Tetracycline is a broad spectrum polyketide antibiotic produced by the <i>Streptomyces</i> genus of Actinobacteria, indicated for use against many bacterial infections. Essential zinc (II) ion present in extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMP’s) is commonly found within ailments treated by tetracycline. It is speculated that tetracycline is involved in coordination of the zinc (II) ions, thus lowering the availability of the zinc ions present within the extracellular MMP’s; however, exact coordination sites of zinc on tetracycline is still unknown. This exploratory work aims to investigate tetracycline’s coordination with zinc (II) ions in several pH controlled solutions. Previous research conducted via NMR and Spartan computer modeling narrowed potential binding site to the phenolic oxygens and the tricarbonyl system. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the vibrational modes of both tetracycline and zinc-bound tetracycline in pH 6.0, 6.4, 6.8, 7.2 buffered solutions to determine the zinc binding mode. Differences in IR spectra revealed an observable peak alteration within the fingerprint region of the spectra. Prominent amine scissoring at approximately 1600 cm<sup>-1</sup> present within unbound tetracycline complexes is greatly diminished within zinc complexed tetracycline; this suggests that the amine located on the tricarbonyl ring of tetracycline is the primary site for zinc (II) ion binding.

Investigation into zinc (II) ion coordination with tetracycline via fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

249th National Meeting (2015)

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