Copper(II) complexes of oligopeptides containing aspartyl and glutamyl residues. Potentiometric and spectroscopic studies.

Copper(II) complexes of di-, tri- and tetra-peptides built up from Asp and/or Glu residues were studied by potentiometric and various spectroscopic techniques including UV-visible, circular dichroism and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. The ligands contain two to five carboxylate functions and it generally results in the enhanced metal binding ability of the ligands, which is especially true for the oligopeptides of aspartic acid. In the case of peptides containing aspartyl residue in the N-terminal position the stability enhancement is reflected in the equilibrium data of the species [CuL] containing the (NH(2),beta-COO(-))-coordination mode in a 6-membered chelate. In the case of AspAsp and AspAspAsp the (NH(2),N(-),beta-COO(-)) and (NH(2),N(-),N(-),beta-COO(-))-coordination modes will be favoured, which contain (5,6) and (5,5,6)-joined chelate ring systems, respectively. The outstanding stability of the latter binding mode and the high negative charge of the corresponding species suppresses the metal ion coordination of the third amide function of AspAspAspAsp. It is also important to note that the presence of side chain carboxylate functions results in the formation of carboxylato-bridged polynuclear complexes in medium pH range. The extent of oligomerisation can be significantly enhanced by the increase of concentration and by the decrease of temperature.