Siderophilin metal coordination. 1. Complexation of thorium by transferrin: structure-function implications

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00399a016· OSTI ID:1109128

Harris, Wesley R.; Carrano, Carl J.; Pecoraro, Vincent L.; Raymond, Kenneth N.

As part of a program to develop actinide-specific sequestering agents, the coordination of actinide ions by human transferrin is being investigated. Therapeutically useful synthetic ligands must be able to compete with this iron-transport protein for the bound actinide ion. As in the Fe(III) complex of the native protein, two Th(IV) ions bind at pH 7. This coordination has been monitored at several pH values by using difference ultraviolet spectroscopy. The corresponding coordination of a phenolic ligand, ethylene-bis-(o-hydroxyphenylglycine) [EHPG], has been used to determine {Delta}{epsilon} for a tyrosyl group coordinated to Th(IV), in contrast to the common practice of assuming the {Delta}{epsilon} for protons and all metal ions is the same. This in turn is used to determine, from the observed {Delta}{epsilon} upon protein coordination, the number of transferrin tyrosine residues that coordinate. Maxima in the Th(IV) + EHPG difference UV spectra occur at 292 and 238 nm, with corresponding {Delta}{epsilon} values per phenolic group of 2330 and 8680 cm{sup -1} M{sup -1}, respectively. At pH 7.2, the Th(IV) transferrin spectrum is closely similar to the TH(IV) EHPG spectrum, with maxima at 292 and 240 nm. The {Delta}{epsilon} at 240 nm reaches a maximum of 24700 cm{sup -1} M{sup -1}, which corresponds to coordination of three tyrosine residues in the dithorium-transferrin complex; the stronger binding site (“A” or C-terminal) coordinates via two tyrosines and the weaker (“B” or N-terminal) via one. There is evidence suggesting that the N-terminal site is slightly smaller than the C-terminal site; while Th(IV) easily fits into the C-terminal site, the large ionic radius of Th(IV) makes this ion of borderline size to fit into the N-terminal site. This may be an important biological difference between Th(IV) and the slightly smaller Pu(IV), which should easily fit into both sites. At pH values below 7, the complexation of Th(IV) by transferrin decreases rapidly. At pH 6 and a Th(IV)/transferrin ratio of 2, only ~0.3 Th(IV) are bound per protein ([Th] = 10{sup -5}M). The N-terminal site is more rapidly affected by lowering the pH, so that coordination is entirely at the C-terminal site at low pH. Above pH 9, the conformation at the C-terminal site (two tyrosines) changes such that only one tyrosine is bound, the same that pertains at the N-terminal site at neutral pH. In addition to the three protons released by the coordinating tyrosine residues, the complexation of two Th(IV) ions releases two more protons at pH 8.6, which are ascribed to hydrolysis, so that the metal is bound as a monohydroxo species. It is suggested that diferric transferrin undergoes a similar reaction, and the other implications of these results for the structure and function of the native ferric transferrin are discussed.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: Materials Sciences Division
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1109128
• Report Number(s): LBL-11878
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 103; ISSN 0002-7863
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY