On the structure of thorium and americium adenosine triphosphate complexes.
OBJECTIVE
The actinides are chemical poisons and radiological hazards. One challenge to better appraise their toxicity and develop countermeasures in case of exposure of living organisms is to better assess pathways of contamination. Because of the high chemical affinity of those actinide elements for phosphate groups and the ubiquity of such chemical functions in biochemistry, nucleotides and in particular adenosine triphosphate nucleotide (ATP) may be considered critical target building blocks for actinides.


METHODS
Combinations of spectroscopic techniques (Fourier transformed Infra Red [FTIR], Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry [ESI-MS], and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure [EXAFS]) with quantum chemical calculations have been implemented in order to assess the actinides coordination arrangement with ATP.


RESULTS
We describe and compare herein the interaction of ATP with thorium and americium; thorium(IV) as a representative of actinide(IV) like plutonium(IV) and americium(III) as a representative of all heavier actinides. In the case of thorium, an insoluble complex is readily formed. In the case of americium, a behavior identical to that described previously for lutetium has been observed with insoluble and soluble complexes.


CONCLUSIONS
The comparative study of ATP complexation with Th(IV) and Am(III) shows their ability to form insoluble complexes for which a structural model has been proposed by analogy with previously described Lu(III) complexes.
Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Marcoule, Nuclear Energy Division, Radiochemistry and Processes Department , 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze.
Sarah
S
Mostapha
Fabien
F
Fontaine-Vive
Laurence
L
Berthon
Nathalie
N
Boubals
Nicole
N
Zorz
Pier Lorenzo
PL
Solari
Marie Christine
MC
Charbonnel
Christophe
C
Den Auwer
D008671:Actinoid Series Elements / Q000737:chemistry; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000737:chemistry*; D000576:Americium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011005:Plutonium / Q000737:chemistry; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D011835:Radiation Protection; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013910:Thorium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014965:X-Rays
D008671:Actinoid Series Elements; D011005:Plutonium; D013910:Thorium; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000576:Americium
Radionuclides; biochemistry; environmental effects