Nitrogen-15 NMR study of complexation of 1-methylimidazole by zinc(II) and cadmium(II) in aqueous solution

Nature of the Chemical Bond Formed with the Structural Metal Ion at the A9/G10.1 Motif Derived from Hammerhead Ribozymes

We have studied the interaction between metal ions and the metal ion-binding motif in hammerhead ribozymes, as well as the functions of the metal ion at the motif, with heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. In this study, we employed model RNA systems which mimic the metal ion-binding motif and the altered motif. In Co(NH3)6(III) titrations, we observed large 1H and 31P chemical shift perturbations for the motif and found that outer-sphere complexation of Co(NH3)6(III) is possible for this motif. From the reinvestigation of our previous 15N chemical shift data for Cd(II) binding, in comparison with those of organometallic compounds, we conclude that Cd(II) can form an inner-sphere complex with the nucleobase in the motif. Therefore, the A9/G10.1 site was found to accept both inner-sphere and outer-sphere complexations. The Mg(II) titration for a slightly different motif from the A9/G10.1 site (G10.1-C11.1 to A10.1-U11.1) revealed that its affinity to Mg(II) was drastically reduced, although the ribozyme with this altered motif is known to retain enzymatic activities. This observation suggests that the metal ion at these motifs is not a catalytic center of hammerhead ribozymes.

Structure of the liver alcohol dehydrogenase-NAD+-pyrazole complex as determined by 15N NMR spectroscopy

The structures of the liver alcohol dehydrogenase (LADH)-NAD+-pyrazole and LADH-NAD+-4-ethylpyrazole complexes were investigated by 15N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. 15N chemical shifts were obtained for 15N-labeled inhibitors and 15N-labeled coenzyme bound in the ternary enzyme complexes. The structures of the two inhibitor complexes appear to be very similar. 15N NMR studies of model pyrazole-zinc chloride complexes were carried out to determine the effect of zinc complexation on pyrazole chemical shifts. The N1 nicotinamide chemical shift of the coenzyme of the LADH-NAD+-pyrazole complex demonstrates that the NAD+ is converted to a dihydronicotinamide derivative in the complex. The N1 chemical shift of the pyrazole in the ternary complex is consistent with covalent bond formation between pyrazole N1 and the nicotinamide ring of the coenzyme. The N2 chemical shift of the pyrazole in the ternary complex indicates that the nucleus of this nitrogen is about 40 ppm more shielded than those of the N2 nitrogens of typical pyrazoles. Such shielding is expected as the result of direct complexation of N2 to the active-site zinc. Shift comparisons with zinc-pyrazole complexes indicate a high degree of inner-sphere coordination of the pyrazole N2 to the active-site zinc in the ternary complex.