X-ray structure of physiological copper(II)-bis(L-histidinato) complex.

The isolation and the X-ray crystal structure of physiological copper(II)-L-histidine complex are reported. The neutral five-coordinate complex shows distorted square pyramidal geometry with bidentate and tridentate L-histidine ligands. The basic character of the pendent imidazole group and H-bonding interactions of bidentate L-histidine ligand are important for copper transport. The unique structural features help explain the origin of its thermodynamic stability and kinetic reactivity in human blood along with the ternary copper(II)-amino acid complexes. The role of L-histidine in interaction with copper(II)-albumin, in cellular uptake of copper, and in treatment of Menkes disease can be studied using these results.