Regium−π Bonds Are Involved in Protein–Gold Binding
María de las Nieves Piña, Antonio Frontera, Antonio Bauzá
Abstract
The regium-π interaction is an attractive noncovalent force between group 11 elements (Cu, Ag, and Au) acting as Lewis acids and aromatic surfaces. Herein, we report for the first time experimental (Protein Data Bank analysis) and theoretical (RI-MP2/def2-TZVP level of theory) evidence of regium-π bonds involving Au(I) and aromatic amino acids (Phe, Tyr, Trp, and His). These findings might be important in the field of drug design and for retrospectively understanding the role of gold in proteins.
Topics & Concepts
Non-covalent interactionsChemistryAromaticityStereochemistryCrystallographyComputational chemistryOrganic chemistryHydrogen bondMoleculeMetal complexes synthesis and propertiesCrystallography and molecular interactionsOrganometallic Complex Synthesis and Catalysis