酸性条件下两种马来酸-烯烃交替共聚物诱导细胞色素c的结构转换

在pH=2·9时,细胞色素c保持类天然的结构;和马来酸-烯烃交替共聚物作用后,细胞色素c的α-螺旋结构基本保持不变,但是三级结构被破坏.另一方面,在pH=2·1时,细胞色素c去折叠形成伸展的无规卷曲构象;马来酸-烯烃交替共聚物可以诱导酸变性的细胞色素c从无规卷曲构象转变为α-螺旋结构.在酸性溶液中,由于马来酸-异丁烯交替共聚物和细胞色素c之间更强的相互作用,其对蛋白质结构的影响大于马来酸-1-十四烯交替共聚物.相对于小分子,聚合物可以在低浓度条件下提供有利于蛋白质结构转换的微环境.     

Interaction of apo cytochrome c with sulfonated polystyrene nanoparticles

Stable nanoparticle dispersion in aqueous solutions was obtained with partially sulfonated polystyrene. The hydrophobic association of the backbone chains and phenyl groups is balanced by the electrostatic repulsion of the sulfonate groups on the particle surface. The size distribution of the sulfonated polystyrene particles in relation to concentration, degree of sulfonation and chain length, and pH was characterized by dynamic laser light-scattering. The structure and morphology of the particles were characterized with fluorescence and atom force microscopy. Highly sulfonated polystyrene particles can form large complex particles with positively charged protein, apo cytochrome c. Dynamic laser light-scattering and atom force microscopy studies show that the size and distribution of the complex particles depend on the relative amount of apo cytochrome c and sulfonated polystyrene. When sulfonated polystyrene is in excess, apo cytochrome c interacts with sulfonated polystyrene particles forming stable complexes and excessive sulfonated polystyrene particles bind to the periphery of the complexes preventing them from further aggregation. When apo cytochrome c is in excess, apo cytochrome c links the complexes forming much larger particles. Fluorescence study demonstrates that the hydrophobicity/hydrophility of the complex particles is relative to the ratio of apo cytochrome c and sulfonated polystyrene, degree of sulfonation, and pH. Apo cytochrome c not only can neutralize the negative charges on the surface of sulfonated polystyrene particles, but may also insert into the cores disrupting the original structure of sulfonated polystyrene particles.     

Proteo-dendrimers designed for complementary recognition of cytochrome c: dendrimer architecture toward nanoscale protein complexation

"Proteo-dendrimers" in which polyanionic hepta(glutamic acids), fluorescent zinc porphyrinate cores, hydrophilic polyether surfaces, and nonpeptide hydrophobic dendrons are combined, were developed as a new series of synthetic receptors for protein recognition. They have polyanionic "patch" structures on their surfaces and undergo complementary electrostatic interactions with a positively charged cytochrome c patch, as observed in biological protein-protein recognition systems. Stability constants of the resulting supramolecular complexes were determined in phosphate buffer (pH 7) by monitoring the fluorescence quenching of the zinc porphyrinates. These proteo-dendrimer receptors exhibited higher affinities with cytochrome c proteins in aqueous solutions than with biological cytochrome b5. Furthermore, they effectively blocked complexation of biological cytochrome b5 with cytochrome c, indicating that the proteo-dendrimers and cytochrome b5 similarly occupy the polycationic patch of cytochrome c.     

Linderstrom-Lang-Schellman's model for protein stabilization revisited

The fact that cleavage of single peptide linkages in proteins often leads to extensive conformational alteration, including regions far removed from the cleavage site is not fully understood. We propose, based on the work of Linderstrom-Lang and Schellman, that disruption primarily occurs within protein structural domains that are stabilized by cooperative interactions and that cleavage of single peptide linkages of the domain perturbs the entire cooperative interaction. For this model we review experimental observations: on fragment complexation (ribonuclease A, staphylococcal nuclease and cytochrome c), destabilized N-terminal large fragments (ribonuclease A and nuclease), cooperative folding and stabilization of proteins (ribonuclease A, nuclease and cytochrome c), the close relationship of the three-dimensional structure between fragment complexes and the original protein (ribonuclease A and nuclease), ligand induced stabilization (nuclease), 3D domain swapping, circular permutation (dihydrofolate reductase), evolutionary conservation (cytochrome c fold). Based on analysis of these observations, we conclude that the cooperative interactions of domains are important for the mechanism of 3D domain swapping as well as for stabilization and thereby, determination of the ground state of native proteins. Furthermore, analysis of the observations reveals that domains generally contain a hydrophobic core. Further, based on studies of cytochrome c and the Tsao, Evans and Wennerstrom model of electrostatic interactions between two hydrophobic monolayers, we propose the model that the hydrophobic core of a domain is polarizable and responds to the surface charges through its polarizability to stabilize the domain, explaining in part the nature of the cooperative interactions.     

Surface modifiers for the promotion of direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c

Fifty-four bifunctional organic compounds were studied to assess their ability to promote the direct electrochemistry of horse heart cytochrome c at a modified gold electrode. From the results of the survey it was possible to identify those features important for successful promotion of the electrochemical activity. It is suggested that it is necessary to provide groups on the electrode surface which can hydrogen bond or form salt bridges to the positively charged lysine side chain groups around the heme crevice on cytochrome c. The functional groups, Y, may be anionic or weakly basic and can be attached to the electrode using a bifunctional compound X ～ Y. The group, X, adsorbs or binds to the gold surface through nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulphur. A “pre-activation” step for the adsorption of some surface modifiers has been discovered. The molecular structure of a compound which promotes cytochrome c electrochemistry can be either conformationally rigid or flexible, aromatic or aliphatic, but it should direct Y out from the electrode. The length of the molecule does not appear to affect the rate of electron transfer. The presence of a hydrophobic zone in the structure is neither necessary nor sufficient for successful promotion of cytochrome c electrochemistry.     

Recognition of solvent exposed protein surfaces using anthracene derived receptors

A new class of receptor is described that can selectively bind to the solvent exposed surface of proteins such as cytochrome c and lysozyme with low micromolar affinity over cytochrome c551, alpha-lactalbumin, myoglobin and RNase A, under physiologically relevant conditions (5 mM phosphate, pH 7.4). The use of anthracene as a hydrophobic scaffold allows the receptor to act as a selective chemosensor via fluorescence quenching or FRET. The study reveals that co-operative electrostatic interactions over a large surface area dominate binding. Further investigations reveal that the receptor binds to the solvent exposed heme edge of cytochrome c inhibiting its reaction with small reducing agents and validating the strategy for the disruption of protein function.     

Thermodynamic studies of partitioning behavior of cytochrome c in ionic liquid-based aqueous two-phase system

The ionic liquid/aqueous two-phase extraction systems (ATPSs) based on imidazolium ionic liquids were used to extract cytochrome c. Effects of the alkyl chain length of the ionic liquid cations, concentration of potassium citrate, temperature and pH on the extraction efficiency have been investigated. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG(T)°, ΔH(T)° and ΔS(T)°) associated with Cyt-c partitioning in aqueous two phase systems were determined. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the partitioning of Cyt-c was driven by both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions in the extraction process. Under the optimum conditions, experiment results showed that 94% of the cytochrome c could be extracted into the ionic liquid-rich phase in a one-step extraction. The structural characterization of Cyt-c in the IL ATPS was investigated by UV-vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectra. The results demonstrated that no direct bonding interaction observed between ionic liquid and cytochrome c, while the native properties of the cytochrome c were not altered. Compared with traditional liquid-liquid extractions based on toxic organic solvents, ionic liquid/aqueous two phase extraction offers clear advantages due to no use of volatile organic solvent and low consumption of imidazolium ionic liquids.     

Dehydration in the folding of reduced cytochrome c revealed by the electron-transfer-triggered folding under high pressure

We determined the activation volume associated with protein folding of reduced cytochrome c from the collapsed intermediate to the native state. The folding rate was followed by a change in the absorption (420 nm) at various pressures between 0.1 and 200 MPa and at various concentrations of denaturant (guanidine hydrochloride) between 3.2 and 4.0 M. Dependence of the folding rate on both these factors revealed that the activation volume at ambient pressure in the absence of denaturant is negative (DeltaVf0 = -14 (+/-8) cm3.mol-1). Such a negative activation volume can be accounted for by a decrease in volume resulting from the dehydration of hydrophobic groups, primarily the heme group. Dehydration, which increases the entropy of the protein system, compensates for a decrease in the entropy accompanying the formation of the more compact and ordered transition state. We, therefore, propose that the positive change in the activation entropy for the folding reaction is due to the dehydration of hydrophobic groups. Furthermore, dehydration entropically promotes the protein folding reaction.     

Methodology for the immobilization of enzymes onto mesoporous materials

Cytochrome c and xylanase were adsorbed onto two mesoporous materials, SBA-15 (a pure silicate) and MSE (an organosilicate), with very similar physical properties but differing chemical compositions. A methodical order was developed whereby the influences of surface area, pore size, extent of order, particle size, surface potentials, isoelectric points, pH, and ionic strength on immobilization were explored. In silico studies of cytochrome c and xylanase were conducted before any immobilization experiments were carried out in order to select compatible materials and probe the interactions between the adsorbents and the mesoporous silicates. The stabilities of the mesoporous materials at different pH values and their isoelectric points and zeta potentials were determined. Electrostatic attraction dominated protein interactions with SBA-15, while weaker hydrophobic interactions are more prominent with MSE for both cytochrome c and xylanase. The ability of the immobilized protein/enzyme to withstand leaching was measured, and activity tests and thermostability experiments were conducted. Cytochrome c immobilized onto SBA-15 showed resistance to leaching and an enhanced activity compared to free protein. The immobilized cytochrome c was shown to have higher intrinsic activity but lower thermostability than free cytochrome c. From an extensive characterization of the surface properties of the silicates and proteins, we describe a systematic methodology for the adsorption of proteins onto mesoporous silicates. This approach can be utilized in the design of a solid support for any protein.     

Interaction of zinc tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine with cytochrome C in water and Triton-X 100 micelles

The interaction of a zinc tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine with cytochrome c was studied using steady-state spectroscopic techniques and time-correlated single photon counting in water and Triton-X 100 micelles. The dye forms dimers in water with a high equilibrium constant (70 x 10(6) M(-1)). Because of a specific electrostatic interaction, the presence of cytochrome c does not lead to a dissociation of this dimer, but increases its formation, with an equilibrium constant of about 7.9 x 10(9) M(-1). Triton-X 100 micelles dissociate the dimer, creating two populations of dye molecules: one in a hydrophilic media, probably on the surface of the micelles, another on a hydrophobic environment, probably inside the micelles. However, when cytochrome c is added the dye aggregation is again induced leading to a strong fluorescence quenching. This fluorescence quenching may also be caused by a photoinduced electron-transfer due to the formation of a 1:1 complex between the dye and the protein, but the present work does not give direct evidence of such an effect because the fluorescence decays did not show the presence of an extra component. The results presented here are quite different from those reported for aluminum sulfonated phthalocyanines, where aggregation does not occur and the fluorescence quenching is solely due to photoinduced electron-transfer reactions.     

Electrochemical control of protein monolayers at indium tin oxide surfaces for the reagentless optical biosensing of nitric oxide

Cytochrome c has been immobilized onto functionalized, optically transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes by covalent and electrostatic techniques. Covalent immobilization was achieved by the formation of a disulfide bond between N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate-(SPDP-) modified cytochrome c and SPDP-silanized ITO. Additionally, ITO electrodes have been modified with the bifunctional reagent 1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic acid (DDCA), resulting in formation of a carboxylic acid-terminated monolayer. Covalent protein attachment to the DDCA-functionalized ITO was achieved with the cross-linker 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride. Electrostatic attachment of the protein involved ion-pair and hydrogen-bond interactions between the terminating carboxylic acid groups of the DDCA-functionalized ITO and the primary amine groups of the lysine residues of cytochrome c. The electrostatic interaction between the cytochrome c and the functionalized ITO resulted in greater rotational mobility of the protein at the electrode surface, leading to ca. 63% electroactivity, as compared to ca. 41% electroactivity for the covalently immobilized protein. The redox state of the electrostatically bound cytochrome c monolayers could be electrochemically switched between ferric and ferrous forms. Electrochemical control of the bound protein was used to regenerate the biosensing surface following binding of nitric oxide (NO). Ligation of NO with the cytochrome c was monitored by measurement of the change of absorbance intensity at 416 nm. Through application of a negative potential, the cytochrome c was reduced from the ferric to the ferrous form, which led to the removal of the ligated NO. Application of a positive potential regenerated the ferric cytochrome c, enabling multiple repeat measurements of NO. Such electrochemical control of proteins immobilized on transparent electrodes enables the optical biosensing of analyte targets without recourse to exogenous reagents.     

Buildup of polyelectrolyte-protein multilayer assemblies on gold electrodes. Role of the hydrophobic effect

The buildup of layer-by-layer assemblies onto gold surfaces from water-soluble charged polyelectrolytes and proteins is examined using quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM) and electrochemical techniques. Polyelectrolytes such as poly(styrenesulfonate) and poly(ester sulfonic acid) (Eastman AQ-29D polymer) adsorb spontaneously onto gold, contrary to poly(ethyleneimine). From the modification of the gold surface with a thiol and specific adsorption of polymers under polarization conditions, it is concluded that the hydrophobicity of the gold surface seems to be a determining factor in the adsorption process. Alternate adsorption onto gold resonators first coated with AQ-29D polymer gives stable multilayer films in the case of positively charged lysozyme (pI = 11) or polyheme Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough cytochrome c3 (pI = 10.5). QCM frequency changes with the number of adsorption steps suggest that a linear increase in film mass occurs. Desulfomicrobium norvegicum polyheme cytochrome c3 (pI = 7), which has a null global charge at neutral pH, is shown to give also stable multilayer AQ-29D/cytochrome c3 films, suggesting that several types of interactions, especially the hydrophobic effect, are involved in the buildup process.     

自组装膜上细胞色素c的电化学石英晶体微天平实时表征和定量检测

采用电化学石英晶体微天平(EQCM)实时表征和定量检测细胞色素c(Cytc).在压电石英晶振表面上自组装巯基十一酸(MUA)单层膜,以盐酸1-乙基-3-(3-二甲基氨基丙基)碳二亚胺(EDC)和N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺(NHS)活化羧基,将Cytc共价固化到电极表面.EQCM实时监测了MUA的自组装和Cytc的固化过程,测定了二者在电极表面的覆盖度和Cytc的固化量.结果表明,Cytc在0.03～3.00μmol/L浓度范围内呈线性变化,检测限可达到1.19×10^-9mol/L.     

Low‐Temperature EPR and Mössbauer Spectroscopy of Two Cytochromes with His–Met Axial Coordination Exhibiting HALS Signals

C-type cytochromes with histidine-methionine (His-Met) iron coordination play important roles in electron-transfer reactions and in enzymes. Low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of low-spin ferric cytochromes c can be divided into two groups, depending on the spread of g values: the normal rhombic ones with small g anisotropy and g(max) below 3.2, and those featuring large g anisotropy with g(max) between 3.3 and 3.8, also denoted as highly axial low spin (HALS) species. Herein we present the detailed magnetic properties of cytochrome c(553) from Bacillus pasteurii (g(max) 3.36) and cytochrome c(552) from Nitrosomonas europaea (g(max) 3.34) over the pH range 6.2 to 8.2. Besides being structurally very similar, cytochrome c(553) shows the presence of a minor rhombic species at pH 6.2 (6 %), whereas cytochrome c(552) has about 25 % rhombic species over pH 7.5. The detailed M?ssbauer analysis of cytochrome c(552) confirms the presence of these two low-spin ferric species (HALS and rhombic) together with an 8 % ferrous form with parameters comparable to the horse cytochrome c. Both EPR and M?ssbauer data of axial cytochromes c with His-Met iron coordination are consistent with an electronic (d(xy))(2) (d(xz))(2) (d(yz))(1) ground state, which is typical for Type I model hemes.     

Metalloprotein association,self-association,and dynamics governed by hydrophobic interactions: simultaneous occurrence of gated and true electron-transfer reactions between cytochrome f and cytochrome c(6) from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Noninvasive reconstitution of the heme in cytochrome c(6) with zinc(II) ions allowed us to study the photoinduced electron-transfer reaction (3)Zncyt c(6) + cyt f(III) --> Zncyt c(6)(+) + cyt f(II) between physiological partners cytochrome c(6) and cytochrome f, both from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The reaction kinetics was analyzed in terms of protein docking and electron transfer. In contrast to various protein pairs studied before, both the unimolecular and the bimolecular reactions of this oxidative quenching take place at all ionic strengths from 2.5 through 700 mM. The respective intracomplex rate constants are k(uni) (1.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(4) s(-1) for persistent and k(bi) (9 +/- 4) x 10(2) s(-1) for the transient protein complex. The former reaction seems to be true electron transfer, and the latter seems to be electron transfer gated by a structural rearrangement. Remarkably, these reactions occur simultaneously, and both rate constants are invariant with ionic strength. The association constant K(a) for zinc cytochrome c(6) and cytochrome f(III) remains (5 +/- 3) x 10(5) M(-1) in the ionic strength range from 700 to 10 mM and then rises slightly to (7 +/- 2) x 10(6) M(-1), as ionic strength is lowered to 2.5 mM. Evidently, docking of these proteins from C. reinhardtii is due to hydrophobic interaction, slightly augmented by weak electrostatic attraction. Kinetics, chromatography, and cross-linking consistently show that cytochrome f self-dimerizes at ionic strengths of 200 mM and higher. Cytochrome f(III) quenches triplet state (3)Zncyt c(6), but its dimer does not. Formation of this unreactive dimer is an important step in the mechanism of electron transfer. Not only association between the reacting proteins, but also their self-association, should be considered when analyzing reaction mechanisms.     

Analysis of peptides and proteins affinity-bound to iron oxide nanoparticles by MALDI MS

Iron oxide nanoparticles modified with oleate have been employed for the extraction of peptides and proteins from aqueous solution before matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometric (MS) analysis. Adsorption of peptides and proteins onto the nanoparticles were mainly through electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction. The analyte-adsorbed iron oxide nanoparticles could be efficiently collected from solution using a magnet. No elution step was needed. With this preconcentration strategy, the lowest detectable concentration of angiotensin I, insulin, and myoglobin in 500 microL of aqueous solution were 0.1 nM, 0.1 nM, and 10.0 nM, respectively. In addition, the nanoparticles could extract the analytes from solution with a high content of salt and surfactant, thus eliminating suppression effect during MALDI MS analysis. This method was successfully applied to concentrate the tryptic digest products of cytochrome c. In addition, the tryptic digestion of cytochrome c can be directly conducted on the iron oxide nanoparticles.     

Striking Improvement in Peroxidase Activity of Cytochrome c by Modulating Hydrophobicity of Surface‐Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles within Cationic Reverse Micelles

This work demonstrates a remarkable enhancement in the peroxidase activity of mitochondrial membrane protein cytochrome c (cyt c) by perturbing its tertiary structure in the presence of surface‐functionalised gold nanoparticles (GNPs) within cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) reverse micelles. The loss in the tertiary structure of cyt c exposes its heme moiety (which is buried inside in the native globular form), which provides greater substrate (pyrogallol and H₂O₂) accessibility to the reactive heme residue. The surfactant shell of the CTAB reverse micelle in the presence of co‐surfactant (n‐hexanol) exerted higher crowding effects on the interfacially bound cyt c than similar anionic systems. The congested interface led to protein unfolding, which resulted in a 56‐fold higher peroxidase activity of cyt c than that in water. Further perturbation in the protein’s structure was achieved by doping amphiphile‐capped GNPs with varying hydrophobicities in the water pool of the reverse micelles. The hydrophobic moiety on the surface of the GNPs was directed towards the interfacial region, which induced major steric strain at the interface. Consequently, interaction of the protein with the hydrophobic domain of the amphiphile further disrupted its tertiary structure, which led to better opening up of the heme residue and, thereby, superior activity of the cyt c. The cyt c activity in the reverse micelles proportionately enhanced with an increase in the hydrophobicity of the GNP‐capping amphiphiles. A rigid cholesterol moiety as the hydrophobic end group of the GNP strikingly improved the cyt c activity by up to 200‐fold relative to that found in aqueous buffer. Fluorescence studies with both a tryptophan residue (Trp59) of the native protein and the sodium salt of fluorescein delineated the crucial role of the hydrophobicity of the GNP‐capping amphiphiles in improving the peroxidase activity of cyt c by unfolding its tertiary structure within the reverse micelles.     

Structural study of AOT reverse micelles containing native or modified proteins: influence of surfactant-enzyme interaction

In this paper, the solubilization effect of different proteins in sodium di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles is studied. From results obtained with chemically modified proteins, it is shown that the nature of the surfactant-protein interaction controls the intermicellar potential, not the location of the proteins within the droplets. By binding hydrophobic molecules onto the surface of -chymotrypsin and ribonuclease, we force these hydrophobic enzymes to interact, via hydrophobic forces, with the droplet's interface. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and conductivity measurements suggest that modification of the intermicellar potential is not required when the enzymes are modified. Conversely, electrostatic forces play an important role, as is observed using cytochrome c and its derivatives differing in their superficial charge.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic analysis of chromophoric lipids inducing pH-dependent liposome fusion

We design novel chromophoric amphiphiles 6a-c, which lead to pH-dependent membrane fusion of egg phosphatidylcholine (eggPC) liposome containing them. Lipids 6a-c comprise double alkyl chains, a single chain with a 2-nitrophenol group as a pH trigger, and dipeptide (Asp-Asp) between them. The pKa values of 2-nitrophenol groups of 6a-c in liposome are larger than that of hydrophilic compound 9 in an aqueous solution. Absorption spectra indicate that the fields around 2-nitrophenol of 6a-c situated in liposome membranes are more hydrophobic than that of 9 in an aqueous solution, whereas the environments around deprotonated 2-nitrophenolate of 6b and 6c are not so hydrophobic as that of 6a. This means that protonated 2-nitrophenol groups of 6a-c are embedded in bilayer membranes. Deprotonated 2-nitrophenol groups of 6b and 6c must be located in less hydrophobic circumstances, while that of 6a is still embedded in bilayer membranes because of its larger hydrophobicity. Absorption spectra and (1)H NMR spectra respectively suggest that protonated 2-nitrophenol groups of 6a and those of 6c might take face-to-face associations in bilayer membranes.