The thiolate-alkylating protein (Ada protein) is a zinc protein that repairs the defective DNA by transferring methyl group on to itself. We have used the thiophenylphosphine ligand to provide sulfur-rich environment for model study. In this work, we have accidentally found that this zinc complex can activate CH2Cl2 to generate a methylenated complex (4). Carbon-halide activation is commonly used in organic synthesis. However activation of C-Cl bond is comparatively scarce compared to C-Br or C-I bonds. Varying the degree of deprotonation on the PS3 ligand, a simple zinc dimer (2) can be obtained instead of (4). The dimer (2) can even react with much milder alkyl-reagent, methylphosphotriester. Therefore (2) serves as a successful Ada protein model in this sense. Other related alkyl-transfer reactions using different ligand or zinc complexes were discussed to give insight of the methyl-transfer action of Ada protein.

Thesis (PhD)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2009. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Patrick G. Hatfield. Includes bibliographical references.

Many histidine-rich sites in proteins bind transition metal ions such as Zn2+, natively. Such sites can encourage proper protein folding or allow access to enzymatic capabilities such as hydrolysis. Ru(II) and Tc(I) also bind to aromatic amines providing access to unique chemistries not observed in biology. Ru(II) complexes have shown efficacy in fighting cancer and catalysis, while 99mTc complexes are used in radio-imaging. To incorporate such metal-ions' activities into proteins, several mutants have been designed to bind Zn2+, Ru2+, and Tc1+ by introducing three histidines onto their surfaces. The first design, Z0, utilized a chimeric approach by substituting a turn in engrailed homeodomain for the superimposable Zn2+-binding loop of astacin. In the second design, 3HT-C, three histidine residues were incorporated into the N-terminus of the Trp-cage. The final scaffold, ubiquitin, was used to make two mutants: 3HIU with a 3-histidine containing loop inserted between residues 9 and 10, and 3HPU with 3-histidine point mutations near residues 35-38. Z0 proved unstable due to incorporation of a hydrophobic patch onto its surface and was not able to be isolated in sufficient quantities for study. However, the other proteins were stable and soluble. Zn2+-binding by 3HT-C was investigated by intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence quenching, circular dichroism, and RP-HPLC. Binding by 3HIU and 3HPU was studied by CD. All designed proteins bind to Zn2+ with Kd values in the micromolar range. 3HIU and 3HPU were further studied for their ability to bind Ru(tacn)2+ complexes. While addition of Ru-complexes caused oligomerization to various extents depending upon reaction conditions, homogeneous Ru-protein monomers were purified by a combination of size-exclusion, cation-exchange and immobilized-metal affinity chromatographies. Ru-binding was confirmed by ESI-MS, and structural integrity was investigated by CD. Results indicate that Ru(tacn)2+ complexes can be bound to surface binding sites in proteins without disruption of structure, opening the door for the study of catalysis in a protein context. 99mTc(CO)3+-binding studies were performed with 3HIU by RP-HPLC. This protein binds Tc+ and resists substitution by free L-histidine, suggesting that peptidic Tc-binding tags could be designed with this approach to readily incorporate the radionuclide into any protein expression system.

Small molecule Zn(II) complexes containing N- and S- donor environments may serve as appropriate models for mimicking Zn protein sites, and thus, their reactions with heavy metal ions such as Pt(II) and W(0) may provide insight into possible adduct formation and zinc displacement. To study such possible interactions between zinc finger proteins and platinum-bound DNA, the ZnN2S2 dimeric complex, N,N?-bis(2- mercaptoethyl)-1,4-diazacycloheptane zinc (II), [Zn-1?]2, has been examined for Znbound thiolate reactivity in the presence of Pt(II) nitrogen ? rich compounds. The reactions yielded Zn/Pt di- and tri- nuclear thiolate-bridged adducts and metalexchanged products, which were initially observed via ESI-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis of reaction solutions, and ultimately verified by comparison to the ESI-MS analysis, 195Pt NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography of directly synthesized complexes. The isolation of Zn-(?-SR)-Pt-bridged [(Zn(bme-dach)Cl)(Pt(dien))]Cl adduct from these studies is, to our knowledge, the first Zn-Pt bimetallic thiolatebridged model demonstrating the interaction between Zn-bound thiolates and Pt(II). Additional derivatives involving Pd(II) and Au(III) have been explored to parallel the experiments executed with Pt(II). The [Zn-1?]2 was then modified by cleavage with Na+[ICH2CO2]- to produce (N- (3-Thiabutyl)-N?-(3-thiapentaneoate)-1,4-diazacycloheptane) zinc(II), Zn-1?-Ac or ZnN2SS?O, and 1,4-diazacycloheptane-1,4-diylbis(3-thiapentanoato) zinc(II), Zn-1?-Ac2 or ZnN2S?2O2, monomeric complexes (where S = thiolate, S? = thioether). The [Zn-1?]2 di- and Zn-1?-Ac mono-thiolato complexes demonstrated reactivity towards labile-ligand tungsten carbonyl species, (THF)W(CO)5 and (pip)2W(CO)4, to yield, respectively, the [(Zn-1?-Cl)W(CO)4]- complex and the [(Zn-1?-Ac)W(CO)5]x coordination polymer. With the aid of CO ligands for IR spectral monitoring, the products were isolated and characterized spectroscopically, as well as by X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. To examine the potential for zinc complexes (or zinc-templated ligands) to possibly serve as a toxic metal remediation agents, Zn-1?-Ac and Zn-1?-Ac2 were reacted with Ni(BF4)2. The formation of Zn/Ni exchanged products confirmed the capability of ?free? Ni(II) to displace Zn(II) within the N-, S-, and O- chelate environment. The Zn/Ni exchanged complexes were analyzed by ESI-MS, UV-visible spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy of the acetate regions, and X-ray crystallography. They serve as foundation molecules for more noxious metal exchange / zinc displacement products.