Unexpectedly Enhanced Solubility of Aromatic Amino Acids and Peptides in an Aqueous Solution of Divalent Transition-Metal Cations

Phys Rev Lett. 2016 Dec 2;117(23):238102. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.238102. Epub 2016 Dec 2.

Abstract

We experimentally observed considerable solubility of tryptophan (Trp) in a CuCl_{2} aqueous solution, which could reach 2-5 times the solubility of Trp in pure water. Theoretical studies show that the strong cation-π interaction between Cu^{2+} and the aromatic ring in Trp modifies the electronic distribution of the aromatic ring to enhance significantly the water affinity of Trp. Similar solubility enhancement has also been observed for other divalent transition-metal cations (e.g., Zn^{2+} and Ni^{2+}), another aromatic amino acid (phenylalanine), and three aromatic peptides (Trp-Phe, Phe-Phe, and Trp-Ala-Phe).

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / chemistry*
  • Cations / chemistry
  • Cations, Divalent
  • Dipeptides
  • Metals
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Phenylalanine
  • Solubility*
  • Transition Elements
  • Tryptophan / chemistry

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Cations
  • Cations, Divalent
  • Dipeptides
  • Metals
  • Peptides
  • Transition Elements
  • phenylalanylphenylalanine
  • alanylphenylalanine
  • Phenylalanine
  • Tryptophan