Effect of albumin on the transformation of dinitrosyl iron complexes with thiourea ligands

Dalton Trans. 2020 Sep 22;49(36):12674-12685. doi: 10.1039/d0dt02452j.

Abstract

Interaction and transformation of the mononuclear cationic dinitrosyl iron complex [Fe(SC(NH2)2)2(NO)2]+ (complex 1) upon binding with bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been explored using kinetic measurements, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, and computational molecular modeling. BSA was found to bind up to five molecules of complex 1 per one protein molecule; as a result, the rate of NO release by complex 1 into solution decreases by a factor of 10. The binding constant of complex 1 with BSA measured by the quenching of intrinsic fluorescence of BSA is 5 × 105 М-1. Molecular docking calculations at pH = 7 have determined five-six low-energy binding sites for complex 1 at subunits I and II of BSA. The most stable protein-ligand complexes are located at the protein pockets near Cys34. The spectroscopic measurements and docking calculations have shown that the decomposition product of complex 1, the Fe(NO)2+ fragment, can form an adduct Fe(Cys34)(His39)(NO)2 (complex 2) with the coordination bonds of Fe with atoms S of Cys34 and ND of His39. The structure of complex 2 was supported by the density functional calculations of the absorption spectrum. Decomposition of complex 2 leads to nitrosylation of BSA at atom S of Cys34. Complexes 1 (bound with BSA), 2 and the nitrosylated BSA can serve as NO depot in plasma.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cattle
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Coordination Complexes / metabolism*
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nitrogen Oxides / chemistry*
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / metabolism*
  • Thiourea / chemistry*

Substances

  • Coordination Complexes
  • Ligands
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Iron
  • Thiourea