Investigations of DNA-mediated protein oxidation

DNA charge transport (CT) involves the efficient transfer of electrons or electron holes through the DNA π-stack over long molecular distances of at least 100 base-pairs. Despite this shallow distance dependence, DNA CT is sensitive to mismatches or lesions that disrupt π-stacking and is critically dependent on proper electronic coupling of the donor and acceptor moieties into the base stack. Favorable DNA CT is very rapid, occurring on the picosecond timescale. Because of this speed, electron holes equilibrate along the DNA π-stack, forming a characteristic pattern of DNA damage at low oxidation potential guanine multiplets. Furthermore, DNA CT may be used in a biological context. DNA processing enzymes with 4Fe4S clusters can perform DNA-mediated electron transfer (ET) self-exchange reactions with other 4Fe4S cluster proteins, even if the proteins are quite dissimilar, as long as the DNA-bound [4Fe4S]^3+/2+ redox potentials are conserved. This mechanism would allow low copy number DNA repair proteins to find their lesions efficiently within the cell. DNA CT may also be used biologically for the long-range, selective activation of redox-active transcription factors. Within this work, we pursue other proteins that may utilize DNA CT within the cell and further elucidate aspects of the DNA-mediated ET self-exchange reaction of 4Fe4S cluster proteins.

Dps proteins, bacterial mini-ferritins that protect DNA from oxidative stress, are implicated in the survival and virulence of pathogenic bacteria. One aspect of their protection involves ferroxidase activity, whereby ferrous iron is bound and oxidized selectively by hydrogen peroxide, thereby preventing formation of damaging hydroxyl radicals via Fenton chemistry. Understanding the specific mechanism by which Dps proteins protect the bacterial genome could inform the development of new antibiotics. We investigate whether DNA-binding E. coli Dps can utilize DNA CT to protect the genome from a distance. An intercalating ruthenium photooxidant was employed to generate oxidative DNA damage via the flash-quench technique, which localizes to a low potential guanine triplet. We find that Dps loaded with ferrous iron, in contrast to Apo-Dps and ferric iron-loaded Dps which lack available reducing equivalents, significantly attenuates the yield of oxidative DNA damage at the guanine triplet. These data demonstrate that ferrous iron-loaded Dps is selectively oxidized to fill guanine radical holes, thereby restoring the integrity of the DNA. Luminescence studies indicate no direct interaction between the ruthenium photooxidant and Dps, supporting the DNA-mediated oxidation of ferrous iron-loaded Dps. Thus DNA CT may be a mechanism by which Dps efficiently protects the genome of pathogenic bacteria from a distance.

Further work focused on spectroscopic characterization of the DNA-mediated oxidation of ferrous iron-loaded Dps. X-band EPR was used to monitor the oxidation of DNA-bound Dps after DNA photooxidation via the flash-quench technique. Upon irradiation with poly(dGdC)₂, a signal arises with g = 4.3, consistent with the formation of mononuclear high-spin Fe(III) sites of low symmetry, the expected oxidation product of Dps with one iron bound at each ferroxidase site. When poly(dGdC)₂ is substituted with poly(dAdT)₂, the yield of Dps oxidation is decreased significantly, indicating that guanine radicals facilitate Dps oxidation. The more favorable oxidation of Dps by guanine radicals supports the feasibility of a long-distance protection mechanism via DNA CT where Dps is oxidized to fill guanine radical holes in the bacterial genome produced by reactive oxygen species.

We have also explored possible electron transfer intermediates in the DNA-mediated oxidation of ferrous iron-loaded Dps. Dps proteins contain a conserved tryptophan residue in close proximity to the ferroxidase site (W52 in E. coli Dps). In comparison to WT Dps, in EPR studies of the oxidation of ferrous iron-loaded Dps following DNA photooxidation, W52Y and W52A mutants were deficient in forming the characteristic EPR signal at g = 4.3, with a larger deficiency for W52A compared to W52Y. In addition to EPR, we also probed the role of W52 Dps in cells using a hydrogen peroxide survival assay. Bacteria containing W52Y Dps survived the hydrogen peroxide challenge more similarly to those containing WT Dps, whereas cells with W52A Dps died off as quickly as cells without Dps. Overall, these results suggest the possibility of W52 as a CT hopping intermediate.

DNA-modified electrodes have become an essential tool for the study of the redox chemistry of DNA processing enzymes with 4Fe4S clusters. In many cases, it is necessary to investigate different complex samples and substrates in parallel in order to elucidate this chemistry. Therefore, we optimized and characterized a multiplexed electrochemical platform with the 4Fe4S cluster base excision repair glycosylase Endonuclease III (EndoIII). Closely packed DNA films, where the protein has limited surface accessibility, produce EndoIII electrochemical signals sensitive to an intervening mismatch, indicating a DNA-mediated process. Multiplexed analysis allowed more robust characterization of the CT-deficient Y82A EndoIII mutant, as well as comparison of a new family of mutations altering the electrostatics surrounding the 4Fe4S cluster in an effort to shift the reduction potential of the cluster. While little change in the DNA-bound midpoint potential was found for this family of mutants, likely indicating the dominant effect of DNA-binding on establishing the protein redox potential, significant variations in the efficiency of DNA-mediated electron transfer were apparent. On the basis of the stability of these proteins, examined by circular dichroism, we proposed that the electron transfer pathway in EndoIII can be perturbed not only by the removal of aromatic residues but also through changes in solvation near the cluster.

While the 4Fe4S cluster of EndoIII is relatively insensitive to oxidation and reduction in solution, we have found that upon DNA binding, the reduction potential of the [4Fe4S]^3+/2+ couple shifts negatively by approximately 200 mV, bringing this couple into a physiologically relevant range. Demonstrated using electrochemistry experiments in the presence and absence of DNA, these studies do not provide direct molecular evidence for the species being observed. Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorbance spectroscopy (XAS) can be used to probe directly the covalency of iron-sulfur clusters, which is correlated to their reduction potential. We have shown that the Fe-S covalency of the 4Fe4S cluster of EndoIII increases upon DNA binding, stabilizing the oxidized [4Fe4S]³⁺ cluster, consistent with a negative shift in reduction potential. The 7% increase in Fe-S covalency corresponds to an approximately 150 mV shift, remarkably similar to DNA electrochemistry results. Therefore we have obtained direct molecular evidence for the shift in 4Fe4S reduction potential of EndoIII upon DNA binding, supporting the feasibility of our model whereby these proteins can utilize DNA CT to cooperate in order to efficiently find DNA lesions inside cells.

In conclusion, in this work we have explored the biological applications of DNA CT. We discovered that the DNA-binding bacterial ferritin Dps can protect the bacterial genome from a distance via DNA CT, perhaps contributing to pathogen survival and virulence. Furthermore, we optimized a multiplexed electrochemical platform for the study of the redox chemistry of DNA-bound 4Fe4S cluster proteins. Finally, we have used sulfur K-edge XAS to obtain direct molecular evidence for the negative shift in 4Fe4S cluster reduction potential of EndoIII upon DNA binding. These studies contribute to the understanding of DNA-mediated protein oxidation within cells.

固氮酶钼铁蛋白金属原子簇的拆卸与组装的研究

将棕色固氮菌(Azotobacter vinelandii)固氮酶钼铁蛋白与邻菲罗啉和O2或邻非罗啉和尿素保温并经Sephadex G-25柱层析，可分别得到部分或高度缺失P—cluster和FcMoco的“不全蛋白”。其中，部分缺失金属原子簇的蛋白与含V、Mn、Cr的重组液重组后，所得相应的重组蛋白的底物还原活性及吸收光谱和圆二色(CD))谱虽均得到明显恢复，但与还原钼铁蛋白[MoFe (R)]相比又不尽相同：与含V重组液重组的蛋白的底物还原特性与VFe蛋白相似，波谱特性与MoFe (R)有所不同;分别与含Mn和Cr重组液重组的蛋白的底物还原特性与MoFe(R)相似，而波谱特性却与MoFe(R)有较大差异。高度缺失金属原子簇的蛋白分别与含Mo、Mn、Cr重组液重组后，所得相应的重组蛋白的乙炔还原活性虽都有明显的恢复，但与MoFe(R)相比仍相差较大;当与含钼重组液重组后，它的吸收光谱、可见CD谱及天然电泳图谱均可得到明显恢复，而紫外CD谱却与其乙炔还原活性一样，只能得到部分恢复。 根据上述实验结果，我们提出：(1)钼铁蛋白的金属原子簇与其构象密切相关;(2)部分或高度缺失金属原子簇的蛋白与重组液重组的机理——“零件组装”的基本内容;(3)钼原子在FeMoco中的可被取代性及不处于中心位置;(4)还原M oFe蛋白中Fe原子的价态不尽相同。

Structural and functional properties of the hemoglobin components from the Caspian Sea Acipenser persicus and Acipenser stellatus

Hemoglobin (Hb) variability is a commonly used index of phylogenetic differentiation and molecular adaptation in fish. In the current study, the structural and functional characteristics of Hbs from two Sturgeon species of the Southern Caspian Sea Basin were investigated. After extraction and separation of hemoglobin from whole blood , the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE), native-PAGE and isoelectric focusing (IEF) were used to confirm Hb variability in these fishes. Ion-exchange on CM-cellulose chromatography was used for purification of the dominant Hbs from these fishes. The accuracy of the methods was confirmed by IEF and SDS-PAGE. Spectral studies using fluorescence spectrophotometery, circular dichroism spectropolarimetry (CD) analysis and UV–vis spectrophotometery. Oxygen affinities of these Hbs were compared using Hb-oxygen dissociation curves. Also, the dominant Hbs from these blood fishes were utilized for further experiments. The behavior of Hbs during the denaturation process by n-dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) is investigated by UV–vis spectrophotometer and circular dichroism spectropolarimetry. The thermal denaturation properties of the Hbs wereinvestigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Hbs aggregation performed chemically in the presence of dithiotreitol (DTT) by UV–vis spectrophotometer and chemometric study. The results demonstrate a significant relationship between stability of fish hemoglobins and the ability of fish for entering to deeper depths. The UV–Vis absorption spectra identified species of hemoglobin and showed the concentration of oxyHb and metHb decreases and deoxyHb increases upon interaction with DTAB. Besides the UV–vis spectrophotometry, the interaction of DTAB with hemoglobins has been studied using circular dichroism spectropolarimetry analysis. This experiment was utilized to measure the unfolding mechanism and compared alpha-helix secondary structure under different conditions for Hbs. The results reveal that the Acipenser stellatus Hb in comparison with Acipenser persicus Hb has more stability and more structural compactness. Besides, the results confirm the hypothesis that there is a meaningful relation between average habitat depth, partial oxygen pressure, oxygen affinity, structural compactness of Hb, and its stability.

Nanobodies raised against monomeric α-synuclein distinguish between fibrils at different maturation stages.

Nanobodies are single-domain fragments of camelid antibodies that are emerging as versatile tools in biotechnology. We describe here the interactions of a specific nanobody, NbSyn87, with the monomeric and fibrillar forms of α-synuclein (αSyn), a 140-residue protein whose aggregation is associated with Parkinson's disease. We have characterized these interactions using a range of biophysical techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and quartz crystal microbalance measurements. In addition, we have compared the results with those that we have reported previously for a different nanobody, NbSyn2, also raised against monomeric αSyn. This comparison indicates that NbSyn87 and NbSyn2 bind with nanomolar affinity to distinctive epitopes within the C-terminal domain of soluble αSyn, comprising approximately amino acids 118-131 and 137-140, respectively. The calorimetric and quartz crystal microbalance data indicate that the epitopes of both nanobodies are still accessible when αSyn converts into its fibrillar structure. The apparent affinities and other thermodynamic parameters defining the binding between the nanobody and the fibrils, however, vary significantly with the length of time that the process of fibril formation has been allowed to progress and with the conditions under which formation occurs, indicating that the environment of the C-terminal domain of αSyn changes as fibril assembly takes place. These results demonstrate that nanobodies are able to target forms of potentially pathogenic aggregates that differ from each other in relatively minor details of their structure, such as those associated with fibril maturation.

Nanobodies raised against monomeric α-synuclein distinguish between fibrils at different maturation stages

Nanobodies are single-domain fragments of camelid antibodies that are emerging as versatile tools in biotechnology. We describe here the interactions of a specific nanobody, NbSyn87, with the monomeric and fibrillar forms of α-synuclein (αSyn), a 140-residue protein whose aggregation is associated with Parkinson's disease. We have characterized these interactions using a range of biophysical techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and quartz crystal microbalance measurements. In addition, we have compared the results with those that we have reported previously for a different nanobody, NbSyn2, also raised against monomeric αSyn. This comparison indicates that NbSyn87 and NbSyn2 bind with nanomolar affinity to distinctive epitopes within the C-terminal domain of soluble αSyn, comprising approximately amino acids 118-131 and 137-140, respectively. The calorimetric and quartz crystal microbalance data indicate that the epitopes of both nanobodies are still accessible when αSyn converts into its fibrillar structure. The apparent affinities and other thermodynamic parameters defining the binding between the nanobody and the fibrils, however, vary significantly with the length of time that the process of fibril formation has been allowed to progress and with the conditions under which formation occurs, indicating that the environment of the C-terminal domain of αSyn changes as fibril assembly takes place. These results demonstrate that nanobodies are able to target forms of potentially pathogenic aggregates that differ from each other in relatively minor details of their structure, such as those associated with fibril maturation. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Structure and magnetic property of (Ga,Cr)As films with different Cr contents

We report variations in structure and magnetic property of (Ga,Cr) As films with increasing Cr content x. Due to phase segregation, a tendency towards inhomogeneous distribution with increasing x is confirmed. Barkhausen-like magnetization and large remanent magnetic moment were also clearly observed in the samples with x<5.3%. However, spin-glass-like behaviors were observed in both dc and ac magnetic measurements, which might originate from the competition between magnetic nucleation and frustration of long ferromagnetic order in this inhomogeneous system. All the samples exhibit characteristics of variable-range hopping conductivity at temperature below 150 K. Typical magnetic circular dichroism structure was observed in the sample with x=7.9%.

Measuring spin diffusion of electrons in bulk n-GaAs using circularly dichromatic absorption difference spectroscopy of spin gratings

Circular dichromatic absorption difference spectroscopy is developed to measure the spin diffusion dynamics of electrons in bulk n-GaAs. This spectroscopy has higher detection sensitivity over homodyne detection of spin-grating-diffracted signal. A model to describe circular dichromatic absorption difference signal is derived and used to fit experimental signal to retrieve decaying rate of spin gratings. A spin diffusion constant of D-s=201 +/- 25 cm(2)/s for bulk n-GaAs has been measured at room temperature using this technique and is close to electron diffusion constant (D-c), which is much different from the case in GaAs quantum wells where D-s is markedly less than D-c.

环糊精衍生物的设计、合成及其对环辛烯光异构化研究

环糊精(Cyclodextrins, CDs)经化学修饰后可以得到各种类型的衍生物，不仅可以扩展其原有的键合能力，而且还可以改变其选择性，是当代超分子化学的一个研究热点。环糊精第二面的仲羟基比第一面的伯羟基有着更好的催化性能，第二面的选择性修饰将产生更多有价值的衍生物，可用于催化、酶模拟、手性识别等方面。 取代苯甲酰基修饰环糊精对顺式环辛烯(cis-cyclooctene)光异构化反应有非常重要的影响作用，苯环上取代基的性质和取代位置与产物的%ee值和对映体构型之间存在某种内在联系。有目的地选择适宜取代基，设计、合成新型环糊精光增感剂, 有可能按预定目的得到更高%ee值的反式环辛烯；同时，取代苯甲酰基修饰环糊精对cis-cyclooctene光异构化的增感机理有待于进一步阐明。 本论文工作对环糊精的化学修饰以及超分子体系对cis-cyclooctene不对称光异构化反应方面的进展进行了调研。合成了一系列单-6-位取代苯甲酰基修饰环糊精，用于cis-cyclooctene光异构化增感反应，并用圆二色光谱滴定法研究这些环糊精衍生物与cis-cyclooctene的相互作用，以探索光增感反应机理。在此基础上，探讨了环糊精第二面的选择性修饰方法。内容主要包括： 1. 简要介绍了超分子化学的概况，并对环糊精的选择性修饰方法和超分子体系对cis-cyclooctene不对称光异构化反应的主要成果和最新进展进行了评述。 2. 合成了12种单-6-O-(取代苯甲酰基)-β-环糊精，其中10种为新化合物。采用紫外光谱、红外光谱、核磁共振波谱以及质谱等手段对化合物的结构进行了表征。 3. 探索了直接选择性修饰环糊精第二面的便捷新方法。用取代苯甲酰咪唑酯为酰化试剂，0.2M碳酸盐缓冲溶液(pH=9.9)作催化剂，能够有效地活化2-位仲羟基，对环糊精第二面进行选择性修饰，此方法既简便又经济；同时，发现取代苯甲酰基能够在β-CD第二面的2-位、3-位羟基间相互迁移。 4. 用单-6-O-(取代苯甲酰基)-β-环糊精作光增感剂，对cis-cyclooctene光异构化反应进行研究。实验结果证明：取代苯甲酰基上的取代基性质、位置、长度对反应的对映选择性有很大影响；此外，反应体系溶剂极性对产物的%ee值和对映体构型也有重大影响。用单-6-O-(3-甲氧苯甲酰基)-β-CD作增感剂，cis-cyclooctene光异构化反应产物(R)-trans-cyclooctene的对映选择性为45.8%ee，是到目前为止取得的最好对映选择性。 5. 采用圆二色光谱滴定法研究环糊精衍生物与cis-cyclooctene的相互作用，计算包结物的平衡常数，研究包结物的相对稳定性，为探索光增感反应机理提供基础。我们猜测：电子效应对cis-cyclooctene光异构化反应的影响，可能比取代基位置对反应的影响更大，借助电子效应有希望获得更高的%ee值。 Cyclodextrins can be subjected to diverse modifications to give a wide variety of cyclodextrin derivatives, which could not only extend their original molecular binding ability, but also alter their molecular selectivity. Therefore, cyclodextrin chemistry is currently a significant topic in supramolecular chemistry. The more open secondary hydroxyl side of CDs is stated to be catalytically very important, modifications of this face are believed to produce valuable derivatives for catalysis, enzyme mimic, chiral discrimination, etc. Mono-6-O-(substituted benzoyl)-β-CDs as novel supramolecular photosensitizing hosts have recently excited considerable attention in photochirogenesis. The supramolecular photosenstization of cis-cyclooctene mediated by them gave chiral trans-cyclooctene, enantiomeric excess of which was critically affected by the substituent introduced to the sensitizer moiety. In order to enhance the photoenantiodifferentiating ability, and elucidate the origin mechanisms of substituent-dependent enantioselectivity, in this work a series of mono-6-O-(substituted benzoyl)-β-CDs have been synthesized, and applied for enantiodifferentiating photoisomerization of cis-cyclooctene. The major contents are as follows: 1. The general aspects of supramolecular chemistry were descibed briefly. The new progress and important achievements on methods of selective modification of cyclodextrin and supramolecular enantiodifferentiating photoisomerization of cis-cyclooctene were reviewed. 2. Twelve mono-6-O-(substituted benzoyl)-β-CDs including ten novel compounds have been synthesized. Their structures have been characterized by using UV-vis, IR, NMR and MS methods. 3. A new convenient strategy for direct acylation of β-cyclodextrin on the secondary hydroxyl face was achieved by using the combination of N-benzoylimidazole and carbonate buffer in DMF, and the acyl migration between the C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups of β-cyclodextrin was found. 4. Experiments using mono-6-O-(substituted benzoyl)-β-CDs as chiral sensitizing hosts for mediating the enantiodifferentiating photoisomerization of cis-cyclooctene, were carried out. The results indicate that enantiomeric excess was critically affected, or even switched in sign, by the substituent introduced to the sensitizer moiety, and polarity of solvent. Using mono-6-O-(3-methoxybenzoyl)-β-CD as chiral sensitizing host, (R)-trans-cyclooctene was obtained in up to 45.8% enantiomeric excess, which is the highest value ever reported for supramolecular photochirogenesis with analogous hosts. 5. The conformational variation of these modified CDs and their complexation behaviors with cis-cyclooctene were examined by circular dichroism spectroscopy in water-methanol mixed solvents, which reveal that the orientation of chromophore was highly sensitive to the type, position and length of the introduced substituents. In the end, the complex stability constants(Ks) were calculated, and the mechanisms of reaction were discussed. Maybe, electronic effects are more important than positions of substituents for mediating the enantiodifferentiating photoisomerization of cis-cyclooctene.

Chiral metallo-supramolecular complexes selectively recognize human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA

Here, we report the first example that one enantiomer of a supramolecular cylinder can selectively stabilize human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA. The P-enantiomer of this cylinder has a strong preference for G-quadruplex over duplex DNA and, in the presence of sodium, can convert G-quadruplexes from an antiparallel to a hybrid structure. The compound's chiral selectivity and its ability to discriminate quadruplex DNA have been studied by DNA melting, circular dichroism, gel electrophoresis, fluorescence spectroscopy and S1 nuclease cleavage.

Self-assembly of single-stranded RNA on carbon nanotube: Polyadenylic acid to form a duplex structure

All messenger-RNA (mRNA) molecules in eukaryotic cells have a polyadenylic acid [poly (rA)] tail at the 3'-end and human poly (rA) polymerase (PAP) has been considered as a tumor-specific target. A ligand that is capable of recognizing and binding to the poly(M) tail of mRNA might interfere with the full processing of mRNA by PAP and can be a potential therapeutic agent. We report here for the first time that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can cause single-stranded poly (M) to self-structure and form a duplex structure, which is studied by UV melting, atomic force microscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and NMR spectrometry.

The direct electrochemistry behavior of Cyt c on the modified glassy carbon electrode by SBA-15 with a high-redox potential

It is discovered that SBA-15 (santa barbara amorphous) can provide the favorable microenvironments and optimal direct electron-transfer tunnels (DETT) of immobilizing cytochrome c (Cyt c) by the preferred orientation on it. A high-redox potential (254 mV vs. Ag/AgCl) was obtained on glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified by immobilizing Cyt c on rod-like SBA-15. With ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), circular dichroism (CD), FTIR and cyclic voltammetry, it was demonstrated that immobilization made Cyt c exhibits stable and ideal electrochemical characteristics while the biological activity of immobilized Cyt c is retained as usual.

Multiplex binding modes of toluidine blue with calf thymus DNA and conformational transition of DNA revealed by spectroscopic studies

It is noteworthy to understand the details of interactions between antitumor drugs and DNA because the binding modes and affinities affect their antitumor activities. Here, The interaction of toluidine blue (TB), a potential antitumor drug for photodynamic therapy of tumor, with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) was explored by UV-vis, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, UV-rnelting method and surface-enhance Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The experimental results suggest that TB could bind to ctDNA via both electrostatic interaction and partial intercalation.

Effect of secondary ligands' size on energy transfer and electroluminescent efficiencies for a series of europium(III) complexes, a density functional theory study

In this paper, a quantum chemistry method was used to investigate the effect of different sizes of substituted phenanthrolines on absorption, energy transfer, and the electroluminescent performance of a series of Eu(TTA)(3)L (L = [1,10] phenanthroline (Phen), Pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline (PyPhen), 2-methylprrazino[2,3-f][1,10] phenanthroline(MPP), dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine(DPPz), 11-methyldipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'c]phenazine(MDPz), 11.12-dimethyldipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine(DDPz), and benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (BDPz)) complexes. Absorption spectra calculations show that different sizes of secondary ligands have different effects on transition characters, intensities, and absorption peak positions.

The Reasons for Ligand-Dependent Quantum Yields and Absorption Spectrum of Four Polypyridylruthenium(II) Complexes with a Tetrazolate-Based Ligand: TDDFT Study

The quantum yield, lifetime, and absorption spectrum of four [Ru(bpy)(2)L](+) [where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridyl; L is represented by the deprotonated form of 2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyridine (L1) or 2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyrazine (L2)], as well as their methylated complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)LMe](2+) (RuL1Me and RuL2Me) are closely ligand dependent. In this paper, density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) were performed to compare the above properties among these complexes. The calculated results reveal that the replacement of pyridine by pyrazine or the attachment of a CH3 group to the tetrazolate ring greatly increases the pi-accepting ability of the ancillary ligands.