Electrochemical studies of metal-ligand interactions and of metal binding proteins
- Authors: Limson, Janice Leigh
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: Electrochemical analysis , Metals -- Analysis , Proteins -- Analysis , Electrochemistry -- Technique
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4551 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018239
- Description: Electrochemical methods were researched for the analysis of metals, proteins and the identification of metal binding proteins. Adsorptive cathodic stripping voltamrnetry for metal analysis combines the inherent sensitivity of electrochemical techniques with the specificity of ligands for the nonfaradaic preconcentration of analytes at the electrode. The utility of catechol, resorcinol, 4-methylcatechol and 4-t-butylcatechol as ligands was explored for the sensitive analysis of copper, bismuth, cadmium and lead on a mercury film glassy carbon electrode. Metal complexes of lead, copper and bismuth with resorcinol showed the largest increase in current with increase in metal concentration, whereas complexes of these metals with 4-t-butylcatechol showed the lowest current response. Cadmium showed the highest current responses with 4-methylcatechol. The four metals could be determined simultaneously in the presence of resorcinol, although considerable interference was observed between bismuth and copper. The electroanalysis of cysteine and cysteine containing proteins at carbon electrodes are impaired by slow electron transfer rates at carbon electrodes, exhibiting high overpotentials, greater than 1 V vs Ag! Agel. Metallophthalocyanines have been shown to promote the electrocatalysis of cysteine at lowered potentials. Chemical modification of electrodes with appropriate modifiers is a means of incorporating specificity into electroanalysis, with applications in electrocatalysis. A glassy carbon electrode was modified by electrodeposition of cobalt (II) tetrasulphophthalocyanine [Co(II)TSPct to produce a chemically modified glassy carbon electrode (CMGCE). The CoTSPc-CMGCE catalysed the oxidation of cysteine in the pH range 1 to 10. The significance of this electrode is an application for analysis of proteins at biological pH's. A biscyanoruthenium(II) phthalocyanine CMGCE catalysed the oxidation of cysteine at 0.43 V vs Ag/AgCl a significant lowering in the overpotential for the oxidation of cysteine. Metallothionein, a metal binding protein, is believed to be involved in metal homeostasis and detoxification in the peripheral organs of living systems. A method for the quantitative determination of this protein utilising its high cysteine content was presented. At pH 8.4 Tris-HCl buffer, and using a CoTSPc-CMGCE modified by electrodeposition of the modifier, the anodic peaks for the oxidation of metallothionein was observed at 0. 90 V vs Ag/ AgCI. Ferredoxin is a simple iron-sulphur protein. One tenth of its residues are cysteine. Ferredoxin is involved in simple electron transfer processes during photosynthesis and respiration. Electrochemical studies of spinach ferredoxin were conducted at a CoTSPc-CMGCE. Anodic currents for the oxidation of the cysteine fragment of ferredoxin was observed at 0.85 V vs Ag/AgCl in HEPES buffer at pH 7.4, representing a new method for analysis of this protein. Voltammetric studies of its ferric/ferrous transition have shown quasi-reversible waves atE~ -0.62 V vs Ag/AgCl only in the presence of promoters. At a CoTSPc-CMGCE, a cathodic wave attributed to the reduction of Fe(III)/Fe(II) was observed at Epc -0.34 V vs Ag/AgCl. This represents an alternative method for voltammetric studies of the ferric/ferrous transition at significantly lowered potentials. Melatonin, a pineal gland hormone functions m setting and entraining circadian rhythms and in neuroprotection as a free radical scavenger and general antioxidant. Using adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry, the binding affinities of melatonin, serotonin and tryptophan for metals, were measured. The results showed that the following metal complexes were formed: aluminium with melatonin, serotonin and tryptophan; cadmium with melatonin and tryptophan; copper with melatonin and serotonin; iron (III) with melatonin and serotonin; lead with melatonin, tryptophan and serotonin, zinc with melatonin and tryptophan and iron (II) with tryptophan. The studies suggest a further role for melatonin in the reduction of free radical generation and in metal detoxification and may explain the accumulation of aluminium in Alzheimer's disease.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Limson, Janice Leigh
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: Electrochemical analysis , Metals -- Analysis , Proteins -- Analysis , Electrochemistry -- Technique
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4551 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018239
- Description: Electrochemical methods were researched for the analysis of metals, proteins and the identification of metal binding proteins. Adsorptive cathodic stripping voltamrnetry for metal analysis combines the inherent sensitivity of electrochemical techniques with the specificity of ligands for the nonfaradaic preconcentration of analytes at the electrode. The utility of catechol, resorcinol, 4-methylcatechol and 4-t-butylcatechol as ligands was explored for the sensitive analysis of copper, bismuth, cadmium and lead on a mercury film glassy carbon electrode. Metal complexes of lead, copper and bismuth with resorcinol showed the largest increase in current with increase in metal concentration, whereas complexes of these metals with 4-t-butylcatechol showed the lowest current response. Cadmium showed the highest current responses with 4-methylcatechol. The four metals could be determined simultaneously in the presence of resorcinol, although considerable interference was observed between bismuth and copper. The electroanalysis of cysteine and cysteine containing proteins at carbon electrodes are impaired by slow electron transfer rates at carbon electrodes, exhibiting high overpotentials, greater than 1 V vs Ag! Agel. Metallophthalocyanines have been shown to promote the electrocatalysis of cysteine at lowered potentials. Chemical modification of electrodes with appropriate modifiers is a means of incorporating specificity into electroanalysis, with applications in electrocatalysis. A glassy carbon electrode was modified by electrodeposition of cobalt (II) tetrasulphophthalocyanine [Co(II)TSPct to produce a chemically modified glassy carbon electrode (CMGCE). The CoTSPc-CMGCE catalysed the oxidation of cysteine in the pH range 1 to 10. The significance of this electrode is an application for analysis of proteins at biological pH's. A biscyanoruthenium(II) phthalocyanine CMGCE catalysed the oxidation of cysteine at 0.43 V vs Ag/AgCl a significant lowering in the overpotential for the oxidation of cysteine. Metallothionein, a metal binding protein, is believed to be involved in metal homeostasis and detoxification in the peripheral organs of living systems. A method for the quantitative determination of this protein utilising its high cysteine content was presented. At pH 8.4 Tris-HCl buffer, and using a CoTSPc-CMGCE modified by electrodeposition of the modifier, the anodic peaks for the oxidation of metallothionein was observed at 0. 90 V vs Ag/ AgCI. Ferredoxin is a simple iron-sulphur protein. One tenth of its residues are cysteine. Ferredoxin is involved in simple electron transfer processes during photosynthesis and respiration. Electrochemical studies of spinach ferredoxin were conducted at a CoTSPc-CMGCE. Anodic currents for the oxidation of the cysteine fragment of ferredoxin was observed at 0.85 V vs Ag/AgCl in HEPES buffer at pH 7.4, representing a new method for analysis of this protein. Voltammetric studies of its ferric/ferrous transition have shown quasi-reversible waves atE~ -0.62 V vs Ag/AgCl only in the presence of promoters. At a CoTSPc-CMGCE, a cathodic wave attributed to the reduction of Fe(III)/Fe(II) was observed at Epc -0.34 V vs Ag/AgCl. This represents an alternative method for voltammetric studies of the ferric/ferrous transition at significantly lowered potentials. Melatonin, a pineal gland hormone functions m setting and entraining circadian rhythms and in neuroprotection as a free radical scavenger and general antioxidant. Using adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry, the binding affinities of melatonin, serotonin and tryptophan for metals, were measured. The results showed that the following metal complexes were formed: aluminium with melatonin, serotonin and tryptophan; cadmium with melatonin and tryptophan; copper with melatonin and serotonin; iron (III) with melatonin and serotonin; lead with melatonin, tryptophan and serotonin, zinc with melatonin and tryptophan and iron (II) with tryptophan. The studies suggest a further role for melatonin in the reduction of free radical generation and in metal detoxification and may explain the accumulation of aluminium in Alzheimer's disease.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
Homogenous and heterogenous catalytic activity of metallophthalocyanines towards electrochemical detection of organic compounds
- Authors: Mafatle, Tsukutlane J P
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Electrochemistry , Organic compounds , Phenols
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4316 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004974 , Electrochemistry , Organic compounds , Phenols
- Description: Cysteine plays an important role in many biological and pharmaceutical systems. Therefore, in view of its importance, it is essential to find means of detecting it at the lowest possible levels. In this regard, electrochemical techniques have been found to be capable of detecting analytes even at micro levels. However, electrochemical determination of cysteine occurs at a very high potentials. These overpotentials makes quantitative analysis or detection of cysteine difficult at most conventional carbon electrodes. On platinum electrode, the oxidation of cysteine has been reported to occur in the potential range 0.7 to 1.45 V (vs NHE). Therefore, the object of this investigative study has been to find an active complex that could replace platinum and other expensive metals as electrodes. Such a complex should also be capable of reducing the potential at which the oxidation of cysteine occurs on carbon electrodes. As a result, this manuscript gives a full report on the investigative study of electrocatalytic activity of molybdenum phthalocyanine complexes towards detection of cysteine. Molybdenum phthalocyanine, OMo(OH)Pc, and its tetrasulfonated derivative, [OMo(OH)TSPc]⁴⁻ were successfully used to reduce the potential needed to initiate the oxidation of cysteine on carbon paste electrodes (CPE). The oxidation of cysteine on CPE modified with [OMo(OH)Pc]⁴⁻ was found to occur at 0.29 V (vs Ag/AgCl), and in the presence of [OMo(OH)TSPc]⁴⁻ species in solution the oxidation occurred at 0.33 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Molybdenum, in the oxidation states of Mo(IV), Mo(V) and Mo(VI), is found in biological systems as an essential trace element, participating in a number of enzymatic reactions, where it is believed to be coordinated to sulphur-containing ligands in many molybdenum enzymes. This therefore explains why molybdenum phthalocyanines were employed in electroanalytical detection of sulphur containing amino acid, cysteine. Electrochemical methods have also been successfully used in detection of environmental pollutants such as phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds are oxidised at readily accessible potentials. However, like cysteine, there are problems associated with the electrochemical detection of these important environmental pollutants. Their electrooxidation is known to form dimeric and/or polymeric oxidation products which adsorb onto the electrode surface, thus -videactivating it. Therefore, to address this problem, cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) and its tetrasulfonated derivative, [CoTSPc]⁴⁻ were employed in electrocatalytic detection of phenolic compounds. These complexes were found to increase the anodic peak currents for the oxidation of o-cresol, m-cresol, p-cresol, phenol, 2-chlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol. In addition, CoPc deposited onto the glassy carbon electrode improved the stability of the electrode, by reducing electrode poisoning caused by the electrooxidation products of the mentioned phenolic compounds. The potential at which the oxidation occurred and the current response of individual phenolic compounds depended on the degree of substitution and the type of substituent on the phenol molecule. In general, the current response was found to be lower for chlorinated phenols compared with the cresols and phenol. To establish the role of the central metal in the catalytic process, comparison of the electrocatalytic activity of some of the first row transition metal phthalocyanines, for the detection of mono-substituted phenolic compounds, showed the following trend: Co⁽¹¹⁾ > Mn⁽¹¹⁾ > Fe⁽¹¹⁾Pc > Ni⁽¹¹⁾Pc > Cu⁽¹¹⁾Pc > H₂Pc > Zn⁽¹¹⁾Pc > Bare GCE. A report is also given on electrocatalysis using [CoTSPc]⁴⁻ electrochemically deposited on the glassy carbon electrode. This was also found to enhance the anodic peak currents for the oxidation of all phenolic compounds. A report on the effects of scan rate, operating potential, analyte concentration and other variables is also given.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Mafatle, Tsukutlane J P
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Electrochemistry , Organic compounds , Phenols
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4316 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004974 , Electrochemistry , Organic compounds , Phenols
- Description: Cysteine plays an important role in many biological and pharmaceutical systems. Therefore, in view of its importance, it is essential to find means of detecting it at the lowest possible levels. In this regard, electrochemical techniques have been found to be capable of detecting analytes even at micro levels. However, electrochemical determination of cysteine occurs at a very high potentials. These overpotentials makes quantitative analysis or detection of cysteine difficult at most conventional carbon electrodes. On platinum electrode, the oxidation of cysteine has been reported to occur in the potential range 0.7 to 1.45 V (vs NHE). Therefore, the object of this investigative study has been to find an active complex that could replace platinum and other expensive metals as electrodes. Such a complex should also be capable of reducing the potential at which the oxidation of cysteine occurs on carbon electrodes. As a result, this manuscript gives a full report on the investigative study of electrocatalytic activity of molybdenum phthalocyanine complexes towards detection of cysteine. Molybdenum phthalocyanine, OMo(OH)Pc, and its tetrasulfonated derivative, [OMo(OH)TSPc]⁴⁻ were successfully used to reduce the potential needed to initiate the oxidation of cysteine on carbon paste electrodes (CPE). The oxidation of cysteine on CPE modified with [OMo(OH)Pc]⁴⁻ was found to occur at 0.29 V (vs Ag/AgCl), and in the presence of [OMo(OH)TSPc]⁴⁻ species in solution the oxidation occurred at 0.33 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Molybdenum, in the oxidation states of Mo(IV), Mo(V) and Mo(VI), is found in biological systems as an essential trace element, participating in a number of enzymatic reactions, where it is believed to be coordinated to sulphur-containing ligands in many molybdenum enzymes. This therefore explains why molybdenum phthalocyanines were employed in electroanalytical detection of sulphur containing amino acid, cysteine. Electrochemical methods have also been successfully used in detection of environmental pollutants such as phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds are oxidised at readily accessible potentials. However, like cysteine, there are problems associated with the electrochemical detection of these important environmental pollutants. Their electrooxidation is known to form dimeric and/or polymeric oxidation products which adsorb onto the electrode surface, thus -videactivating it. Therefore, to address this problem, cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) and its tetrasulfonated derivative, [CoTSPc]⁴⁻ were employed in electrocatalytic detection of phenolic compounds. These complexes were found to increase the anodic peak currents for the oxidation of o-cresol, m-cresol, p-cresol, phenol, 2-chlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol. In addition, CoPc deposited onto the glassy carbon electrode improved the stability of the electrode, by reducing electrode poisoning caused by the electrooxidation products of the mentioned phenolic compounds. The potential at which the oxidation occurred and the current response of individual phenolic compounds depended on the degree of substitution and the type of substituent on the phenol molecule. In general, the current response was found to be lower for chlorinated phenols compared with the cresols and phenol. To establish the role of the central metal in the catalytic process, comparison of the electrocatalytic activity of some of the first row transition metal phthalocyanines, for the detection of mono-substituted phenolic compounds, showed the following trend: Co⁽¹¹⁾ > Mn⁽¹¹⁾ > Fe⁽¹¹⁾Pc > Ni⁽¹¹⁾Pc > Cu⁽¹¹⁾Pc > H₂Pc > Zn⁽¹¹⁾Pc > Bare GCE. A report is also given on electrocatalysis using [CoTSPc]⁴⁻ electrochemically deposited on the glassy carbon electrode. This was also found to enhance the anodic peak currents for the oxidation of all phenolic compounds. A report on the effects of scan rate, operating potential, analyte concentration and other variables is also given.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998