Polyamines protonation

These compounds are present in almost all mam malian cells where they are believed to be involved in cell differentiation and proliferation Because each ni trogen of a polyamine is protonated at physiological pH (7 4) putrescine spermidine and spermine exist as cations with a charge of + 2 +3 and + 4 respectively... 

In addition we studied the complexation of ClC+ by the polyamines using microcalorimetry and potentiometry. The enthalpy changes measured are presented as function of the degree of protonation and the amount of CiT bound. 

A correlation of enhanced synthesis of polyamines with rapid growth or cell proliferation has been observed 21. From a physiological point of view, polyamines are implicated as regulators of cell proliferative activity 22). It is well known that polyamines, as protonated polycations, can bind with nucleotide and nucleic acid anions 23 241 to affect biochemical reactivities and stabilize tertiary structures 25,26). 

The characteristic property distinguishing macrocyclic polyamines from their linear counterparts is seen in successive protonation. One is the higher N basicity to the first proton and another is a sudden drop of N basicities in the later stages of protonation. Table 1 lists the protonation constants (Eq. 1) for the macrocyclic polyamines in comparison with the corresponding values for their linear homologues. When a linear triamine (e.g. dien) 36,37) is cyclized to, say, (9)aneN3, the basicity of the first amine increases (log Kt = 10.59 us 9.70), but the basicity of the second and especially the third amine diminish (log K2 = 6.88 vs 8.95, log K3 < 1 vs 4.25)36)... 

Table 1. Mixed protonation constants of polyamines, (25 °C and 1 = 0.2 M unless otherwise listed)... 

Open chain polyamine ligands have been widely studied. Often the coordination of zinc is compared with other first row transition metals and factors, such as behavior across a pH range, studied. The protonation patterns and stability constants are of particular interest. Octahedral zinc tris(ethylenediamine) structures have been characterized by X-ray diffraction with a number of different counter anions.94 The X-ray structure of zinc tris(ethylenediamine) with fluoride counter ions reveals extensive hydrogen bonding.95... 

It was proposed that mono-protonation of [CuL]2+ to yield [Cu(HL)]2+ occurs initially at the axial nitrogen atom since this Cu-N bond is expected to be weaker as a result of Jahn-Teller distortion. With respect to this, it should be noted that species such as [Cu(HL)]3+ are commonly observed during potentiometric studies of the formation of Cu(n) polyamine complexes. From the proposed mechanism, the following rate law can be deduced ... 

Traynelis, S. F., Hartley M. and Heinemann, S. F. Control of proton sensitivity of the NMDA receptor by RNA splicing and polyamines. Science 268 873-876,1995. 

While all strain effects in monoamines are basicity weakening, it is possible to find cases in di- and polyamines where strain is relieved upon protonation, leading to increased basicity. This phenomenon is observed in 1,4-diaminobutane derivatives where an almost linear N... H—(N+) hydrogen bond in the mono-protonated derivatives leads to a stable, seven-membered ring structure. Thus, for example, the measured PA of l,6-diazabicyclo[4.4.4]tetradecane (73) is 228.3 kcalmol-1, about 11 kcalmol-1 higher than its monoamine analog 75, despite the similar, inwardly pyramidalized, nitrogen conformation of both neutral amines. 

Macrocyclic polyamines have been extensively studied by Lehn s group67 and the protonation constants of polyamines [24]ane-N6 (5), [32]ane-Ns (6) and [27Janc-Nfi()3 (7) have been evaluated and compared with those of the acyclic analog (8) and of the macrocycles 124 Nf,02 (9) and [18]-N6 (10)68 (Table 7). 

At physiological pH, polyamines are fully protonated and polycationic. It is possible that the amino group of amines prevents SAM from reacting with ACS by interfering with the prosthetic groups of the enzyme. Polyamines such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, and methionine cycle intermediates such as MTA and KMB have been shown to have an inhibitory effect on ACS activity. ... 

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