title: First Crystal Structure for a Gold Carbene-Protein Adduct.
abstract: The X-ray structure of the adduct formed in the reaction between the gold N-heterocyclic carbene compound Au(NHC)Cl (with NHC = 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazole-2-ylidene) and the model protein thaumatin is reported here. The structure reveals binding of Au(NHC)(+) fragments to distinct protein sites. Notably, binding of the gold compound occurs at lysine side chains and at the N-terminal tail; the metal binds the protein after releasing Cl(-) ligand, but retaining NHC fragment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo , Via Cintia, I-80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Giarita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa , Via Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabbiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo , Via Cintia, I-80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merlino
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008697:Methane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010940:Plant Proteins; C030011:carbene; C003427:thaumatin protein, plant; D006046:Gold; D008697:Methane