Determining the binding affinity and binding site of bensulfuron-methyl to human serum albumin by quenching of the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence

Bensulfuron-methyl (BM) is a highly active sulfonylurea herbicide for use on paddy rice. Steady state fluorescence, UV/vis absorption, circular dichroism (CD), time-resolved fluorescence and molecular modeling methods have been exploited to determine the binding affinity and binding site of BM to human serum albumin (HSA). From the synchronous fluorescence, UV/vis, CD and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra, it was evident that the interaction between BM and HSA induced a conformational change in the protein. Steady state and time-resolved fluorescence data illustrates that the fluorescence quenching of HSA by BM was the formation of HSA-BM complex at 1:1 molar ratio. Site marker competitive experiments demonstrated that the binding of BM to HSA primarily took place in subdomain IIIA (Sudlow’s site II), this corroborates the hydrophobic probe ANS displacement and molecular modeling results. Thermodynamic analysis displays hydrophobic, electrostatic and hydrogen bonds interactions are the major acting forces in stabilizing the HSA-BM complex.     

Transport of a Cancer Chemopreventive Polyphenol,Resveratrol: Interaction with Serum Albumin and Hemoglobin

Resveratrol is a natural phytoalexin with pharmacologic effects on several human diseases: carcinogenesis, coronary heart disease and neurodegenerative disease. Due to its poor water solubility, resveratrol must be bound to proteins to keep it at a high concentration in serum. In our work, the bindings of resveratrol to plasma proteins, human serum albumin (HSA) and hemoglobin (Hb), have been investigated systematically by fluorescence quenching technique, synchronous fluorescence, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and molecular modeling method. The fluorescence data show that the binding of resveratrol to HSA or Hb is a static quenching procedure and each protein has only one binding site for the drug. The binding constant of resveratrol to HSA is larger than that of resveratrol to Hb at corresponding temperature, which indicates that the affinity of HSA toward the drug is higher than that of Hb. The CD spectroscopy indicates that the secondary structures of the proteins are changed in the presence of resveratrol with the reduction of α-helices, which decreased about 18.75% for HSA and 9.43% for Hb at the drug to proteins molar ratio of 2. Thermodynamic analysis and molecular modeling suggest that hydrophobic interaction plays a major role in the binding of resveratrol to HSA, and hydrogen bonding is the mainly binding force in the binding of resveratrol to Hb. The study of molecular modeling shows that resveratrol is located in the hydrophobic cavity between subdomain IB and IIA of HSA (the entrance of site I), or located in the central cavity of Hb (partial to the subunit A).     

Complexes between C.I. Acid Orange 6 and human serum albumin, a multi-spectroscopic approach to investigate the binding behavior

The interaction mechanism of Acid Orange 6 (AO6) with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated firstly by using fluorescence quenching technique, UV absorbance, circular dichroism (CD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with molecular modeling method under simulative physiological conditions. Fluorescence data indicated that there is a single class of binding sites between AO6 and HSA, and the alterations of HSA secondary structure in the presence of AO6 was confirmed by synchronous fluorescence, UV, CD, FT-IR and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra. The efficiency of fluorescence resonance energy transfer provided the binding distance (r) of 2.83 nm for AO6-HSA system. Furthermore, the thermodynamic parameters enthalpy change (ΔH⁰) and entropy change (ΔS⁰) for the reaction were calculated to be −5.77 kJ mol⁻¹ and 109.42 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively, according to Van't Hoff equation, these data suggested that both hydrophobic forces and hydrogen bonding play a major role in the binding of AO6 to HSA, which agrees well with the results of molecular modeling study. Experimental results showed that the interaction between AO6 and HSA induced a conformational change of HSA, which was proved by the qualitative and quantitative analysis data of different spectroscopic techniques under simulative physiological conditions.     

光谱法和分子对接方法研究罗利环素与人血清白蛋白的相互作用

在模拟人体生理条件下,应用多光谱法和分子对接技术对罗利环素(RTC)与人血清白蛋白(HSA)的相互作用进行了研究。实验通过消除内滤光来提高荧光数据的准确性。此外,荧光光谱和紫外光谱的结果表明RTC与HSA的猝灭方式是静态猝灭,且在298和310 K温度下的结合位点数分别为1.09和0.95。在两个不同温度下的结合常数分别为K_{298 K}=3.13×105 L·mol-1和K_{310 K}=0.70×105 L·mol-1。根据热力学参数的计算结果可知,RTC与HSA的结合作用力主要是氢键和范德华力。取代实验表明,RTC在HSA的Site Ⅰ,ⅡA子域上有一个结合位点。根据非辐射能量转移理论得到的RTC和HSA氨基酸残基间的结合距离为2.59 nm。三维荧光光谱表明RTC和HSA的相互作用改变了蛋白质的构象。此外,采用傅里叶变换红外光谱法对RTC与HSA作用前后HSA二级结构的变化进行了定量分析,结果表明,α-螺旋结构含量降低了8.4%,β-折叠含量从30.3%增加到31.4%,β-转角也从15.6%增加到了16.1%。分子对接进一步显示RTC通过氢键、疏水作用力、极性键等多种作用力与HSA的ⅡA子域上氨基酸残基相互作用。实验结果有助于从分子水平研究RTC和HSA的相互作用。     

Study on the interaction between tabersonine and human serum albumin by optical spectroscopy and molecular modeling methods

The mechanism of interaction between tabersonine (TAB) and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by the methods of fluorescence spectroscopy, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and molecular modeling under simulative physiological conditions. Results obtained from analysis of fluorescence spectrum and fluorescence intensity indicated that TAB has a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching procedure. The binding site number n and apparent binding constant K_a, corresponding thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH and ΔS at different temperatures were calculated. The distance r between donor (human serum albumin) and acceptor (tabersonine) was obtained according to the Förster theory of non-radiation energy transfer. The effect of common ions on binding constant was also investigated. The synchronous fluorescence and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra were used to investigate the structural change of HSA molecules with addition of TAB. Furthermore, the study of molecular modeling indicated that TAB could bind to the site I of HSA and hydrophobic interaction was the major acting force, which was in agreement with the binding mode study.     

Study of interaction of butyl p-hydroxybenzoate with human serum albumin by molecular modeling and multi-spectroscopic method

Study of the interaction between butyl p-hydroxybenzoate (butoben) and human serum albumin (HSA) has been performed by molecular modeling and multi-spectroscopic method. The interaction mechanism was predicted through molecular modeling first, then the binding parameters were confirmed using a series of spectroscopic methods, including fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-visible absorbance spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The thermodynamic parameters of the reaction, standard enthalpy ΔH⁰ and entropy ΔS⁰, have been calculated to be −29.52 kJ mol⁻¹ and −24.23 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively, according to the Van’t Hoff equation, which suggests the van der Waals force and hydrogen bonds are the predominant intermolecular forces in stabilizing the butoben-HSA complex. Results obtained by spectroscopic methods are consistent with that of the molecular modeling study. In addition, alteration of secondary structure of HSA in the presence of butoben was evaluated using the data obtained from UV-visible absorbance, CD and FT-IR spectroscopies.     

Probing the binding of vitexin to human serum albumin by multispectroscopic techniques

The interaction between vitexin and human serum albumin (HSA) has been studied by using different spectroscopic techniques viz., fluorescence, UV-vis absorption, circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy under simulated physiological conditions. Fluorescence results revealed the presence of static type of quenching mechanism in the binding of vitexin to HSA. The binding constants (K_a) between vitexin and HSA were obtained according to the modified Stern-Volmer equation. The thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) were calculated to be -57.29 kJ mol⁻¹ and -99.01 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ via the van't Hoff equation, which indicated that the interaction of vitexin with HSA was driven mainly by hydrogen bond and van der Waals forces. Fluorescence anisotropy data showed that warfarin and vitexin shared a common binding site I corresponding to the subdomain IIA of HSA. The binding distance (r) between the donor (HSA) and the acceptor (vitexin) was 4.16 nm based on the Förster theory of non-radioactive energy transfer. In addition, the results of synchronous fluorescence, CD and FT-IR spectra demonstrated that the microenvironment and the secondary structure of HSA were changed in the presence of vitexin.     

Fluorescence spectrometric studies on the binding of puerarin to human serum albumin using warfarin, ibuprofen and digitoxin as site markers with the aid of chemometrics

The interaction of puerarin with human serum albumin (HSA) in pH 7.4 Tris-HCl buffer has been investigated by fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The results revealed the presence of static type of quenching mechanism in the binding of puerarin to HSA. The association constants (K_a) between puerarin and HSA were obtained according to Modified Stern-Volmer equation. The calculated thermodynamic parameters indicated that the binding of puerarin to HSA was driven mainly by hydrophobic interaction. The competitive experiments of site markers suggested that the binding site of puerarin to HSA was located in the region of subdomain IIA (sudlow site I). Further, a chemometrics approach, parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), was applied to resolve the measured three-way synchronous fluorescence spectra data of the competitive interaction between puerarin and warfarin with HSA. The concentration information for the three reaction components, warfarin, puerarin and puerarin−HSA, in the system at equilibrium was obtained simultaneously. The PARAFAC analysis indicated that puerarin in the puerarin-HSA complex was displaced by warfarin, which confirmed the binding site of puerarin to HSA was located in site I. Moreover, the results of CD and FT-IR spectra demonstrated that the secondary structure of HSA was changed in the presence of puerarin.     

Specificity and affinity of phenosafranine protein adduct: Insights from biophysical aspects

Phenosafranine is a toxic and recalcitrant compound, whose capacity to intercalate with double stranded DNA has been shown. In this contribution, a biophysical discuss on the conjugation of phenosafranine with two model proteins human serum albumin (HSA) and lysozyme (Lys) has been identified utilizing a combination of molecular modeling, steady state and time-resolved fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) approaches. The accurate binding domain of phenosafranine in protein has been characterized from molecular modeling, subdomain IIIA of HSA and Trp-62, Trp-63 and Trp-108 residues of Lys was designated to possess high-affinity for this compound, the dominant forces in the protein–phenosafranine adduct are hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions, but hydrophobic interactions between dye and Lys are also not exclude. The data of fluorescence displayed that the complex of phenosafranine with protein produces quenching through static property, this corroborates the time-resolved fluorescence results that the ground state complex formation with a moderate affinity of 10⁴ M^?1. Moreover, via synchronous fluorescence, CD and three-dimensional fluorescence we indicated some extent of polypeptide chain of protein partially unfolding upon conjugation with phenosafranine. Through this work, we anticipate it can supply salient clues on the toxicological action of phenosafranine and other azines, which have analogous configuration with phenosafranine.     

两种肉桂酸肟酯衍生物的合成及其与人血清白蛋白的结合

以间甲氧基肉桂酸、对位取代的苯甲醛为原料,设计合成了2种未见报道的肉桂酸肟酯类衍生物,并用MS、IR、1H NMR、13C NMR进行结构表征。采用分子对接技术和荧光光谱法、紫外-可见光谱法、位点竞争法研究了2种衍生物分别和人血清白蛋白(HSA)相结合的机理。通过Stern-Volmer方程等处理荧光猝灭相关数据得到了衍生物与HSA相互作用的结合常数和热力学参数。结合紫外-可见光谱对两种衍生物与HSA的相互作用进行了进一步的分析,结果表明在体外生理条件下,衍生物都可以与HSA结合,对HSA内源荧光产生静态猝灭并对其构象产生影响,其主要的结合力为氢键和范德华力。位点竞争实验表明衍生物与HSA相互作用都发生在Sudlow site 1(亚域ⅡA)处。以上实验结果均验证了分子模拟对实验的预测。     

The binding of 3-(p-bromophenyl)-5-methyl-thiohydantoin with human serum albumin: Investigation by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular model

The binding of 3-(p-bromophenyl)-5-methyl-thiohydantoin (BPMT) with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with UV absorption spectrum under physiological conditions. The intrinsic fluorescence of HSA was quenched by BPMT through static quenching mechanism and the fluorescence emission spectrum of HSA exhibited appreciable hypsochromic shift with increasing concentration of BPMT. The binding constants (K) of HSA with BPMT and the number binding sites (n) at different temperatures, thermodynamic parameter enthalpy changes (ΔH) and entropy changes (ΔS) of HSA-BPMT have been calculated according to the relevant fluorescence data, indicating that the hydrophobic interaction played a major role, which was consistent with the result of molecular modeling study.     

多光谱和分子模拟技术研究全氟十二酸与人血清白蛋白的相互作用

全氟十二酸(PFDoA)是8～12个碳链的全氟烷酸(PFAAs)中毒性最强的新型环境污染物。已有大量研究表明PFAAs在环境中广泛积累,但对PFDoA与HSA的相互作用还处于起步阶段。本研究力争在模拟生理条件下,采用荧光猝灭法、分子模拟技术和圆二色谱确定HSA与PFDoA的相互作用机理。研究结果表明,PFDoA对HSA的猝灭是动态猝灭与形成PFDoA-HSA基态复合物引起的猝灭共同作用的结果。计算得到的结合距离(r=3.65 nm)表明,PFDoA(受体)与HSA(供体)之间的相互作用发生了非辐射能量转移。取代反应结果表明,PFDoA键合在HSA的site Ⅰ位点上。分子对接进一步研究了PFDoA与HSA作用的详细结合情况,表明PFDoA通过多种作用力结合在HSA的亚域IIA内,例如,PFDoA上的O 1原子主要通过极性键与HSA上的Arg 257和Ser 287残基结合。计算得到的最优对接能量为-25.87 kJ·mol-1,表明PFDoA对HSA有较大的结合亲和力。同步荧光光谱和三维荧光光谱研究了PFDoA对HSA构象的影响,结果显示,与PFDoA结合后,色氨酸的微环境疏水性增加,HSA的构象也发生改变。PFDoA与HSA作用前后圆二色谱二级结构的定量分析结果表明,PFDoA-HSA复合物的形成使螺旋稳定性降低。该研究结果为全氟烷酸与HSA的动力学研究提供了理论依据和可靠数据,并揭示了生物大分子与配体相互作用的化学本质。     

新型羧酸卟啉锌(Ⅱ)配合物与人血清蛋白的作用

卟啉是一种潜在有效的光动力治疗癌症的光敏剂,部分已用于临床实验中。人血清蛋白(HSA)是药物的运输载体,详细研究两者的相互作用对于阐述卟啉类药物的药代动力学行为具有重要的意义。合成了一种新型水溶性羧酸锌(Ⅱ)卟啉配合物(2-Zn),并通过紫外可见吸收光谱、荧光光谱、圆二色(CD)光谱和分子对接模拟研究了其与人血清蛋白(HSA)的相互作用。结果表明：2-Zn以静态猝灭的方式猝灭了HSA的内源荧光,通过计算得到其与HSA在298和310 K下相互作用的猝灭常数分别为1.96×104和1.37×104 L·mol-1、结合常数分别为1.93×104和1.50×104 L·mol-1、结合位点数均为1,两者间的结合作用力以静电作用为主,同时也存在氢键和疏水作用。位点竞争实验表明2-Zn主要结合在位点Ⅱ处;根据Forster非辐射能量理论得到两者的结合距离和能量转移效率分别为4.01 nm和0.163。紫外吸收光谱,同步荧光和CD光谱显示2-Zn与HSA的相互作用影响了HSA 的构象,表现为α-螺旋的含量降低;分子对接模拟结果表明2-Zn通过疏水、静电和氢键作用嵌入HSA分子的亚结构域IIIA(site Ⅱ)的疏水腔内,与位点竞争实验和热力学判据所得的结果相一致。     

多西环素与人血清白蛋白相互作用的研究

将经典光谱法与内滤光校正、取代实验和分子对接等技术相结合,较全面地研究了多西环素(DC)与人血清白蛋白(HSA)之间的相互作用。通过荧光猝灭实验测得在298和310 K时,DC与HSA的结合常数分别为2.73×105和0.74×105 L·mol-1,二者有一个结合位点,表明DC与HSA间具有较强的结合作用,属于静态猝灭。根据Vant’Hoff公式计算的热力学参数(ΔH=-83.55 kJ·mol-1,ΔS=-176.31 J·mol-1·K-1)表明,两者间主要作用力为氢键和范德华力。根据Fster能量转移定律求得DC与HSA的Trp-214之间的结合距离为4.98 nm。取代反应结果表明,DC键合在HSA的亚域IIA内。三维荧光光谱结果显示,DC使HSA疏水性增加,改变了HSA的构象。DC与HSA作用前后红外光谱二级结构的定量分析结果表明,DC能使HSA结构松散。分子对接技术进一步表明DC通过氢键和范德华力等键合在HSA的亚域IIA疏水腔中,结合距离与光谱法计算结果相近。实验结果为研究药物小分子与人血清白蛋白的相互作用提供了理论依据和可靠数据。     

Characterization of the Binding of Metoprolol Tartrate and Guaifenesin Drugs to Human Serum Albumin and Human Hemoglobin Proteins by Fluorescence and Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy

The interactions of metoprolol tartrate (MPT) and guaifenesin (GF) drugs with human serum albumin (HSA) and human hemoglobin (HMG) proteins at pH?7.4 were studied by fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Drugs quenched the fluorescence spectra of HSA and HMG proteins through a static quenching mechanism. For each protein-drug system, the values of Stern-Volmer quenching constant, bimolecular quenching constant, binding constant and number of binding site on the protein molecules were determined at 288.15, 298.15, 310.15 and 318.15 K. It was found that the binding constants of HSA-MPT and HSA-GF systems were smaller than those of HMG-MPT and HMG-GF systems. For both drugs, the affinity of HMG was much higher than that of HSA. An increase in temperature caused a negative effect on the binding reactions. The number of binding site on blood proteins for MPT and GF drugs was approximately one. Thermodynamic parameters showed that MPT interacted with HSA through electrostatic attraction forces. However, hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces were the main interaction forces in the formation of HSA-GF, HMG-MPT and HMG-GF complexes. The binding processes between protein and drug molecules were exothermic and spontaneous owing to negative ?H and ?G values, respectively. The values of binding distance between protein and drug molecules were calculated from Förster resonance energy transfer theory. It was found from CD analysis that the bindings of MPT and GF drugs to HSA and HMG proteins altered the secondary structure of HSA and HMG proteins.     

全氟辛酸与血清蛋白分子间作用的紫外-荧光光谱分析法建立及理论模建研究

全氟辛酸(PFOA)与血清蛋白(SA)分子间作用分析法的建立及理论模建研究。荧光光谱结合紫外光谱法研究PFOA与血清蛋白(HSA)分子间作用,获得PFOA-HSA分子间作用的紫外-荧光特征谱,紫外-荧光特征谱表明PFOA规律性降低了HSA紫外吸收和荧光强度,HSA最大发射波长明显发生蓝移,表明PFOA与HSA发生了分子间作用,根据双对数回归曲线方程得到结合常数,定量说明PFOA与HSA之间存在中等强度的分子间作用力。Van’t Hoff方程分析光谱数据得到 HSA与PFOA分子间作用的热力学参数ΔH>0,ΔS>0,ΔG<0,依据Ross理论分析PFOA与HSA分子间作用,表明二者主要通过疏水作用力和氢键发生分子间作用,并且HSA与PFOA之间的分子间作用是自发过程。同步荧光光谱解析出PFOA与HSA的分子间作用导致血清蛋白分子的微区构象发生改变,使色氨酸残基位域构象发生改变。建议偏振因子M,通过荧光偏振光谱,定量表征PFOA与HSA分子间作用。基于光谱数据分析,建立了PFOA 与HSA分子间作用的理论模型,模建结果说明PFOA与HSA的分子间作用主要发生在HSA活性位点Sudlow’s sites I,HSA与PFOA分子间作用是自发过程。光谱实验与理论模建结果基本一致,可为全面了解生物大分子与全氟化合物之间的分子间作用以及研究微观毒理机制提供有益参考。     

Interaction of the docetaxel with human serum albumin using optical spectroscopy methods

Docetaxel is a semi-synthetic product derived from the needles of the European yew. It is an antineoplastic agent belonging to the taxoid family. The interaction between docetaxel and human serum albumin (HSA) has been investigated systematically by the fluorescence quenching technique, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet (UV)-vis absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) under physiological conditions. Our fluorescence data showed that HSA had only one docetaxel binding site and the binding process was a static quenching procedure. According to the Van’t Hoff equation, the thermodynamic parameters standard enthalpy (ΔH⁰) and standard entropy (ΔS⁰) were calculated to be −41.07 KJ mol⁻¹ and −49.72 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. These results suggested that hydrogen bond was the predominant intermolecular force stabling the docetaxel-HSA complex. The data from the CD, FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy supported the change in the secondary structure of protein caused by the interaction of docetaxel with HSA.     

Studies on the interaction between scopoletin and two serum albumins by spectroscopic methods

The interactions of scopoletin to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) have been investigated by spectroscopic methods. The fluorescence tests indicated that the formation mechanism of scopoletin–BSA/HSA complexes belonged to the static quenching. The displacement experiments suggested that scopoletin primarily bound to tryptophan residues of BSA/HSA within site I (subdomain IIA). The binding distance of scopoletin to BSA/HSA was 2.38/2.34 nm. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS) calculated on the basis of different temperatures revealed that the binding of BSA–scopoletin was mainly depended on van der Waals interaction and hydrogen bond, and yet the binding of HSA–scopoletin was strongly relied on the hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction. The results of synchronous fluorescence, 3D fluorescence, UV–vis absorption, and FT-IR spectra showed that the conformations of BSA and HSA altered with the addition of scopoletin. In addition, the effects of some common ions on the binding constants of scopoletin to proteins were also investigated.     

Multiple Spectroscopic,Docking and Cytotoxic Study of a Synthesized 2,2′ Bipyridin Phenyl Isopentylglycin Pt(II) Nitrate Complex: Human Serum Albumin and Breast Cancer Cell Line of MDA-MB231 as Targets

In the present study, the biological activities of a new synthesized Pt(II)-complex, 2,2′ bipyridinphenyl isopentylglycin Pt(II) nitrate was investigated via its interaction with the most important blood carrier protein of human serum albumin (HSA), using fluorescence and Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic techniques and also molecular docking. Moreover, cytotoxicity activity of the complex was studied against breast cancer cell line of MDA MB231 using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The Pt(II)-complex has a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching mechanism. According fluorescence quenching data, the binding parameters of the interaction were calculated and showed that hydrophobic interaction has an important role. The molecular docking results in coherent with fluorescence measurements illustrated that Pt(II) complex can bind to HSA at one position that located in the hydrophobic cavity of groove between drug site I and II. Also, experimental data on driving force in binding site was confirmed whereas theoretical results demonstrated Pt(II) complexinteract to HSA by hydrophobic interaction. Far-UV-CD results showed that Pt(II)-complex induced an increasing in the content of α-helical structure of the protein and stabilized it. Also, MTT assay represented growth inhibitory effect of the complex toward the breast cancer cell line.     

Characterization of Interaction Between Bergenin and Human Serum Albumin in Membrane Mimetic Environments

The interaction between bergenin and human serum albumin (HSA) in AOT/isooctane/water microemulsions was studied by fluorescence quenching technique in combination with UV absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. Fluorescence data in omega (o) 20 microemulsions revealed the presence of a binding site of bergenin on HSA and its binding constants (K) were 1.64 x 10(4), 1.44 x 10(4), 1.26 x 10(4) and 1.09 x 10(4) M(-1) at 289, 296, 303, and 310 K, respectively. The binding of bergenin with HSA in microemulsions was stronger than that in buffer solution. The alterations of protein secondary structure in the microemulsions in the absence and presence of bergenin compared with the free form of HSA in buffer were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by the evidence from CD spectra. Enthalpy and entropy changes for the reaction were calculated to be -14.45 kJ mol(-1) and 30.76 J mol(-1) K(-1). These results indicated that bergenin bound to HSA mainly by a hydrophobic interaction in microemulsions which was in agreement with the result of the molecular modeling study. The DLS data suggested that HSA may locate at the interface of the microemulsion and bergenin could interact with them.