High Resolution Crystal Structure of the Methylcobalamin Analogues Ethylcobalamin and Butylcobalamin by X-ray Synchrotron Diffraction

The X-ray crystal structures of the methylcobalamin (MeCbl) analogues ethylcobalamin (EtCbl) and butylcobalamin (BuCbl) are reported. The X-ray crystal structures of EtCbl and BuCbl were obtained with some of the lowest crystallographic residuals ever achieved for cobalamins.(R = 0.0468 and 0.0438, respectively). The Co-C bond distances for EtCbl and BuCbl are 2.023(2) and 2.028(4) angstrom, whereas the Co-alpha-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (Co-N3B) bond distances were 2.232(1) and 2.244(1) angstrom, respectively. Although EtCbl and BuCbl displayed a longer Co-N3B bond than that observed in the naturally occurring methylcobalamin, the orientation of the alpha-5,6-dimethylbenzi midazole moiety with respect to the corrin ring did not vary substantially among the structures. The lengthening of both Co-C and Co-N3B bonds in EtCbl and BuCbl can be attributed to the "inverse" trans influence exerted by the a-donating alkyl groups, typically observed in alkylcobalamins. Analysis of the molecular surface maps showed that the alkyl ligands in EtCbl and BuCbl are directed toward the hydrophobic side of the corrin ring. The corrin fold angles in EtCbl and BuCbl were determined to be 14.7 degrees and 13.1 degrees, respectively. A rough correlation exists between the corrin fold angle and the length of the Co-N3B bond, and both alkylcobalamins follow the same trend.