Structural Analysis of the Cu-binding Site in the [Cu·dCMP·dCMP-H]1- Complex

The Cu-binding site in the $[Cu{\cdot}dCMP{\cdot}dCMP-H]^{1-}$ complex was investigated. The tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra of the [$[Cu{\cdot}dCMP{\cdot}dCMP-H]^{1-}$ parent ion showed $[dCMP{\cdot}Cu{\cdot}H_2PO_4+CONH]^{1-}$ fragment ions. Therefore, we propose that the Cu cation is simultaneously coordinated to the phosphate site and cytosine moiety in the stable geometry of the $[Cu{\cdot}dCMP{\cdot}dCMP-H]^{1-}$ complex. Three geometries for the complex were considered in an attempt to optimize the structure of the $[Cu{\cdot}dCMP{\cdot}dCMP-H]^{1-}$ complex. The ab initio calculations were performed at the $B3LYP/6-311G^{**}$ level.