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When expressed by pathogenic bacteria, Zn2؉ -␤-lactamases induce resistance to most ␤-lactam antibiotics. A possible strategy to fight these bacteria would be a combined therapy with non-toxic inhibitors of Zn 2؉ -␤-lactamases together with standard antibiotics. For this purpose, it is important to verify that the inhibitor is effective under all clinical conditions. We have investigated the correlation between the number of zinc ions bound to the Zn 2؉ -␤-lactamase from Bacillus cereus and hydrolysis of benzylpenicillin and nitrocefin for the wild type and a mutant where cysteine 168 is replaced by alanine. It is shown that both the mono-Zn 2؉ (mononuclear) and di-Zn 2؉ (binuclear) Zn 2؉ -␤-lactamases are catalytically active but with different kinetic properties. The mono-Zn2؉ -␤-lactamase requires the conserved cysteine residue for hydrolysis of the ␤-lactam ring in contrast to the binuclear enzyme where the cysteine residue is not essential. Substrate affinity is not significantly affected by the mutation for the mononuclear enzyme but is decreased for the binuclear enzyme. These results were derived from kinetic studies on two wild types and the mutant enzyme with benzylpenicillin and nitrocefin as substrates. Thus, targeting drug design to modify this residue might represent an efficient strategy, the more so if it also interferes with the formation of the binuclear enzyme.

X-ray-absorption spectra of a Sr 2ϩ aqueous solution have been studied in order to assess the contribution of double-electron excitation channels to the atomic background. Anomalies in the spectra have been identified that are assigned to the simultaneous excitation of 1s4s, 1s3d, and 1s3p electrons, referred to as KN 1 , KM 4,5 , and KM 2,3 channels. A reliable determination of the double-electron edge parameters has been obtained by performing an analysis of the structural contribution in the correct framework of the radial distribution function theory. The experimental values of the energy onsets of the double-electron features are in excellent agreement with the predictions of the Zϩ1 approximation. The influence of double-electron effects on the determination of the structural parameters has been studied by using asymmetric peaks to model the Sr-O and Sr-H coordination shells. It has been found that an accurate determination of the structural parameters is possible only if double-electron channels are accounted for. The exclusion of these effects results in systematic errors on the structural parameters and, in particular, in a severe underestimation of the coordination numbers.

Two novel tridentate dinucleating ligands containing benzimidazole were prepared, 1,3-bis(2-benzimidazolyl)-2-propanol (Hbbp, 1) and 1,5-bis(2-benzimidazolyl)-3-pentanol (Hbbpen, 2). Their complexing properties toward copper were studied in order to obtain structural and functional models for catechol oxidases. Syntheses and crystal structures of dinuclear Cu(II) complexes derived from these ligands are reported. [Cu(2)bbp(2)](ClO(4))(2).2MeOH, 3, crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr; with the following unit cell parameters: a = 7.702(3) Å, b = 10.973(6) Å, c = 12.396(6) Å, alpha = 100.59(4) degrees, beta = 99.02(4) degrees, gamma = 98.90(4) degrees, V = 998.7(8) Å(3), and Z = 1. [Cu(2)bbpen(2)](ClO(4))(2).3MeOH, 4, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pccn, with the following unit cell parameters: a = 17.478(9) Å, b = 18.795(8) Å, c = 13.888(6) Å, V = 4562.2(4) Å(3), and Z = 4. Magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature ranges 4.6-459 K (3) and 4.6-425 K (4) indicate an antiferromagnetic coupling between the Cu(II) centers of both complexes. In order to determine the structures of the complexes in solution, XAS spectra (EXAFS and XANES) were recorded in the solid state and in solution. The interpretation of these data, including multiple scattering calculations, together with UV-vis titrations, shows that the complexes have the same structure in the crystalline state as well as in methanolic solution. Complex 4 is able to oxidize 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to the quinone (catecholase activity). This reaction was also studied by XAS and UV-vis spectroscopy. These measurements reveal the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) accompanied by a decrease of the coordination number.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Mn K-edge has been performed on multilayers of photosystem II-enriched fragments of the native thylakoid membrane prepared from a higher plant (spinach) and a unicellular green alga (Scenedesmus obliquus). Spectra collected for various angles between the prevailing orientation of the thylakoid membrane normal and the X-ray electric field vector contain information on the atomic structure of the tetranuclear manganese complex of photosystem II (PS II) and its orientation with respect to the membrane normal. The previously used approach for evaluation of the dichroism of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra [George, G. N., et al. (1989) Science 243, 789-791] is modified, and the following results are obtained for PS II in its dark-stable state (S1-state): (1) structure and orientation of the PS II manganese complexes of green algae and higher plants are highly similiar or fully identical; (2) two 2.7-A vectors, which, most likely, connect the Mn nuclei of a planar Mn2(mu-O2) structure, are at an average angle of 80 degrees +/- 10 degrees with respect to the thylakoid normal; (3) the plane of the Mn2(mu-O2) structures is rather in parallel with the thylakoid plane than perpendicular. Structural models for the oxygen-evolving manganese complex and its orientation in the thylakoid membrane are discussed within the context of the presented results.

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The local environment of the Cu2+ ion in copper chloride solutions has been investigated by x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Three aqueous solutions of CuCl2 with increasing Cl−/Cu2+ ratio have been examined. An advanced data analysis including multiple-scattering effects produced quantitative information on the chlorocuprate complexes present in solution and provided evidence for an increasing degree of complex formation between Cu2+and Cl− ions with increasing chloride concentration. The presence of Cu–Cl interactions at the axial site has been detected in a 0.1 M CuCl2 solution for the first time. At higher chloride concentrations (Cl−/Cu2+ratios equal 10 and 30) the equatorial positions in the distorted octahedral copper coordination are occupied by 3.2 and 3.0 oxygens and 0.8 and 1.0 chloride ions, respectively, while the axial positions are occupied by 1.2 and 1.0 oxygens and 0.8 and 1.0 chloride ions, respectively. The results are found to be consistent with previous x-ray and neutron diffraction studies and with experimental data on the complex formation. © 1997 American Institute of Physics