Ten Good Reasons for the Use of the Tellurium-Centered Anderson-Evans Polyoxotungstate in Protein Crystallography

Modulating the catalytic properties of decavanadate hybrids using a mixed counterion strategy for selective oxidation of thiophene-based sulfides and detoxification of mustard gas simulant

Selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides, especially thiophene-based sulfides, is a challenging task. Herein, we report a mixed counterion strategy in polyoxometalate (POM) chemistry to tune the selectivity of sulfoxidation reaction catalyzed by decavanadate cluster-based hybrids using H2O2 as the oxidant under ambient conditions. By employing two different aryl sulfonium counterions (ASCIs) bearing different organic functional groups (phenol/aldehyde/salicylaldehyde/2,6-diformyl phenol) in a 1 : 1 synthetic feed ratio, we have generated a series of decavanadate-based hybrids HY1-HY6. Different functional groups on the periphery of hybrids HY1-HY6 helped control the efficiency and selectivity of the sulfoxidation reaction by fine-tuning the electronic and supramolecular effects of these hybrids as catalysts. Further, these hybrids were also applied as catalysts for detoxifying 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a mustard gas simulant. The hybrid HY5, with a structural formula (DFHPDS)2(FPDS)2[H2V10O28](H2O)3 (DFHPDS = (3,5-diformyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)dimethylsulfonium, and FPDS = (4-formylphenyl)dimethylsulfonium) showed the best catalytic properties in the series, with up to 99% conversion and 85% and 99% selectivity towards sulfoxide in the case of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and CEES, respectively. This study's findings open new avenues for tuning the catalytic properties of POM-based hybrids toward selective organic transformation reactions by using a mixed counterion strategy.

Structural insights into signaling promiscuity of the CBASS anti-phage defense system from a radiation-resistant bacterium

Radiation-resistant bacteria are of great application potential in various fields, including bioindustry and bioremediation of radioactive waste. However, how radiation-resistant bacteria combat against invading phages is seldom addressed. Here, we present a series of crystal structures of a sensor and an effector of the cyclic oligonucleotide-based anti-phage signaling system (CBASS) from a radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus wulumuqiensis. We found that the sensor CD-NTase enzyme, DwCdnB, can bind all four ribonucleotides and synthesize a variety of cyclic di-nucleotides, including the novel second messenger 3'3'-cyclic di-CMP. Crystal structures of DwCdnB in complex with ATP and dATP provide structural explanations for specific recognition of ribonucleotides via metal coordination with ribose 2'-OH. Crystal structures of DwCdnB in complex with purine and/or pyrimidine nucleotides in the presence of Mg2+ revealed similar binding modes; however, in the presence of Mn2+, the UTP/CTP rotates and flips into the donor pocket and make extensive contacts with additional five residues, suggesting essential role of Mn2+ for catalytic production of cyclic di-pyrimidines. Finally, structural analysis of the downstream effector DwCap5 further provides a structural explanation for its non-specific recognition of a broad range of cyclic di-nucleotides. In sum, this work provides key structural insights into the immune mechanisms of radioresistant bacteria.

Tyrosinases: a family of copper-containing metalloenzymes

Tyrosinases (TYRs) are a family of copper-containing metalloenzymes that are present in all domains of life. TYRs catalyze the reactions that start the biosynthesis of melanin, the main pigment of the animal kingdom, and are also involved in the formation of the bright colors seen on the caps of mushrooms and in the petals of flowers. TYRs catalyze the ortho-hydroxylation and oxidation of phenols and the oxidation of catechols to the respective o-quinones. They only need molecular oxygen to do that, and the products of TYRs-o-quinones-are highly reactive and will usually react with the next available nucleophile. This reactivity can be harnessed for pharmaceutical applications as well as in environmental and food biotechnology. The majority of both basic and applied research on TYRs utilizes "mushroom tyrosinase", a crude enzyme preparation derived from button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) fruiting bodies. Access to pure TYR preparations comes almost exclusively from the production of recombinant TYRs as the purification of these enzymes from the natural source is usually very laborious and plagued by low yields. In this text an introduction into the biochemistry of the enzyme TYR will be given, followed by an overview of available structural data of TYRs, the current model for the catalytic mechanism, a survey of reports on the recombinant production of this important metalloenzyme family, and a review of the applications of TYRs for the synthesis of catechols, as biosensors, in bioremediation, for the cross-linking of proteins and medical hydrogels as well as for melanoma treatment.

Graphical Abstract

Redox-active polyoxovanadates as cofactors in the development of functional protein assemblies

The interactions of polyoxovanadates (POVs) with proteins have increasingly attracted interest in recent years due to their potential biomedical applications. This is especially the case because of their redox and catalytic properties, which make them interesting for developing artificial metalloenzymes. Organic-inorganic hybrid hexavanadates in particular offer several advantages over all-inorganic POVs. However, they have been scarcely investigated in biological systems even though, as shown in this work, hybrid hexavanadates are highly stable in aqueous solutions up to relatively high pH. Therefore, a novel bis-biotinylated hexavanadate was synthesized and shown to selectively interact with two biotin-binding proteins, avidin and streptavidin. Bridging interactions between multiple proteins led to their self-assembly into supramolecular bio-inorganic hybrid systems that have potential as artificial enzymes with the hexavanadate core as a redox-active cofactor. Moreover, the structure and charge of the hexavanadate core were determined to enhance the binding affinity and slightly alter the secondary structure of the proteins, which affected the size and speed of formation of the assemblies. Hence, tuning the polyoxometalate (POM) core of hybrid POMs (HPOMs) with protein-binding ligands has been demonstrated to be a potential strategy for controlling the self-assembly process while also enabling the formation of novel POM-based biomaterials that could be of interest in biomedicine.

Oxidation-Controlled, Strain-Promoted Tellurophene-Alkyne Cycloaddition (OSTAC): A Bioorthogonal Tellurophene-Dependent Conjugation Reaction

Tellurophene-bearing small molecules have emerged as valuable tools for localizing cellular activities in vivo using mass cytometry. To broaden the utility of tellurophenes in chemical biology, we have developed a bioorthogonal reaction to facilitate tagging of tellurophene-bearing conjugates for downstream applications. Using TePhe, a tellurophene-based phenylalanine analogue, labeled recombinant proteins were generated for reaction development. Using these proteins, we demonstrate an oxidation-controlled, strain-promoted tellurophene-alkyne cycloaddition (OSTAC) reaction. Mild oxidation of the tellurophene ring with N-chlorosuccinimide produces a reactive Te(IV) species which undergoes rapid (k > 100 M-1 s-1) cycloaddition with bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne (BCN) yielding a benzo-fused cyclooctane. Selective labeling of TePhe-containing proteins can be achieved in complex protein mixtures and on fixed cells. OSTAC reactions can be combined with strain-promoted azide alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) and copper-catalyzed azide alkyne click (CuAAC) reactions. Demonstrating the versatility of this approach, we observe the expected staining patterns for 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (DNA synthesis-CuAAC) and immunohistochemistry targets in combination with TePhe (protein synthesis-OSTAC) in fixed cells. The favorable properties of the OSTAC reaction suggest its broad applicability in chemical biology.

The effect of ionic versus covalent functionalization of polyoxometalate hybrid materials with coordinating subunits on their stability and interaction with DNA

Inorganic-organic hybrid materials that combine both Polyoxometalates (POMs) and metal ion coordinating subunits (CSUs) represent promising multifunctional materials. Though their individual components are often biologically active, utilization of hybrid materials in bioassays significantly depends on the functionalization method and thus resulting stability of the system. Quite intriguingly, these aspects were very scarcely studied in hybrid materials based on the Wells-Dawson POM (WD POM) scaffold and remain unknown. We chose two model WD POM hybrid systems to establish how the functionalization mode (ionic vs. covalent) affects their stability in biological medium and interaction with nucleic acids. The synthetic scope and limitations of the covalent POM-terpyridine hybrids were demonstrated and compared with the ionic Complex-Decorated Surfactant Encapsulated-Clusters (CD-SECs) hybrids. The nature of POM and CSU binding can be utilized to modulate the stability of the hybrid and the extent of DNA binding. The above systems show potential to behave as model cargo-platforms for potential utilization in medicine and pharmacy.

All-Inorganic Polyoxometalates Act as Superchaotropic Membrane Carriers

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are known antitumoral, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer agents and considered as next-generation metallodrugs. Herein, a new biological functionality in neutral physiological media, where selected mixed-metal POMs are sufficiently stable and able to affect membrane transport of impermeable, hydrophilic, and cationic peptides (heptaarginine, heptalysine, protamine, and polyarginine) is reported. The uptake is observed in both, model membranes as well as cells, and attributed to the superchaotropic properties of the polyoxoanions. In view of the structural diversity of POMs these findings pave the way toward their biomedical application in drug delivery or for cell-biological uptake studies with biological effector molecules or staining agents.

Tungsten-based polyoxometalate nanoclusters with remarkable reactive oxygen species-scavenging activity efficiently quenched luminol-based electrochemiluminescence for sensitive detection of Her-2

This study aimed to develop a quenching-type electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor for human epidermal growth factor receptor (Her-2) detection. Firstly, Pd/NiFeOx nanoflowers decorated by in situ formation of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and 2D Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets were synthesized (AuPd/NiFeOx/Ti3C2) as carriers to load luminol and primary antibodies. Impressively, AuPd/NiFeOx/Ti3C2 with excellent peroxidase-like activity could accelerate the decomposition of the coreactant H2O2 generating more reactive oxygen species (ROSs) under the working potential from 0 to 0.8 V, resulting in highly efficient ECL emission at 435-nm wavelengths. The introduction of tungsten-based polyoxometalate nanoclusters (W-POM NCs) which exhibit remarkable ROSs-scavenging activity as secondary antibody labels could improve the sensitivity of immunosensors. The ZnO nanoflowers were employed to encapsulate minute-sized W-POM NCs, and polydopamine was self-polymerized on the surface of Zn(W-POM)O to anchor secondary antibodies. The mechanism of the quenching strategy was explored and it was found that W-POM NCs could consume ROSs by the redox reaction of W5+ resulting in W6+. The proposed ECL immunosensor displayed a wide linear response range of 0.1 pg·mL-1 to 50 ng·mL-1, and a low detection limit of 0.036 pg mL-1 (S/N = 3). The recoveries ranged from 93.9 to 99.4%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was lower than 10%. This finding is promising for the design of detecting new protein biomarkers.

Fine-tuning non-covalent interactions between hybrid metal-oxo clusters and proteins

Interactions between the protein Hen Egg White Lysozyme (HEWL) and three different hybrid Anderson-Evans polyoxometalate clusters - AE-NH2 (δ-[MnMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNH2}2]3-), AE-CH3 (δ-[MnMo6O18{(OCH2)3CCH3}2]3-) and AE-Biot (δ-[MnMo6O18{(OCH2)3CNHCOC9H15N2OS}2]3-) - were studied via tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Quenching of tryptophan fluorescence was observed in the presence of all three hybrid polyoxometalate clusters (HPOMs), but the extent of quenching and the binding affinity were greatly dependent on the nature of the organic groups attached to the cluster. Control experiments further revealed the synergistic effect of the anionic polyoxometalate core and organic ligands towards enhanced protein interactions. Furthermore, the protein was co-crystallised with each of the three HPOMs, resulting in four different crystal structures, thus allowing for the binding modes of HPOM-protein interactions to be investigated with near-atomic precision. All crystal structures displayed a unique mode of binding of the HPOMs to the protein, with both functionalisation and the pH of the crystallisation conditions influencing the interactions. From the crystal structures, it was determined that HPOM-protein non-covalent complexes formed through a combination of electrostatic attraction between the polyoxometalate cluster and positively charged surface regions of HEWL, and direct and water-mediated hydrogen bonds with both the metal-oxo inorganic core and the functional groups of the ligand, where possible. Hence, functionalisation of metal-oxo clusters shows great potential in tuning their interactions with proteins, which is of interest for several biomedical applications.

Speciation atlas of polyoxometalates in aqueous solutions

Speciation is the key parameter in solution chemistry that describes the composition, concentration, and oxidation state of each chemical form of an element present in a sample. The speciation study of complex polyatomic ions has remained challenging because of the large number of factors affecting stability and the limited number of direct methods. To address these challenges, we developed the speciation atlas of 10 polyoxometalates commonly used in catalytic and biological applications in aqueous solutions, where the speciation atlas provides both a species distribution database and a predictive model for other polyoxometalates to be used. Compiled for six different polyoxometalate archetypes with three types of addenda ions based on 1309 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra under 54 different conditions, the atlas has revealed a previously unknown behavior of polyoxometalates that may account for their potency as biological agents and catalysts. The atlas is intended to promote the interdisciplinary use of metal oxides in various scientific fields.

Adaptive Responses of a Peroxidase-like Polyoxometalate-Based Tri-Assembly to Bacterial Microenvironment (BME) Significantly Improved the Anti-Bacterial Effects

The present study presents the tertiary assembly of a POM, peptide, and biogenic amine, which is a concept to construct new hybrid bio-inorganic materials for antibacterial applications and will help to promote the development of antivirus agents in the future. To achieve this, a Eu-containing polyoxometalate (EuW₁₀) was first co-assembled with a biogenic amine of spermine (Spm), which improved both the luminescence and antibacterial effect of EuW₁₀. Further introduction of a basic peptide from HPV E6, GL-22, induced more extensive enhancements, both of them being attributed to the cooperation and synergistic effects between the constituents, particularly the adaptive responses of assembly to the bacterial microenvironment (BME). Further intrinsic mechanism investigations revealed in detail that the encapsulation of EuW₁₀ in Spm and further GL-22 enhanced the uptake abilities of EuW₁₀ in bacteria, which further improved the ROS generation in BME via the abundant H₂O₂ involved there and significantly promoted the antibacterial effects.

Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Crystallographic Study of Novel Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase Inhibitors

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a well-known molecular target with potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of T-cell malignancies and/or bacterial/parasitic infections. Here, we report the design, development of synthetic methodology, and biological evaluation of a series of 30 novel PNP inhibitors based on acyclic nucleoside phosphonates bearing a 9-deazahypoxanthine nucleobase. The strongest inhibitors exhibited IC₅₀ values as low as 19 nM (human PNP) and 4 nM (Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mt) PNP) and highly selective cytotoxicity toward various T-lymphoblastic cell lines with CC₅₀ values as low as 9 nM. No cytotoxic effect was observed on other cancer cell lines (HeLa S3, HL60, HepG2) or primary PBMCs for up to 10 μM. We report the first example of the PNP inhibitor exhibiting over 60-fold selectivity for the pathogenic enzyme (MtPNP) over hPNP. The results are supported by a crystallographic study of eight enzyme-inhibitor complexes and by ADMET profiling in vitro and in vivo.

Exploring the Reactivity of Polyoxometalates toward Proteins: From Interactions to Mechanistic Insights

The latest advances in the study of the reactivity of metal-oxo clusters toward proteins showcase how fundamental insights obtained so far open new opportunities in biotechnology and medicine. In this Perspective, these studies are discussed through the lens of the reactivity of a family of soluble anionic metal-oxo nanoclusters known as polyoxometalates (POMs). POMs act as catalysts in a wide range of reactions with several different types of biomolecules and have promising therapeutic applications due to their antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. However, the lack of a detailed understanding of the mechanisms behind biochemically relevant reactions-particularly with complex biological systems such as proteins-still hinders further developments. Hence, in this Perspective, special attention is given to reactions of POMs with peptides and proteins showcasing a molecular-level understanding of the reaction mechanism. In doing so, we aim to highlight both existing limitations and promising directions of future research on the reactivity of metal-oxo clusters toward proteins and beyond.

Enhancing Protein Crystal Nucleation Using In Situ Templating on Bioconjugate-Functionalized Nanoparticles and Machine Learning

Although protein crystallization offers a promising alternative to chromatography for lower-cost protein purification, slow nucleation kinetics and high protein concentration requirements are major barriers for using crystallization as a viable strategy in downstream protein purification. Here, we demonstrate that nanoparticles functionalized with bioconjugates can result in an in situ template for inducing rapid crystallization of proteins at low protein concentration conditions. We use a microbatch crystallization setup to show that the range of successful crystallization conditions is expanded by the presence of functionalized nanoparticles. Furthermore, we use a custom machine learning-enabled emulsion crystallization setup to rigorously quantify nucleation parameters. We show that bioconjugate-functionalized nanoparticles can result in up to a 7-fold decrease in the induction time and a 3-fold increase in the nucleation rate of model proteins compared to those in control environments. We thus provide foundational insight that could enable crystallization to be used in protein manufacturing by reducing both the protein concentration and the time required to nucleate protein crystals.

Oxo-Replaced Polyoxometalates: There Is More than Oxygen

The presence of oxo-ligands is one of the main required characteristics for polyoxometalates (POMs), although some oxygen ions in a metallic environment can be replaced by other nonmetals, while maintaining the POM structure. The replacement of oxo-ligands offers a valuable approach to tune the charge distribution and connected properties like reducibility and hydrolytic stability of POMs for the development of tailored compounds. By assessing the reported catalytic and biological applications and connecting them to POM structures, the present review provides a guideline for synthetic approaches and aims to stimulate further applications where the oxo-replaced compounds are superior to their oxo-analogues. Oxo-replacement in POMs deserves more attention as a valuable tool to form chemically activated precursors for the synthesis of novel structures or to upgrade established structures with extraordinary properties for challenging applications.

Tellurium-Modified Nucleosides, Nucleotides, and Nucleic Acids with Potential Applications

Tellurium was successfully incorporated into proteins and applied to protein structure determination through X-ray crystallography. However, studies on tellurium modification of DNA and RNA are limited. This review highlights the recent development of Te-modified nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids, and summarizes the main synthetic approaches for the preparation of 5-PhTe, 2'-MeTe, and 2'-PhTe modifications. Those modifications are compatible with solid-phase synthesis and stable during Te-oligonucleotide purification. Moreover, the ideal electronic and atomic properties of tellurium for generating clear isomorphous signals give Te-modified DNA and RNA great potential applications in 3D crystal structure determination through X-ray diffraction. STM study also shows that Te-modified DNA has strong topographic and current peaks, which immediately suggests potential applications in nucleic acid direct imaging, nanomaterials, molecular electronics, and diagnostics. Theoretical studies indicate the potential application of Te-modified nucleosides in cancer therapy.

Crystal structures of FNIP/FGxxFN motif-containing leucine-rich repeat proteins

The Cafeteria roenbergensis virus (Crov), Dictyostelium, and other species encode a large family of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins with FGxxFN motifs. We determined the structures of two of them and observed several unique structural features that set them aside from previously characterized LRR family members. Crov588 comprises 25 regular repeats with a LxxLxFGxxFNQxIxENVLPxx consensus, forming a unique closed circular repeat structure. Novel features include a repositioning of a conserved asparagine at the middle of the repeat, a double phenylalanine spine that generates an alternate core packing arrangement, and a histidine/tyrosine ladder on the concave surface. Crov539 is smaller, comprising 12 repeats of a similar LxxLxFGxxFNQPIExVxW/LPxx consensus and forming an unusual cap-swapped dimer structure. The phenylalanine spine of Crov539 is supplemented with a tryptophan spine, while a hydrophobic isoleucine-rich patch is found on the central concave surface. We present a detailed analysis of the structures of Crov588 and Crov539 and compare them to related repeat proteins and other LRR classes.

Structural and Biochemical Investigation of the Heterodimeric Murine tRNA-Guanine Transglycosylase

In tRNA^Asp, tRNA^Asn, tRNA^Tyr, and tRNA^His of most bacteria and eukaryotes, the anticodon wobble position may be occupied by the modified nucleoside queuosine, which affects the speed and the accuracy of translation. Since eukaryotes are not able to synthesize queuosine de novo, they have to salvage queuine (the queuosine base) as a micronutrient from food and/or the gut microbiome. The heterodimeric Zn²⁺ containing enzyme tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) catalyzes the insertion of queuine into the above-named tRNAs in exchange for the genetically encoded guanine. This enzyme has attracted medical interest since it was shown to be potentially useful for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In addition, TGT inactivation via gene knockout leads to the suppressed cell proliferation and migration of certain breast cancer cells, which may render this enzyme a potential target for the design of compounds supporting breast cancer therapy. As a prerequisite to fully exploit the medical potential of eukaryotic TGT, we have determined and analyzed a number of crystal structures of the functional murine TGT with and without bound queuine. In addition, we have investigated the importance of two residues of its non-catalytic subunit on dimer stability and determined the Michaelis-Menten parameters of murine TGT with respect to tRNA and several natural and artificial nucleobase substrates. Ultimately, on the basis of available TGT crystal structures, we provide an entirely conclusive reaction mechanism for this enzyme, which in detail explains why the TGT-catalyzed insertion of some nucleobases into tRNA occurs reversibly while that of others is irreversible.

Conformational flexibility in the zinc solute-binding protein ZnuA

Zinc is an essential metal for all kingdoms of life, making its transport across the cell membrane a critical function. In bacteria, high-affinity zinc import is accomplished by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, which rely on extracellular solute-binding proteins (SBPs) of cluster A-I to acquire the metal and deliver it to the membrane permease. These systems are important for survival and virulence, making them attractive targets for the development of novel antibiotics. Citrobacter koseri is an emerging pathogen with extensive antibiotic resistance. High-affinity zinc binding to the C. koseri cluster A-I SBP ZnuA has been characterized and the structure of the zinc-bound (holo) form has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Remarkably, despite 95% sequence identity to the ZnuA homologue from Salmonella enterica, C. koseri ZnuA exhibits a different zinc-coordination environment and a closed rather than an open conformation. Comparison with structures of another close ZnuA homologue from Escherichia coli suggests a surprisingly flexible conformational landscape that may be important for efficient zinc binding and/or delivery to the membrane permease.

Chaotropic Effect as an Assembly Motif to Construct Supramolecular Cyclodextrin-Polyoxometalate-Based Frameworks

In aqueous solution, low-charged polyoxometalates (POMs) exhibit remarkable self-assembly properties with nonionic organic matter that have been recently used to develop groundbreaking advances in host-guest chemistry, as well as in soft matter science. Herein, we exploit the affinity between a chaotropic POM and native cyclodextrins (α-, β-, and γ-CD) to enhance the structural and functional diversity of cyclodextrin-based open frameworks. First, we reveal that the Anderson-Evans type polyoxometalate [AlMo₆O₁₈(OH)₆]^3- represents an efficient inorganic scaffold to design open hybrid frameworks built from infinite cyclodextrin channels connected through the disk-shaped POM. A single-crystal X-ray analysis demonstrates that the resulting supramolecular architectures contain large cavities (up to 2 nm) where the topologies are dictated by the rotational symmetry of the organic macrocycle, generating honeycomb (bnn net) and checkerboard-like (pcu net) networks for α-CD (C₆) and γ-CD (C₈), respectively. On the other hand, the use of β-CD, a macrocycle with C₇ ideal symmetry, led to a distorted-checkerboard-like network. The cyclodextrin-based frameworks built from an Anderson-Evans type POM are easily functionalizable using the molecular recognition properties of the macrocycle building units. As a proof of concept, we successfully isolated a series of compartmentalized functional frameworks by the entrapment of polyiodides or superchaotropic redox-active polyanions within the macrocyclic host matrix. This set of results paves the way for designing multifunctional supramolecular frameworks whose pore dimensions are controlled by the size of inorganic entities.

A Visual Discrimination of Existing States of Virus Capsid Protein by a Giant Molybdate Cluster

We report a unique phenomenon, the opposite color response of a giant polyoxometalate, (NH₄)₄₂[Mo₁₃₂O₃₇₂(CHCOO)₃₀] (H₂O)₇₂ ([Mo₁₃₂]), to the existing states of human papillomavirus (HPV) major capsid protein, L1-pentamer (L1-p), and virus-like particles (VLPs). The color responses originate from the different assembly forms between [Mo₁₃₂] and the capsid protein. The latter were inspected and separated by using CsCl gradient centrifugation, and validated in detail by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. Furthermore, the intrinsic mechanisms were investigated in-depth by using XPS-based semi-quantitative analysis and well-designed peptides, revealing the critical points of L1 that determine the charge–transfer ratio between Mo(V) to Mo(VI), and consequently, the levels of [Mo₁₃₂] hypochromic in different assemblies. Such a unique phenomenon is significant as it supplies a colorimetry approach to distinguish the existing states of the HPV capsid protein and would be significant in the quality assay of the HPV vaccine and existing states of other viruses in the future.

Speciation of Transition-Metal-Substituted Keggin-Type Silicotungstates Affected by the Co-crystallization Conditions with Proteinase K

We report on the synthesis of the tetrasubstituted sandwich-type Keggin silicotungstates as the pure Na salts Na₁₄[(A-α-SiW₁₀O₃₇)₂{Co₄(OH)₂(H₂O)₂}]·37H₂O (Na{SiW₁₀Co₂}₂) and Na₁₄[(A-α-SiW₁₀O₃₇)₂{Ni₄(OH)₂(H₂O)₂}]·77.5H₂O (Na{SiW₁₀Ni₂}₂), which were prepared by applying a new synthesis protocol and characterized thoroughly in the solid state by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. Proteinase K was applied as a model protein and the polyoxotungstate (POT)–protein interactions of Na{SiW₁₀Co₂}₂ and Na{SiW₁₀Ni₂}₂ were studied side by side with the literature-known K₅Na₃[A-α-SiW₉O₃₄(OH)₃{Co₄(OAc)₃}]·28.5H₂O ({SiW₉Co₄}) featuring the same number of transition metals. Testing the solution behavior of applied POTs under the crystallization conditions (sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.5) by time-dependent UV/vis spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry speciation studies revealed an initial dissociation of the sandwich POTs to the disubstituted Keggin anions H_xNa_5–x[SiW₁₀Co₂O₃₈]^3– and H_xNa_5–x[SiW₁₀Ni₂O₃₈]^3– ({SiW₁₀M₂}, M = Co^II and Ni^II) followed by partial rearrangement to the monosubstituted compounds (α-{SiW₁₁Co} and α-{SiW₁₁Ni}) after 1 week of aging. The protein crystal structure analysis revealed monosubstituted α-Keggin POTs in two conserved binding positions for all three investigated compounds, with one of these positions featuring a covalent attachment of the POT anion to an aspartate carboxylate. Despite the presence of both mono- and disubstituted anions in a crystallization mixture, proteinase K selectively binds to monosubstituted anions because of their preferred charge density for POT–protein interaction.

We report on the development of a new synthesis protocol to prepare the Na salts of the tetrasubstituted sandwich-type Keggin derivatives Na₁₄[(A-α-SiW₁₀O₃₈)₂{Co₄(OH)₂(H₂O)₂}]·37H₂O (Na{SiW₁₀Co₂}₂) and Na₁₄[(A-α-SiW₁₀O₃₈)₂{Ni₄(OH)₂(H₂O)₂}]·77.5H₂O (Na{SiW₁₀Ni₂}₂). Following a thorough characterization of the polyoxotungstate (POT) dimers involving single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis in the solid state and UV/vis spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in solution, the water-soluble compounds (>5 mM) were applied as additives for the crystallization of proteinase K along with the tetrasubstituted monomeric Keggin-type analogue K₅Na₃[A-α-SiW₉O₃₄(OH)₃{Co₄(OAc)₃}]·28.5H₂O ({SiW₉Co₄}). Crystallographic studies on the obtained protein crystals revealed monosubstituted Keggin derivatives in all three cases bound to conserved sites of the protein, which highlights a selectivity of proteinase K toward monosubstituted Keggin POTs within a narrow range of surface charge density.

Wells-Dawson phosphotungstates as mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors: a speciation study

In order to elucidate the active polyoxotungstate (POT) species that inhibit fungal polyphenol oxidase (AbPPO4) in sodium citrate buffer at pH 6.8, four Wells-Dawson phosphotungstates [α/β-PV2WVI18O62]6- (intact form), [α2-PV2WVI17O61]10- (monolacunary), [PV2WVI15O56]12- (trilacunary) and [H2PV2WVI12O48]12- (hexalacunary) were investigated. The speciation of the POT solutions under the dopachrome assay (50 mM Na-citrate buffer, pH 6.8; L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine as a substrate) conditions were determined by 183W-NMR, 31P-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The intact Wells-Dawson POT [α/β-PV2WVI18O62]6- shows partial (~ 69%) disintegration into the monolacunary [α2-PV2WVI17O61]10- anion with moderate activity (Ki = 9.7 mM). The monolacunary [α2-PV2WVI17O61]10- retains its structural integrity and exhibits the strongest inhibition of AbPPO4 (Ki = 6.5 mM). The trilacunary POT [PV2WVI15O56]12- rearranges to the more stable monolacunary [α2-PV2WVI17O61]10- (~ 62%) accompanied by release of free phosphates and shows the weakest inhibition (Ki = 13.6 mM). The hexalacunary anion [H2PV2WVI12O48]12- undergoes time-dependent hydrolysis resulting in a mixture of [H2PV2WVI12O48]12-, [PV8WVI48O184]40-, [PV2WVI19O69(H2O)]14- and [α2-PV2WVI17O61]10- which together leads to comparable inhibitory activity (Ki = 7.5 mM) after 48 h. For the solutions of [α/β-PV2WVI18O62]6-, [α2-PV2WVI17O61]10- and [PV2WVI15O56]12- the inhibitory activity is correlated to the degree of their rearrangement to [α2-PV2WVI17O61]10-. The rearrangement of hexalacunary [H2PV2WVI12O48]12- into at least four POTs with a negligible amount of monolacunary anion interferes with the correlation of activity to the degree of their rearrangement to [α2-PV2WVI17O61]10-. The good inhibitory effect of the Wells-Dawson [α2-PV2WVI17O61]10- anion is explained by the low charge density of its protonated forms Hx[α2-PV2WVI17O61](10-x)- (x = 3 or 4) at pH 6.8.

Expanding the reactivity of inorganic clusters towards proteins: the interplay between the redox and hydrolytic activity of Ce(iv)-substituted polyoxometalates as artificial proteases

The ability of soluble metal-oxo clusters to specifically interact with protein surfaces makes them attractive as potential inorganic drugs and as artificial enzymes. In particular, metal-substituted polyoxometalates (MS-POMs) are remarkably selective in hydrolyzing a range of different proteins. However, the influence of MS-POMs' redox chemistry on their proteolytic activity remains virtually unexplored. Herein we report a highly site-selective hydrolysis of hemoglobin (Hb), a large tetrameric globular protein, by a Ce(iv)-substituted Keggin polyoxometalate (CeIVK), and evaluate the effect of CeIVK's redox chemistry on its reactivity and selectivity as an artificial protease. At pH 5.0, incubation of Hb with CeIVK resulted in strictly selective protein hydrolysis at six Asp-X bonds, two of which were located in the α-chain (α(Asp75-Leu76) and α(Asp94-Pro95)) and five at the β-chain (β(Asp51-Ala52), β(Asp68-Ser69), β(Asp78-Asp79), β(Asp98-Pro99) and β(Asp128-Phe129)). However, increasing the pH of the reaction mixture to 7.4 decreased the CeIVK hydrolytic reactivity towards Hb, resulting in the cleavage of only one peptide bond (β(Asp128-Phe129)). Combination of UV-Vis, circular dichroism and Trp fluorescence spectroscopy indicated similar interactions between Hb and CeIVK at both pH conditions; however, 31P NMR spectroscopy showed faster reduction of CeIVK into the hydrolytically inactive CeIIIK form in the presence of protein at pH 7.4. In agreement with these results, careful mapping of all hydrolyzed Asp-X bonds on the protein structure revealed that the lower reactivity toward the α-chain was consistent with the presence of more redox-active amino acids (Tyr and His) in this subunit in comparison with the β-chain. This points towards a link between the presence of the redox-active sites on the protein surface and efficiency and selectivity of redox-active MS-POMs as artificial proteases. More importantly, the study provides a way to tune the redox and hydrolytic reactivity of MS-POMs towards proteins through adjustment of reaction parameters like temperature and pH.

Synthesis and characterization of the Anderson-Evans tungstoantimonate [Na5(H2O)18{(HOCH2)2CHNH3}2][SbW6O24]

A novel tungstoantimonate, [Na5(H2O)18{(HOCH2)2CHNH3}2][SbVWVI6O24] (SbW6), was synthesized from an aqueous solution and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which revealed C2/c symmetry. The structure contains two serinol [(HOCH2)2CHNH3]+ and five Na+ cations, which are octahedrally surrounded by 18 water molecules, and one [SbVWVI6O24]7- anion. The serinol molecules also play a critical role in the synthesis by acting as a mild buffering agent. Each of the WVI and SbV ions is six-coordinated and displays a distorted octahedral motif. A three-dimensional supramolecular framework is formed via hydrogen-bonding interactions between the tungstoantimonates and cations. Powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and IR spectroscopy were performed on SbW6 to prove the purity, to identify the water content and to characterize the vibrational modes of the crystallized phase.

Defect {(WVIO7)WVI4} and Full {(WVIO7)WVI5} Pentagonal Units as Synthons for the Generation of Nanosized Main Group V Heteropolyoxotungstates

We report on the synthesis and characterization of three new nanosized main group V heteropolyoxotungstates K_xNa_y[H₂(XW^VI₉O₃₃)(W^VI₅O₁₂)(X₂W^VI₂₉O₁₀₃)]·nH₂O {X₃W₄₃} (x = 11, y = 16, and n = 115.5 for X = Sb^III; x = 20, y = 7, and n = 68 for X = Bi^III) and K₈Na₁₅[H₁₆(Co^II(H₂O)₂)_0.9(Co^II(H₂O)₃)₂(W^VI_3.1O₁₄)(Sb^IIIW^VI₉O₃₃)(Sb^III₂W^VI₃₀O₁₀₆)(H₂O)]·53H₂O {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂}. On the basis of the key parameters for the one-pot synthesis strategy of {Bi₃W₄₃}, a rational step-by-step approach was developed using the known Krebs-type polyoxotungstate (POT) K₁₂[Sb^V₂W^VI₂₂O₇₄(OH)₂]·27H₂O {Sb₂W₂₂} as a nonlacunary precursor leading to the synthesis and characterization of {Sb₃W₄₃} and {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂}. Solid-state characterization of the three new representatives {Bi₃W₄₃}, {Sb₃W₄₃}, and {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂} by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and elemental analysis, along with characterization in solution by UV/vis spectroscopy shows that {Bi₃W₄₃}, {Sb₃W₄₃}, and {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂} represent the first main group V heteropolyoxotungstates encapsulating a defect {(W^VIO₇)W^VI₄} ({X₃W₄₃}, X = Bi^III and Sb^III) or full {(W^VIO₇)W^VI₅} ({Co₃Sb₃W₄₂}) pentagonal unit. With 43 tungsten metal centers, {X₃W₄₃} (X = Bi^III and Sb^III) are the largest unsubstituted tungstoantimonate– and bismuthate clusters reported to date. By using time-dependent UV/vis spectroscopy, the isostructural representatives {Sb₃W₄₃} and {Bi₃W₄₃} were subjected to a comprehensive study on their catalytic properties as homogeneous electron-transfer catalysts for the reduction of K₃[Fe^III(CN)₆] as a model substrate revealing up to 5.8 times higher substrate conversions in the first 240 min (35% for {Sb₃W₄₃}, 29% for {Bi₃W₄₃}) as compared to the uncatalyzed reaction (<6% without catalyst after 240 min) under otherwise identical conditions.

We report on the synthesis and characterization of three new tungsten-based defect {(W^VIO₇)W^VI₄}K_xNa_y[H₂(XW^VI₉O₃₃)(W^VI₅O₁₂)(X₂W^VI₂₉O₁₀₃)]·nH₂O {X₃W₄₃} (x = 11, y = 16, and n = 115.5 for X = Sb^III; x = 20, y = 7, and n = 68 for Bi^III) or full pentagonal {(W^VIO₇)W^VI₅} unit K₈Na₁₅[H₁₆(Co^II(H₂O)₂)_0.9(Co^II(H₂O)₃)₂(W^VI_3.1O₁₄)(Sb^IIIW^VI₉O₃₃)(Sb^III₂W^VI₃₀O₁₀₆)(H₂O)]·53H₂O {Co₃Sb₃W₄₂} encapsulating main group V representatives. With 43 W centers, {Sb₃W₄₃} and {Bi₃W₄₃} exhibit the highest nuclearity among unsubstituted tungstoantimonates and bismuthates reported to date. The catalytic properties of {Sb₃W₄₃} and {Bi₃W₄₃} as homogeneous electron-transfer catalysts for the reduction of K₃[Fe^III(CN)₆] to K₄[Fe^II(CN)₆] was investigated.

Anderson-type polyoxometalates: from structures to functions

Anderson-type polyoxometalates (POMs) are one of the most important groups of the POM family. In the past decade, the functionalization of Anderson-type POMs has achieved significant progress and these materials have already shown unique charm in catalysis, molecular devices, energy materials, and inorganic biochemical drugs. In particular, their highly flexible topological structure and diverse functionalization methods make them the most convenient and universal platforms for rational design and controllable synthesis. This review provides a deep discussion on the recent progress in the synthetic methodology, structural exploration, and promising applications of Anderson-type POMs. It also summarizes the latest research directions and provides future prospects.

Interweaving Disciplines to Advance Chemistry: Applying Polyoxometalates in Biology

This Viewpoint brings awareness of the challenges and subsequent breakthroughs at the intersection of different disciplines, illustrated by the example of the influence biological entities exerted on a huge class of inorganic coordination compounds, called polyoxometalates (POMs). We highlight the possible effects of biological systems on POMs that need to be considered, thereby emphasizing the depth and complexity of interdisciplinary work. We map POMs’ structural, electrochemical, and stability properties in the presence of biomolecules and stress the potential challenges related to inorganic coordination chemistry carried out in biological systems. This Viewpoint shows that new chemistry is available at the intersections between disciplines and aims to guide the community toward a discussion about current as well as future trends in truly interdisciplinary work.

We discuss the investigation of polyoxometalates in biological systems as one future direction of chemistry. Highly interesting, new, and sometimes spectacular findings and applications can be obtained from correctly carried out interdisciplinary research. In this Viewpoint, the challenges of truly interdisciplinary work and concepts for overcoming boundaries while working on intertwining disciplines are discussed.

Aluminum-Substituted Keggin Germanotungstate [HAl(H2O)GeW11O39]4-: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity

We report on the new monosubstituted aluminum Keggin-type germanotungstate (C₄H₁₂N)₄[HAlGeW₁₁O₃₉(H₂O)]·11H₂O ([Al(H₂O)GeW₁₁]^4–), which has been synthesized at room temperature via rearrangement of the dilacunary [γ-GeW₁₀O₃₆]^8– polyoxometalate precursor. [Al(H₂O)GeW₁₁]^4– has been characterized thoroughly both in the solid state by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis as well as in solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV) ¹⁸³W, ²⁷Al NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy. A study on the antibacterial properties of [Al(H₂O)GeW₁₁]^4– and the known aluminum(III)-centered Keggin polyoxotungstates (Al-POTs) α-Na₅[AlW₁₂O₄₀] (α-[AlW₁₂O₄₀]^5–) and Na₆[Al(AlOH₂)W₁₁O₃₉] ([Al(AlOH₂)W₁₁O₃₉]^6–) revealed enhanced activity for all three Al-POTs against the Gram-negative bacterium Moraxella catarrhalis (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) up to 4 μg mL^–1) and the Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis (MIC up to 128 μg mL^–1) compared to the inactive Al(NO₃)₃ salt (MIC > 256 μg mL^–1). CV indicates the redox activity of the Al-POTs as a dominating factor for the observed antibacterial activity with increased tendency to reduction, resulting in increased antibacterial activity of the POT.

We report on the synthesis and thorough characterization of the new monosubstituted aluminum germanotungstate (C₄H₁₂N)₄[HAlGeW₁₁O₃₉(H₂O)]·11H₂O ([Al(H₂O)GeW₁₁]⁴⁻), which has been subjected to an antibacterial study including the previously reported α-Na₅[AlW₁₂O₄₀] and Na₆[Al(AlOH₂)W₁₁O₃₉]. All three aluminum-substituted polyoxotungstates (Al-POTs) revealed enhanced activity against Moraxella catarrhalis and Enterococcus faecalis compared to the inactive Al(NO₃)₃ salt. On the basis of cyclic voltammetry studies, the redox activity of the POTs is suggested to have an impact on their overall antibacterial activity.

Structure of human endo-α-1,2-mannosidase (MANEA), an antiviral host-glycosylation target

Mammalian protein N-linked glycosylation is critical for glycoprotein folding, quality control, trafficking, recognition, and function. N-linked glycans are synthesized from Glc₃Man₉GlcNAc₂ precursors that are trimmed and modified in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus by glycoside hydrolases and glycosyltransferases. Endo-α-1,2-mannosidase (MANEA) is the sole endo-acting glycoside hydrolase involved in N-glycan trimming and is located within the Golgi, where it allows ER-escaped glycoproteins to bypass the classical N-glycosylation trimming pathway involving ER glucosidases I and II. There is considerable interest in the use of small molecules that disrupt N-linked glycosylation as therapeutic agents for diseases such as cancer and viral infection. Here we report the structure of the catalytic domain of human MANEA and complexes with substrate-derived inhibitors, which provide insight into dynamic loop movements that occur on substrate binding. We reveal structural features of the human enzyme that explain its substrate preference and the mechanistic basis for catalysis. These structures have inspired the development of new inhibitors that disrupt host protein N-glycan processing of viral glycans and reduce the infectivity of bovine viral diarrhea and dengue viruses in cellular models. These results may contribute to efforts aimed at developing broad-spectrum antiviral agents and help provide a more in-depth understanding of the biology of mammalian glycosylation.

Bonded- and discreted-Lindqvist hexatungstate-based copper hybrids as heterogeneous catalysts for the one-pot synthesis of 2-phenylquinoxalines via 2-haloanilines with vinyl azides or 3-phenyl-2H-azirines

One bonded- and one discreted-Lindqvist hexatungstate-based copper hybrids (Cu-POMs) ([Cu2(O)OH(phen)2]2[W6O19]·6H2O (1) and [Cu2(phen)4Cl] [HW6O19]·2H2O (2) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline)) were controllably synthesized and routinely characterized. Cu-POMs 1-2 consisted of identical [W6O19] unit and similar copper-phen complexes, the two units are bonded via four Cu-O chemical bonds in compound 1; however, compound 2 is discreted and stabilized by intermolecular electrostatic interactions. Importantly, these Cu-POMs catalysts were first applied in the novel reaction for the preparation of 2-phenylquinoxalines via the one-pot coupling and oxidation reactions of 2-haloanilines with vinyl azides or 3-phenyl-2H-azirines under mild conditions, and Cu-POMs 1 showed higher catalytic performance in good yields (79-84%). The reactions exhibit some functional group tolerance and allow for the preparation of a number of 2-phenylquinoxalines.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Phosphoesterase Activity of a Series of 4f- and 4d-Sandwich-Type Germanotungstates [(n-C4H9)4N]l/mH2[(M(H2O)3)(γ-GeW10O35)2] (M = CeIII, NdIII, GdIII, ErIII, l = 7; ZrIV, m = 6)

We report on a family of five new 4f- and 4d-doped sandwich-type germanotungstates with the general formula [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]_l/mH₂[(M(H₂O)₃)(γ-GeW₁₀O₃₅)₂]·3(CH₃)₂CO [M(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂] (M = Ce^III, Nd^III, Gd^III, Er^III, l = 7; Zr^IV, m = 6), which have been synthesized at room temperature in an acetone–water mixture. Among the compound series, [Zr(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^8–, which has been obtained in the presence of 30% H₂O₂, represents the first example of a 4d-substituted germanotungstate incorporating the intact dilacunary [γ-Ge^IVW₁₀O₃₆]^8– building block. All compounds were characterized thoroughly in the solid state by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis and in solution by NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy. The phosphoesterase activity of [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^9– and [Zr(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^8– toward the model substrates 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP) and O,O-dimethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (DMNP) was monitored with ¹H- and ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy revealing an acceleration of the hydrolytic reaction by an order of magnitude (k_corr = 3.44 (±0.30) × 10^–4 min^–1 for [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^9– and k_corr = 5.36 (±0.05) × 10^–4 min^–1 for [Zr(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^8–) as compared to the uncatalyzed reaction (k_uncat = 2.60 (±0.10) × 10^–5 min^–1). [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^9– demonstrated improved antibacterial activity toward Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC 32 μg/mL), compared to the unsubstituted [GeW₁₀O₃₆]^8– POM (MIC 64 μg/mL).

We report on the synthesis and characterization of five new monosubstituted 4f- and 4d-germanotungstates [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]_l/mH₂[(M(H₂O)₃)(γ-GeW₁₀O₃₅)₂]·3(CH₃)₂CO [M(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂] (M = Ce^III, Nd^III, Gd^III, Er^III, l = 7; Zr^IV; m = 6). The phosphoesterase properties of [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]⁹⁻ and [Zr(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]⁸⁻ were investigated by probing the hydrolytic activity toward 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP) and O,O-dimethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (DMNP). Antibacterial tests revealed inhibiting activity of [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]⁹⁻ against Moraxella catarrhalis.

In Vitro Anti-tumoral and Anti-bacterial Activity of an Octamolybdate Cluster-Based Hybrid Solid Incorporated with a Copper Picolinate Complex

Inorganic drugs, especially polyoxometalate-based hybrids, are expected to be developed as promising future metallodrugs. Herein, an organic-inorganic hybrid solid based on pyridine-2-carboxylic acid or picolinic acid (pic), [(Cu(pic)₂)₂(Mo₈O₂₆)]·8H₂O (1), was synthesized. A single-crystal structure of a solid possesses a discrete β-type octamolybdate cluster that supramolecularly aggregates with a {Cu₂(pic)₄}^4- complex and eight lattice water molecules. The study indicates that the solid is stable in aqueous medium and less toxic toward normal cell lines. The in vitro anti-bacterial and anti-tumor properties of the solid 1 were investigated. The results of the anti-tumor action against various human cancer cell lines, namely, lung (A549), breast (MCF-7), and liver (HepG2) cancer cells suggest that this β-octamolybdate-based solid yielded the lowest IC₅₀ value reported so far among octamolybdate anion-based hybrid solids, i.e., 24.24 μM for MCF-7, 21.56 μM for HepG2, and 25 μM for A549, indicating significant anti-cancer activity. The cell cycle analysis further reveals the observed anti-tumor effect to be governed by the arrest of breast cancer cells in the G2/M phase while that of lung and liver cancer cells in the S phase of the cell cycle. A fluorescence quenching study suggests the binding interaction between solid and ctDNA, which in turn induces apoptosis and necrosis pathways leading to cancer cell death. This is also the first study of {Mo₈O₂₆}^4- cluster-based solids as an anti-bacterial agent against Escherichia coli, and it was found to be very effective with a minimal inhibitory concentration value of ∼135 μg/mL, which is the lowest so far reported for any octamolybdate-based solid.

Cation-Directed Synthetic Strategy Using 4f Tungstoantimonates as Nonlacunary Precursors for the Generation of 3d-4f Clusters

The first synthetic pathway using a series of four nonlacunary 4f-heterometal-substituted polyoxotungstate clusters Na₂₁[(Ln(H₂O)(OH)₂(CH₃COO))₃(WO₄)(SbW₉O₃₃)₃]·nH₂O (NaLnSbW₉; Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III) as precursors for the directed preparation of nine new 3d–4f heterometallic tungstoantimonates K₅Na₁₂H₃[TM(H₂O)Ln₃(H₂O)₅(W₃O₁₁)(SbW₉O₃₃)₃]·nH₂O (KTMLnSbW₉; TM = Co^II, Ni^II; Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III) has been developed. Systematic studies revealed an increased K content in the aqueous acidic reaction mixture to be the key step in the cation-directed preparation of 3d–4f compounds; among those, the Co-containing members represent the first examples of KCoLnSbW₉ (Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III) heterometallic tungstoantimonates exhibiting the SbW₉ building block. All 13 compounds have been characterized thoroughly in the solid state by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), revealing a cyclic trimeric polyoxometalate architecture with three SbW₉ units encapsulating a planar triangle of Ln^III ions in the case of NaLnSbW₉ and a heterometallic core of one TM^II and three Ln^III for KTMLnSbW₉ (TM = Co^II, Ni^II; Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III). The results obtained by XRD are supplemented by complementary characterization methods in the solid state such as IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis as well as in solution by UV–vis spectroscopy. Detailed magnetic studies on the representative compounds KTMDySbW₉ (TM = Co^II, Ni^II) and KCoYSbW₉ of the series revealed field-induced slow magnetic relaxation.

The first step-by-step synthetic protocol using preformed 4f tungstoantimonate clusters as nonlacunary precursors for the controlled preparation and thorough characterization of a family of nine new 3d−4f heterometallic polyoxometalates [TM(H₂O)Ln₃(H₂O)₅(W₃O₁₁)(SbW₉O₃₃)₃]^20- (KTMLnSbW₉) (TM = Co^II, Ni^II; Ln = Tb^III, Dy^III, Ho^III, Er^III, Y^III) is reported. Magnetic studies on the Dy^III-containing representatives [TM(H₂O)Dy₃(H₂O)₅(W₃O₁₁)(SbW₉O₃₃)₃]²⁰⁻ (TM = Co^II, Ni^II) show single-molecule-magnet behavior.

Binding of a Fatty Acid-Functionalized Anderson-Type Polyoxometalate to Human Serum Albumin

The Anderson-type hexamolybdoaluminate functionalized with lauric acid (LA), (TBA)₃[Al(OH)₃Mo₆O₁₈{(OCH₂)₃CNHCOC₁₁H₂₃}]·9H₂O (TBA-AlMo₆-LA, where TBA = tetrabutylammonium), was prepared via two synthetic routes and characterized by thermogravimetric and elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The interaction of TBA-AlMo₆-LA with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated via fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The results revealed that TBA-AlMo₆-LA binds strongly to HSA (63% quenching at an HSA/TBA-AlMo₆-LA ratio of 1:1), exhibiting static quenching. In contrast to TBA-AlMo₆-LA, the nonfunctionalized polyoxometalate, Na₃(H₂O)₆[Al(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈]·2H₂O (AlMo₆), showed weak binding toward HSA (22% quenching at a HSA/AlMo₆ ratio of 1:25). HSA binding was confirmed by X-ray structure analysis of the HSA-Myr-AlMo₆-LA complex (Myr = myristate). These results provide a promising lead for the design of novel polyoxometalate-based hybrids that are able to exploit HSA as a delivery vehicle to improve their pharmacokinetics and bioactivity.

A fatty acid-functionalized Anderson-type polyoxometalate, (TBA)₃[Al(OH)₃Mo₆O₁₈{(OCH₂)₃CNHCOC₁₁H₂₃}]·9H₂O (TBA-AlMo₆-LA), was synthesized and characterized in detail. The final organic−inorganic hybrid shows an increased affinity toward the transport protein human serum albumin (HSA) in comparison to its unmodified counterpart, Na₃(H₂O)₆[Al(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈)]·2H₂O (AlMo₆). This is of medical importance because HSA is a well-known drug carrier and can therefore serve as a delivery system for AlMo₆. This study provides a rational design for the synthesis of bioactive polyoxometalates with enhanced pharmacokinetic properties.

Folin-Ciocalteu Assay Inspired Polyoxometalate Nanoclusters as a Renal Clearable Agent for Non-Inflammatory Photothermal Cancer Therapy

Similar to translated thermal ablative techniques in clinic, the occurrence of cellular necrosis during tumor photothermal therapy (PTT) would induce inflammatory responses that are detrimental to therapeutic outcomes. Inspired by the well-known colorimetric Folin-Ciocalteu assay, monodispersed and renal-clearable tungsten (W)-based polyoxometalate nanoclusters (W-POM NCs, average diameter of around 2.0 nm) were successfully obtained here through a facile redox reaction with natural gallic acid in alkaline aqueous solution. Apart from excellent stability in the form of freeze-dried powder, the as-prepared W-POM NCs occupied considerable biocompatibility toward normal cells/tissues both in vitro and in vivo, since no obvious toxicities were observed by treating female Balb/c mice with concentrated W-POM NCs during the 30 day post-treatment period. More importantly, W-POM NCs exhibited not only considerable near-infrared (NIR) light absorption (coloration effect originated from the existence of electron-trapped W⁵⁺) for efficient PTT but also impressive anti-inflammatory ability (eliminating inflammation-related reactive oxygen species by the oxidation of W⁵⁺ into W⁶⁺ state) to achieve better therapeutic outcomes. Thus, our study pioneers the application of POMs for non-inflammatory PTT with expected safety and efficiency.

Polyoxometalates in solution: speciation under spotlight

The review covers stability and transformations of classical polyoxometalates in aqueous solutions and provides their ion-distribution diagrams over a wide pH range.