Dinuclear copper proteins model complexes

The reaction of binuclear copper complexes with oxygen as models for tyrosinase activity was also markedly accelerated by applying pressure (106408 ). Tyrosinase is a dinuclear copper protein which catalyses the hydroxylation of phenols. This reaction was first successfully modeled by Karlin and co-workers (109), who found that an intramolecular hydroxylation occurred when the binuclear Cu(I) complex of XYL-H was treated with oxygen (Scheme 5). 

ABSTRACT. Models of metallo-enzymes and -proteins e.g. iron-sulfur proteins, dinuclear copper proteins, and monooxygenases are described. In particular, the potential role of these complexes as supramolecular catalysts is explored. 

In homo-dinuclear systems, such as two copper(ll) ions, no large effects are expected on the electron relaxation rates as the two metal ions relax at the same rate. However, some other relaxation mechanisms are operative, giving rise to faster electron relaxation rates (dementi and Luchinat, 1998). Consequently, nuclear relaxation is slower than in single copper(ll) systems. Several examples from model complexes are available (Brink et al., 1996 Murthy et al., 1997), as well as from a copper(ll)-substituted zinc enzyme, the aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica (Holz et al., 1998). In contrast, few NMR studies on native copper proteins containing two coupled copper (II) ions have been reported so far (Bubacco cf a/., 1999). 

Chalcogenides Solid-state Chemistry Copper Enzymes in Denitrification Copper Hemocyanin/Tyrosinase Models Copper Proteins Oxidases Copper Proteins with Dinuclear Active Sites Copper Proteins with Type 1 Sites Copper Proteins with Type 2 Sites Iron Sulfitf Models of Protein Active Sites Iron-Snlfiir Proteins Nickel Enzymes Cofactors Nickel Models of Protein Active Sites Polynuclear Organometallic Cluster Complexes. 

The structures of type II copper sites have not as yet generated as much interest, but the hetero-dinuclear structures of type IIC copper sites and the unusual protein donor ligands found in type IIB copper sites are noteworthy. The synthetic model approach to gain insight into the structures and functions of these types of copper sites will be also described. The diverse functions of a variety of proteins containing type IIA copper sites inspired many chemists to mimic the functions with synthetic copper complexes, even though the spectroscopic properties of the complexes are not unusual. Results of these studies will be reviewed and different aspects of the reactions relating to enzymatic catalysis will be discussed. 

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