Zwitterionic conformers of pyrrolysine and their interactions with metal ions--a theoretical study.

A total of 16 pyrrolysine conformers in their zwitterionic forms are studied in gas and simulated aqueous phase using a polarizable continuum model (PCM). These conformers are selected on the basis of our study on the intrinsic conformational properties of non-ionic pyrrolysine molecule in gas phase [Das and Mandal (2013) J Mol Model 19:1695-1704]. In aqueous phase, the stable zwitterionic pyrrolysine conformers are characterized by full geometry optimization and vibrational frequency calculations using B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. Single point calculations are also carried out at MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level. Characteristic intramolecular hydrogen bonds present in each conformer, their relative energies, theoretically predicted vibrational spectra, rotational constants and dipole moments are systematically reported. The calculated relative energy range of the conformers at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level is 5.19 kcal mol(-1) whereas the same obtained by single point calculations at MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level is 4.58 kcal mol(-1). A thorough analysis reveals that four types of intramolecular H-bonds are present in the conformers; all of which play key roles in determining the energetics and in imparting the observed conformations to the conformers. The vibrational frequencies are found to shift invariably toward the lower side of frequency scale corresponding to the presence of the H-bonds. This study also points out that conformers with diverse structural motifs may differ in their thermodynamical stability by a narrow range of relative energy. The effects of metal coordination on the relative stability order and structural features of the conformers are examined by complexing five zwitterionic conformers of pyrrolysine with Cu(+2) through their carboxylate groups. The interaction enthalpies and Gibbs energies, rotational constants, vibrational frequencies and dipole moments of the metal complexes calculated at B3LYP level are also reported. The zwitterionic conformers of pyrrolysine are not stable in gas phase; after geometry optimization they are converted to the non-ionic forms.