti4(3)]2- isomerization by way of a Rây-Dutt mechanism (C2v transition state) [T(c) approximately 281 K, methanol-d4]. The solution behavior of the Ti(IV) complexes mirrors that reported previously for analogous Ga(III) complexes, while that of analogous Ge(IV) complexes was too inert to be detected by 1H NMR up to 400 K. These experimental findings are augmented by DFT calculations of the ML3 ground states and Bailar and Rây-Dutt transition states, which correctly predict the relative kinetic barriers of complexes of the three metal ions, in addition to faithfully reproducing the ground-state structures. Orbital calculations support the conclusion that participation of the Ti(IV) d orbitals in ligand bonding contributes to the greater stabilization of the prismatic Ti(IV) transition states.

Journal Article↗

Siderophores of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus thuringiensis.

Three Bacillus anthracis Sterne strains (USAMRIID, 7702, and 34F2) and Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 excrete two catecholate siderophores, petrobactin (which contains 3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl moieties) and bacillibactin (which contains 2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl moieties). However, the insecticidal organism Bacillus thuringiensis ATCC 33679 makes only bacillibactin. Analyses of siderophore production by previously isolated [Cendrowski et al., Mol. Microbiol. 52 (2004) 407-417] B. anthracis mutant strains revealed that the B. anthracis bacACEBF operon codes for bacillibactin production and the asbAB gene region is required for petrobactin assembly. The two catecholate moieties also were synthesized by separate routes. PCR amplification identified both asbA and asbB genes in the petrobactin producing strains whereas B. thuringiensis ATCC 33679 retained only asbA. Petrobactin synthesis is not limited to the cluster of B. anthracis strains within the B. cereus sensu lato group (in which B. cereus, B. anthracis, and B. thuringiensis are classified), although petrobactin might be prevalent in strains with pathogenic potential for vertebrates.

Bacillus anthracis↗

Enterobactin protonation and iron release: structural characterization of the salicylate coordination shift in ferric enterobactin.

The siderophore enterobactin (Ent) is produced by many species of enteric bacteria to mediate iron uptake. This iron scavenger can be reincorporated by the bacteria as the ferric complex [Fe(III)(Ent)](3)(-) and is subsequently hydrolyzed by an esterase to facilitate intracellular iron release. Recent literature reports on altered protein recognition and binding of modified enterobactin increase the significance of understanding the structural features and solution chemistry of ferric enterobactin. The structure of the neutral protonated ferric enterobactin complex [Fe(III)(H(3)Ent)](0) has been the source of some controversy and confusion in the literature. To demonstrate the proposed change of coordination from the tris-catecholate [Fe(III)(Ent)](3)(-) to the tris-salicylate [Fe(III)(H(3)Ent)](0) upon protonation, the coordination chemistry of two new model compounds N,N',N''-tris[2-(hydroxybenzoyl)carbonyl]cyclotriseryl trilactone (SERSAM) and N,N',N''-tris[2-hydroxy,3-methoxy(benzoyl)carbonyl]cyclotriseryl trilactone (SER(3M)SAM) was examined in solution and solid state. Both SERSAM and SER(3M)SAM form tris-salicylate ferric complexes with spectroscopic and solution thermodynamic properties (with log beta(110)() values of 39 and 38 respectively) similar to those of [Fe(III)(H(3)Ent)](0). The fits of EXAFS spectra of the model ferric complexes and the two forms of ferric enterobactin provided bond distances and disorder factors in the metal coordination sphere for both coordination modes. The protonated [Fe(III)(H(3)Ent)](0) complex (d(Fe)(-)(O) = 1.98 A, sigma(2)(stat)(O) = 0.00351(10) A(2)) exhibits a shorter average Fe-O bond length but a much higher static Debye-Waller factor for the first oxygen shell than the catecholate [Fe(III)(Ent)](3)(-) complex (d(Fe)(-)(O) = 2.00 A, sigma(2)(stat)(O) = 0.00067(14) A(2)). (1)H NMR spectroscopy was used to monitor the amide bond rotation between the catecholate and salicylate geometries using the gallic complexes of enterobactin: [Ga(III)(Ent)](3)(-) and [Ga(III)(H(3)Ent)](0). The ferric salicylate complexes display quasi-reversible reduction potentials from -89 to -551 mV (relative to the normal hydrogen electrode NHE) which supports the feasibility of a low pH iron release mechanism facilitated by biological reductants.

Electrochemistry↗

Tren-based analogues of bacillibactin: structure and stability.

Synthetic analogues were designed to highlight the effect of the glycine moiety of bacillibactin on the overall stability of the ferric complex as compared to synthetic analogues of enterobactin. Insertion of a variety of amino acids to catecholamide analogues based on a Tren (tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) backbone increased the overall acidity of the ligands, causing an enhancement of the stability of the resulting ferric complex as compared to TRENCAM. Solution thermodynamic behavior of these siderophores and their synthetic analogues was investigated through potentiometric and spectrophotometric titrations. X-ray crystallography, circular dichroism, and molecular modeling were used to determine the chirality and geometry of the ferric complexes of bacillibactin and its analogues. In contrast to the Tren scaffold, addition of a glycine to the catechol chelating arms causes an inversion of the trilactone backbone, resulting in opposite chiralities of the two siderophores and a destabilization of the ferric complex of bacillibactin compared to ferric enterobactin.

Circular Dichroism↗

Synthesis and thermodynamic evaluation of mixed hexadentate linear iron chelators containing hydroxypyridinone and terephthalamide units.

A series of new linear iron chelators containing hydroxypyridinone and terephthalamide (TAMmeg) moieties have been prepared. All are hexadentate ligands composed of a systematically varied combination of methyl-3,2-hydroxypyridinone and 2,3-dihydroxyterephthalamide binding units; most are based on a spermidine scaffold, but one incorporates the bifunctional 2,3-dihydroxyterephthalamide unit as an integral part of the backbone. Protonation and ferric iron complex formation constants have been determined from solution thermodynamic studies, giving log beta(110) values of 25.7, 30.7, 36.3, 43.8, and 45.0, respectively. The ferric complexes display reversible reduction potentials from -276 to -1032 mV (measured relative to the normal hydrogen electrode) in alkaline solution. The incremental replacement of hydroxypyridinone units by terephthalamide binding groups progressively reduces the ligand acidity, markedly increases the iron-chelate stability, and improves the selectivity for the ferric ion over the ferrous ion. While the majority of iron chelators forming very stable ferric complexes are based on a tripodal backbone such as TREN, the ferric 5-LIO(TAMmeg)(2)(TAM) complex, despite its nontripodal scaffold, is one of the most stable iron complexes yet reported. Moreover, the high affinity for the ferric ion of the discussed linear ligands strongly correlates with their ability to remove iron in vivo.

Electrochemistry↗

Tuning the coordination number of hydroxypyridonate-based gadolinium complexes: implications for MRI contrast agents.

Eight-coordinate hydroxypyridinone/terephthalamide GdIII complexes display high relaxivities due to their two inner sphere water molecules. This relaxivity can be further increased by functionalizing the terephthalamide moiety with an amine. A significant hydrogen bonding interaction between the amine and another water molecule close to the GdIII apparently facilitates its coordination on the open site of the metal. The resulting nine-coordinate complex has three inner sphere water molecules, while maintaining high stability and fast ligand exchange rates.

Contrast Media↗