Potential induced changes in neuromedin B adsorption on Ag, Au, and Cu electrodes monitored by surface-enhanced Raman...

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), electrochemistry, and generalized two-dimensional correlation analysis (G2DCA) methods were used to define neuromedin B (NMB) ordered superstructures on Ag, Au, and Cu electrode surfaces at different applied electrode potentials in an aqueous solution at physiological pH. The orientation of NMB and the adsorption mechanism were determined based on the analysis of enhancement, broadness, and shift in wavenumber of particular bands, which allow drawing some conclusions about NMB geometry and changes in this geometry upon change of the electrode type and applied electrode potential. The presented data demonstrated that NMB deposited onto the Ag, Au, and Cu electrode surfaces showed bands due to vibrations of the moieties that were in contact/close proximity to the electrode surfaces and thus were located on the same side of the polypeptide backbone. These included the Phe(9) and Trp(4) rings, the sulfur atom of Met(10), and the -CCN- and -C═O units of Asn(2). However, some subtle variations in the arrangement of these fragments upon changes in the applied electrode potential were distinguished. The Amide-III vibrations exhibited an electrochemical Stark effect (potential dependent frequencies) with Stark tuning slope sensitive to the electrode material. Potential-difference spectrum revealed that the imidazole ring of His(8) was bonded to the Cu electrode surface at relatively positive potentials.