Selective Coordination of Gallium(III), Zinc(II), and Copper(II) by an Asymmetric Dinucleating Ligand: A Model for Metallophosphatases.

Complexation studies of the dinucleating ligand H3 L (H3 L=2-{[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-6-{[bis(6-pivaloylamidopyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-methylphenol), with metal-binding sites A and B, which both provide four donors to a metal ion; a tertiary amine; two pyridines (substituted with amide hydrogen-bond donors in site B), and a bridging phenolate, with Zn(II) , Cu(II) , and Ga(III) are reported. The titration of H3 L with the three metal ions in solution was monitored by NMR spectroscopy or EPR and UV/Vis/near-IR spectroscopy, as well as by ESI-MS to analyze the selectivity of the two metal-ion sites A and B of this model ligand for metallophosphatases; the spectroscopic assignments are supported by X-ray crystallography results. The first Zn(II) ion coordinates to site A with unsubstituted pyridine donors and, upon addition of a second equivalent of Zn(II) , this coordinates to the sterically less accessible site B. From a similar titration with Ga(III) , it emerges that only a mononuclear complex is obtained, with the Ga(III) center coordinated to site A. When one equivalent of Ga(III) is reacted with the mononuclear Zn(II) complex, Zn(II) is forced by Ga(III) to exchange the site; this results in a dinuclear complex with Ga(III) in site A and Zn(II) in site B. With Cu(II) , two isomers are observed: one with and the other without a bridging phenolate; these differ significantly in their spectroscopic and magnetic properties.

An Approach to More Accurate Model Systems for Purple Acid Phosphatases (PAPs).

The active site of mammalian purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) have a dinuclear iron site in two accessible oxidation states (Fe(III)2 and Fe(III)Fe(II)), and the heterovalent is the active form, involved in the regulation of phosphate and phosphorylated metabolite levels in a wide range of organisms. Therefore, two sites with different coordination geometries to stabilize the heterovalent active form and, in addition, with hydrogen bond donors to enable the fixation of the substrate and release of the product, are believed to be required for catalytically competent model systems. Two ligands and their dinuclear iron complexes have been studied in detail. The solid-state structures and properties, studied by X-ray crystallography, magnetism, and Mössbauer spectroscopy, and the solution structural and electronic properties, investigated by mass spectrometry, electronic, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and Mössbauer spectroscopies and electrochemistry, are discussed in detail in order to understand the structures and relative stabilities in solution. In particular, with one of the ligands, a heterovalent Fe(III)Fe(II) species has been produced by chemical oxidation of the Fe(II)2 precursor. The phosphatase reactivities of the complexes, in particular, also of the heterovalent complex, are reported. These studies include pH-dependent as well as substrate concentration dependent studies, leading to pH profiles, catalytic efficiencies and turnover numbers, and indicate that the heterovalent diiron complex discussed here is an accurate PAP model system.

Dinuclear zinc(II) complexes with hydrogen bond donors as structural and functional phosphatase models.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the secondary coordination sphere can have a crucial role in determining the functional properties of biomimetic metal complexes. We have therefore designed and prepared a variety of ligands as metallo-hydrolase mimics, where hydrogen bonding in the second coordination sphere is able to influence the structure of the primary coordination sphere and the substrate binding. The assessment of a structure-function relationship is based on derivates of 2,6-bis{[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-methylphenol (HBPMP = HL(1)) and 2-{[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-6-{[(2-hydroxybenzyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-methylphenol (H2BPBPMP = H2L(5)), well-known phenolate-based ligands for metallo-hydrolase mimics. The model systems provide similar primary coordination spheres but site-specific modifications in the secondary coordination sphere. Pivaloylamide and amine moieties were chosen to mimic the secondary coordination sphere of the phosphatase models, and the four new ligands H3L(2), H3L(3), HL(4), and H4L(6) vary in the type and geometric position of the H-bond donors and acceptors, responsible for the positioning of the substrate and release of the product molecules. Five dinuclear Zn(II) complexes were prepared and structurally characterized in the solid, and four also in solution. The investigation of the phosphatase activity of four model complexes illustrates the impact of the H-bonding network: the Michaelis-Menten constants (catalyst-substrate binding) for all complexes that support hydrogen bonding are smaller than for the reference complex, and this generally leads to higher catalytic efficiency and higher turnover numbers.

Trans Fat Free by 2023-A Building Block of the COVID-19 Response.

COVID-19 has brought to center stage the most important health issue of our era, largely ignored by policymakers and the public to date: non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the cause of 71% of deaths per year worldwide. People living with NCDs, and particularly those living with cardiovascular disease (CVD), are at higher risk of severe symptoms and death from COVID-19. As a result, the urgent need for policy measures to protect cardiovascular health is more apparent than ever. One example of "low-hanging fruit" in the prevention of CVD is the elimination of industrially-produced trans fatty acids (iTFA). Their removal from the global food supply could prevent up to 17 million deaths by 2040 and would be the first time an NCD risk factor has been eliminated.

Pollination biology of Eulophia alta (Orchidaceae) in Amazonia: effects of pollinator composition on reproductive success in different populations.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Spatial variation in pollinator composition and abundance is a well-recognized phenomenon. However, a weakness of many studies claiming specificity of plant-pollinator interactions is that they are often restricted to a single locality. The aim of the present study was to investigate pollinator effectiveness of the different flower visitors to the terrestrial orchid Eulophia alta at three different localities and to analyse whether differences in pollinator abundance and composition effect this plant's reproductive success. METHODS: Natural pollination was observed in vivo, and manipulative experiments were used to study the pollination biology and breeding system of E. alta at three sites near Manaus, Brazil. To gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of pollinator attraction, nectar composition and secretion patterns were also studied, floral scent composition was analysed and a bioassay was conducted. KEY RESULTS: Flower visitors, pollinator composition, pollinia transfer efficiency of particular pollinator species and natural fruit set differed among the investigated populations of E. alta. Flowers were self-compatible, partially autogamous and effectively pollinated by five bee species (four Centris species and Xylocopa muscaria). Visiting insects appeared to imbibe small amounts of hexose-rich nectar. Nectar sugar content was highest on the third day after flower opening. Floral fragrance analyses revealed 42 compounds, of which monoterpenes and benzenoids predominated. A bioassay using floral parts revealed that only floral tissue from the labellum chamber and labellum tip was attractive to flower visitors. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that observed differences in reproductive success in the three populations cannot be explained by absolute abundance of pollinators alone. Due to behavioural patterns such as disturbance of effective pollinators on flowers by male Centris varia bees defending territory, pollinia transfer efficiencies of particular pollinator species also vary between study sites and result in differing reproductive success.

Asymmetric mono- and dinuclear GaIII and ZnII complexes as models for purple acid phosphatases.

Derivatives of the known dinucleating ligands HL1 (2,6-bis{[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-methylphenol) and H2L2 (2-{[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-6-{[(2-hydroxybenzyl)(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-methylphenol) with two pivaloylamido hydrogen bond donor substituents, H3L3 and H3L5, have been prepared. The mono-, homo- and heterodinuclear ZnII and GaIII complexes of these ligands have been prepared and characterized. The solution equilibria are discussed on the basis of extensive NMR spectroscopic, mass spectrometric and pH-dependent UV-vis spectroscopic titrations. The phosphoester hydrolysis activity of the complexes has been studied as a function of pH and substrate concentration and analyzed using Michaelis-Menten kinetics. It emerges that the mixed metal (mixed valent) complex of the ligand with an asymmetric disposition of the hydrogen bonding substituents (H3L3) is a functional model for the mixed valent, dinuclear metallohydrolase purple acid phosphatase. This complex combines the essential structural features of the active site of PAP and is the first heterodinuclear model complex mimicking the essential function of PAPs, i.e. the hydrolysis of phosphomonoesters.

Dinuclear metal(ii)-acetato complexes based on bicompartmental 4-chlorophenolate: syntheses, structures, magnetic properties, DNA interactions and phosphodiester hydrolysis.

A series of dinuclear metal(ii)-acetato complexes: [Ni2(µ-L(Cl)O)(µ2-OAc)2](PF6)·3H2O (1), [Ni2(µ-L(Cl)O)(µ2-OAc)2](ClO4)·CH3COCH3 (2), [Cu2(µ-L(Cl)O)(µ2-OAc)(ClO4)](ClO4) (3), [Cu2(µ-L(Cl)O)(OAc)2](PF6)·H2O (4), [Zn2(µ-L(Cl)O)(µ2-OAc)2](PF6) (5) and [Mn2(L(Cl)-O)(µ2-OAc)2](ClO4)·H2O (6), where L(Cl)O(-) = 2,6-bis[bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-chlorophenolate, were synthesized. The complexes were structurally characterized by spectroscopic techniques and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Six-coordinate geometries with doubly bridged acetato ligands were found in Ni(ii), Zn(ii) and Mn(ii) complexes 1, 2, 5 and 6, whereas with Cu(ii) complexes a five-coordinate species was obtained with 4, and mixed five- and six-coordinate geometries with a doubly bridged dimetal core were observed in 3. The magnetic properties of complexes 1-4 and 6 were studied at variable temperatures and revealed weak to very weak antiferromagnetic interactions in 1, 2, 4 and 6 (J = -0.55 to -9.4 cm(-1)) and ferromagnetic coupling in 3 (J = 15.4 cm(-1)). These results are consistent with DFT calculations performed at the B3LYP/def2-TZVP(-f) level of theory. Under physiological conditions, the interaction of the dinculear complexes 1-5 with supercoiled plasmid ds-DNA did not show any pronounced nuclease activity, but Ni(ii) complexes 1 and 2 revealed a strong ability to unwind the supercoiled conformation of ds-DNA. The mechanistic studies performed on the interaction of the Ni(ii) complexes with DNA demonstrated the important impact of the nickel(ii) ion in the unwinding process. In combination with the DNA study, the phosphatase activity of complexes 1, 3, and 5 was examined by the phosphodiester hydrolysis of bis(2,4-dinitrophenol)phosphate (BDNPP) in the pH range of 5.5-10.5 at 25 °C. The Michaelis-Menten kinetics performed at pH 7 and 10.7 showed that catalytic efficiencies kcat/KM (kcat = catalytic rate constant, KM = substrate binding constant) decrease in the order: Ni(ii), 1 > Zn(ii), 5 > Cu(ii), 3. A similar trend was also observed with the turnover numbers at pH = 7. The results are discussed in relation to the coordination geometry and nature of the metal center as well as the steric environment imposed by the compartmental phenoxido ligand.