title: De novo metallonucleases based on helix-loop-helix motifs.
abstract: Three new 42-mer peptides (PR I-III) designed to fold into a hairpin helix-loop-helix motif have been prepared. In the peptide sequence two (PR II-III) or four (PR I) copies of an unnatural amino acid bearing a triazacyclononane metal-ion binding site (ATANP) have been inserted in appropriate positions to allow the ligand subunits to face each other either within the same helix or between the two helices of the hairpin motif. Circular dichroism (CD) studies in solution have shown that the apopeptides adopt a well-defined helix-loop-helix tertiary structure that dimerizes in solution at concentrations above 200 microM to form a four-helix bundle. However, the helical content is strongly dependent on pH and metal-ion binding. Both protonation of the amines of the triazacyclononane units present in the ATANP lateral arm and complexation with Zn(II) ions cause a significant decrease of the helical content of the sequences. The Zn(II) complexes of the three peptides catalyze the transesterification of the RNA model substrate 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNP) with different efficiency. The best catalyst appears to be PR I-4 Zn(II), that is, the peptide incorporating four ATANP units. Michaelis-Menten saturation kinetics allowed us to estimate that substrate fully bound to the catalyst reacts 380 times faster than in its absence. The kinetic evidence suggests cooperativity between (at least two) metal ions: one activating the nucleophilic species (directly or indirectly) and the other facilitating nucleophilic attack by coordination of the phosphate.
authors.affiliation: University of Padova, Department of Chemical Sciences and ITM-CNR Padova Section, Via Marzolo, 1, 35131 Padova, Italy. paolo.scrimin@unipd.it
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tecilla
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baltzer
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scrimin
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D015195:Drug Design; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007700:Kinetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010755:Organophosphates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D015032:Zinc
chemical_list: C436487:2-(hydroxypropyl)-4-nitrophenyl phosphate; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010755:Organophosphates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010455:Peptides; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D015032:Zinc