Metalloprotein tyrosyl radicals

Interest in this class of coordination compounds was sparked and fueled by the discovery that radical cofactors such as tyrosyl radicals play an important role in a rapidly growing number of metalloproteins. Thus, in 1972 Ehrenberg and Reichard (1) discovered that the R2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, a non-heme metal-loprotein, contains an uncoordinated, very stable tyrosyl radical in its active site. In contrast, Whittaker and Whittaker (2) showed that the active site of the copper containing enzyme galactose oxidase (GO) contains a radical cofactor where a Cu(II) ion is coordinated to a tyrosyl radical. 

Here, we will first review the physical organic chemistry and spectroscopic features of the ligand phenoxyl and introduce briefly some well-characterized metalloproteins known to contain tyrosyl radicals and then systematically describe the coordination chemistry of uncoordinated and coordinated phenoxyls. Finally, we will describe the reactivity of coordinated phenoxyls toward some organic substrates. 

Hydroxyl radical may hydroxylate tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). DOPAs are the main residues corresponding to protein-bound reducing moieties able to reduce cytochrome c, metal ions, nitro tetrazolium, blue and other substrates (S32). Reduction of metal ions and metalloproteins by protein-bound DOPA may propagate radical reactions by redox cycling of iron and copper ions which may participate in the Fenton reaction (G9). Abstraction of electron (by OH or peroxyl or alkoxyl radicals) leads to the formation of the tyrosyl radical, which is relatively stable due to the resonance effect (interconversion among several equivalent resonant structures). Reaction between two protein-bound tyrosyl radicals may lead to formation of a bityrosine residue which can cross-link proteins. The tyrosyl radical may also react with superoxide, forming tyrosine peroxide (W13) (see sect. 2.6). 

Transition metal ions with organic radicals exist in the active sites of metalloproteins. The best understood example is galactose oxidase, which features a single Cu(II) ion coordinated to a modified tyrosyl radical. Many combined experimental and theoretical studies have focused on electronic properties of metal complexes with redox active ligands, yet reactivity beyond characterization has been limited. We will demonstrate the influence of the metal complex redox state on H2 activation by anilino-phenolate noninnocent ligands. 

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