Improvement of Aminopeptidase Activity of Dizinc(II) Complexes by Increasing Substrate Accessibility

Abstract

A new dizinc(II) complex, [Zn2(bhmp)(MeCO2)2]BPh4 [(bhmp)−: 2,6-bis[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenolate anion], performs aminopeptidase activity to hydrolyze L-leucine-p-nitroanilide. As compared with a related dizinc(II) complex [Zn2(bomp)(MeCO2)2]BPh4 [(bomp)−: 2,6-bis[bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenolate anion], the activity of the present bhmp complex was about 80 times greater than that of the bomp complex. This is mainly because the substrate accessibility was improved by changing the terminal methoxy groups to hydroxyl groups.