Spectroscopic studies on the interaction between riboflavin and albumins

The interactions between riboflavin (RF) and human and bovine serum albumin (HSA and BSA) were studied by using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic methods. Intrinsic fluorescence emission spectra of serum albumin in the presence of RF show that the endogenous photosensitizer acts as a quencher. The decrease of fluorescence intensity at about 350 nm is attributed to changes in the environment of the protein fluorophores caused by the ligand. The quenching mechanisms of albumins by RF were discussed. The binding constants and binding site number were obtained at various temperatures. The distance between albumins and RF in the complexes suggests that the primary binding site for RF is close to tryptophan residue (Trp214) of HSA and Trp212 of BSA. The hydration process of albumins has also been discussed.     

Spectral and fluorescent study of the noncovalent interaction of a meso-substituted cyanine dye with serum albumins

A comparative study of the noncovalent interaction of the cyanine dye probe 3,3′-di-(γ-sulfopropyl)-4,5,4′,5′-dibenzo-9-ethylthiacarbocyanine betaine with serum albumins of different vertebrates: rat, rabbit, bovine, and human serum albumins (RSA, TSA, BSA, and HSA, respectively) has been performed by spectral and fluorescent methods. It has been shown that, the dye forms only one product, the trans-monomer bound to HSA, by interacting with HSA, whereas other binding products are also formed with other albumins. This is probably explained by a higher interaction energy of the dye with HSA than with other serum albumins.     

Protein binding of quinolonecarboxylic acids. II. Spectral changes on the interaction of cinoxacin, nalidixic acid and pipemidic acid with human and rat albumins

The interaction of cinoxacin (CINX), nalidixic acid (NA), and pipemidic acid (PPA) with human and rat serum albumins (HSA and RSA) was studied by UV difference absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. CINX and NA bound to the albumins and generated difference absorption and induced CD (ICD) spectra. The difference absorption spectral data explained reasonably our previous observations that CINX bound to HSA more weakly than NA, but to RSA as strongly as NA. We used a quantity delta epsilon/epsilon, designated as relative molar difference absorbance, at positions corresponding to the longest wavelength peaks in the difference spectra. The quantity was found to correlate linearly with percent bound to both HSA and RSA, but with different slopes, from which the binding site for CINX and NA in RSA was supposed to provide a much more nonpolar environment than that in HSA. The magnitude of ICD bands observed at 371 nm for CINX and at 342-348 nm for NA corresponded to the binding degrees of these drugs to both albumins. Anisotropy factors for the ICD bands at 350-271 nm for CINX and 320-348 nm for NA were approximately similar between HSA and RSA, suggesting a similar ability to generate the ICD spectra in these wavelength regions upon binding to the albumins. Spectral results for PPA in albumin solutions showed little or no binding of this drug to HSA and RSA. PPA existed as a betaine form in neutral solution and its positively charged group acted as an unfavorable factor for binding to both albumins.     

Spectroscopic and molecular modeling evidence of clozapine binding to human serum albumin at subdomain IIA

Various spectroscopy and molecular docking methods were used to examine the binding of Clozapine (CLZ) to human serum albumin (HSA) in this paper. By monitoring the intrinsic fluorescence of single Trp214 residue and performing Dansylamide (DNSA) displacement measurement, the specific binding of CLZ in the vicinity of Sudlow's Site I of HSA has been clarified. An apparent distance of 27.3 ? between the Trp214 and CLZ was obtained via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) method. In addition, the changes in the secondary structure of HSA after its complexation with CLZ ligand were studied with CD spectroscopy, which indicate that CLZ does not has remarkable effect on the structure of the protein. Moreover, thermal denaturation experiment shows that the HSA-CLZ complexes are conformationally more stable. Finally, the binding details between CLZ and HSA were further confirmed by molecular docking studies, which revealed that CLZ was bound at subdomain IIA through multiple interactions, such as hydrophobic effect, van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding.     

Complexation of serum albumins and triton X-100: Quenching of tryptophan fluorescence and analysis of the rotational diffusion of complexes

The polarized and nonpolarized fluorescence of bovine serum albumin and human serum albumin in Triton X-100 solutions is studied at different pH values. Analysis of the constants of fluorescence quenching for BSA and HSA after adding Triton X-100 and the hydrodynamic radii of BSA/HSA–detergent complexes show that the most effective complexation between both serum albumins and Triton X-100 occurs at pH 5.0, which lies near the isoelectric points of the proteins. Complexation between albumin and Triton X-100 affects the fluorescence of the Trp-214 residing in the hydrophobic pockets of both BSA and HSA.     

Structure and properties of licochalcone A-human serum albumin complexes in solution: a spectroscopic, photophysical and computational approach to understand drug-protein interaction

In the present contribution we address the study of the interaction of a flavonoid-derivative licochalcone A (LA) with human serum albumin (HSA). The application of circular dichroism, UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence and laser flash photolysis combined with molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical calculations of rotational strength afforded a clear picture of the modes of association of the LA neutral molecule to HSA, evidencing specific interactions with protein amino acids and their photophysical consequences. The drug is primarily associated in subdomain IIA where a strong interaction with Trp214 is established. At least two different positions of LA with respect to tryptophan are possible, one with the phenolic ring of the drug facing the aromatic ring of Trp214 and the other with the methoxyphenolic ring of LA in proximity to Trp214. In both cases LA is at ca. 4 angstroms from Trp214. This vicinity does not affect much the S1 singlet state deactivation of the bound drug, which exhibits a slightly higher fluorescence quantum yield and fluorescence lifetime on the order of that of the free molecule. The LA triplet lifetime appears to be somewhat shortened in this site. The secondary binding site is in subdomain IIIA. Here, the carbonyl group of LA experiences a strong H-bond with the OH-phenolic substituent of Tyr411. This interaction reduces substantially the LA molecular degrees of freedom, thereby determining a decrease of both radiative and nonradiative rate constants for decay of the singlet. The overall rigidity of the structure causes a lengthening of the triplet lifetime.     

Transient absorption spectroscopy for determining multiple site occupancy in drug-protein conjugates. A comparison between human and bovine serum albumins using flurbiprofen methyl ester as a probe

Laser flash photolysis (LFP) has been used to determine the degree of binding of (S)- or (R)-flurbiprofen methyl ester (FBPMe) to human and bovine serum albumins (HSA and BSA, respectively). Regression analysis of the triplet decay of the drug (lambda = 360 nm) in the presence of the proteins led to a satisfactory fitting when considering a set of three lifetimes; the corresponding Afree, AI and AII preexponential coefficients can be correlated with the presence of FBPMe in the bulk solution and within the two known binding sites. The most remarkable differences between HSA and BSA were found under nonsaturating conditions; thus, when the [FBPMe]/[SA] ratio was 1:1, all the drug was bound to HSA, whereas 20-30% of it remained free in the bulk solution in the presence of BSA. The LFP approach was also applicable to the study of more complex FBPMe/HSA/BSA mixtures; the obtained results were in good agreement with the previous findings in FBPMe/HSA and FBPMe/BSA systems. This suggests the possibility of making use of the transient triplet-triplet absorption for investigating the distribution of a drug between several compartments in different host biomolecules.     

Determination of the carbonyl groups in native lignin utilizing Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

A near-infrared Fourier transform Raman (NIR-FTR) spectroscopic technique was utilized to determine the chemical structure of lignin in a woody matrix. In the NIR-FTR spectra of coniferaldehyde and coniferyl alcohol, the Raman bands for the carbonyl group and the alpha, beta unsaturated bond were detected at 1620 and 1660 cm(-1), respectively. These peaks were also found in the NIR-FTR spectra of chemically synthesized lignins, isolated lignin from conifer wood, and conifer wood meal. Upon the reduction of carbonyl groups in the lignin samples and wood meal, the band at 1620 cm(-1) disappeared; on the other hand, the band at 1660 cm(-1) remained unchanged. However, upon the oxidation of reduced lignin at the benzyl hydroxyl group using dicyanodichrolobenzoquinone, the band at 1620 cm(-1) clearly appeared, strongly suggesting that the band at 1620 cm(-1) can be assigned as a carbonyl marker band. The hydrogenation reaction optimized for the reduction of the unsaturated bond in lignin caused the disappearance of the band at 1660 cm(-1), indicating that the band at 1660 cm(-1) is an alpha, beta unsaturated bond marker band. The change in carbonyl content during the wood decay process was also shown to be monitored using the Raman intensity of the carbonyl marker band. It was indicated that the NIR-FTR spectroscopic techniques were suitable analytical method for a rapid and nondestructive analysis of wood samples.     

盐酸拓扑替康与人血清白蛋白的相互作用及分子模拟

用荧光光谱法、分光光度法研究了盐酸拓扑替康(topotecan hydrochloride, 简记为THC)与人血清白蛋白(human serum albumins, HSA)的相互结合反应. 计算了反应的结合常数、结合位点数和热力学常数. 盐酸拓扑替康在人血清白蛋白上的结合位置与色氨酸残基间的距离为3.63 nm. 分子模型研究表明, 盐酸拓扑替康与人血清白蛋白的亚结构域IIA结合, 二者间的作用力主要为疏水作用, 此外, 蛋白质的丙氨酸(Ala-291)残基和天冬氨酸(Asp-256)残基与盐酸拓扑替康之间还存在氢键作用力.     

Investigating the interaction of juglone (5-hydroxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone) with serum albumins using spectroscopic and in silico methods

The interaction between juglone at the concentration range of 10–110 µM and bovine serum albumin (BSA) or human serum albumin (HSA) at the constant concentration of 11 µM was investigated by fluorescence and UV absorption spectroscopy under physiological-like condition. Performing the experiments at different temperatures showed that the fluorescence intensity of BSA/HSA was decreased in the presence of juglone by a static quenching mechanism due to the formation of the juglone–protein complex. The binding constant for the interaction was in the order of 10³ M^?1, and the number of binding sites for juglone on serum albumins was determined to be equal to one. The thermodynamic parameters including enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS) and Gibb’s free energy (ΔG) changes were obtained by using the van’t Hoff equation. These results indicated that van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding were the main intermolecular forces stabilizing the complex in a spontaneous association reaction. Moreover, the interaction of BSA/HSA with juglone was verified by UV absorption spectra and molecular docking. The results of synchronous fluorescence, UV–visible and CD spectra demonstrated that the binding of juglone with BSA/HSA induces minimum conformational changes in the structure of albumins. The increased binding affinity of juglone to albumin observed in the presence of site markers (digoxin and ibuprofen) excludes IIA and IIIA sites as the binding site of juglone. This is partially in agreement with the results of molecular docking studies which suggests sub-domain IA of albumin as the binding site.     

Probing three-dimensional structure of bovine serum albumin by chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry

Serum albumin is the principal transporter of fatty acids that are otherwise insoluble in circulating plasma. While the crystal structure of human serum albumin (HSA) as well as its binding with fatty acids has been characterized, the three dimensional structure of bovine serum albumin (BSA) has not been determined although both albumins share 76% sequence homology. In this study we used mass spectrometry coupled with chemical cross-linking, to probe the tertiary structure of BSA. BSA was modified with lysine specific cross-linkers, bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate (BS(3)), disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) or disuccinimidyl glutarate (DSG), digested with trypsin and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. With O-18 labeling during the digestion, through-space cross-linked peptides were readily identified in mass spectra by a characteristic 8 Da shift. From the cross-linked peptides identified in this study, we found that 12 pairs of lysine residues were separated within 20 A, while 5 pairs were spaced between 20 and 24 A. The spatial distance constraints generated from five K-K pairs in BSA were consistent with the corresponding distance obtained from the crystal structure of HSA, although only six equivalent K-K pairs could be compared. According to our data, the distance between K235 of IIA and K374 of IIB domain in BSA was farther by 7-11 A than that expected from the crystal structure of HSA, suggesting structural differences between BSA and HSA in this region. The distance constraints obtained for lysine residues using various cross-linkers should be valuable in assisting the determination of the 3-D structure of BSA.     

PHOSPHORESCENCE LIFETIME STUDIES OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SERUM ALBUMINS AND SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE

Binding of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) in aqueous solutions at room temperature induces significant changes in the phosphorescence lifetime of tryptophan (Trp) residues. A steep rise of the phosphorescence lifetime from 1.9 ms to 10.0 ms for BSA and from 1.9 ms to 5.5 ms for HSA is observed when the total SDS concentration increased from 0.0 mM to 0.22 mM at 1 mg/mL protein concentration. As the total SDS concentrationis further inccreased to 2.2 mM, a slower increase in the phosphorescence lifetime is observed, from 10.0 ms to 19.5 ms for BSA and from 5.5 ms to 7.2 ms for HSA. It appears that the phosphorescence lifetime modifications are mainly due to an increase of protein matrix rigidity around Trp residues. The observed differences (between HSA and BSA) allow us to distinguish the contribution of the two Trp residues to the BSA phosphorescence.     

Mimicking protein-protein electron transfer: voltammetry of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin and the Thermus thermophilus Cu(A) domain at omega-derivatized self-assembled-monolayer gold electrodes

Well-defined voltammetric responses of redox proteins with acidic-to-neutral pI values have been obtained on pure alkanethiol as well as on mixed self-assembled-monolayer (SAM) omega-derivatized alkanethiol/gold bead electrodes. Both azurin (P. aeruginosa) (pI = 5.6) and subunit II (Cu(A) domain) of ba(3)-type cytochrome c oxidase (T. thermophilus) (pI = 6.0) exhibit optimal voltammetric responses on 1:1 mixtures of [H(3)C(CH(2))(n)()SH + HO(CH(2))(n)()SH] SAMs. The electron transfer (ET) rate vs distance behavior of azurin and Cu(A) is independent of the omega-derivatized alkanethiol SAM headgroups. Strikingly, only wild-type azurin and mutants containing Trp48 give voltammetric responses: based on modeling, we suggest that electronic coupling with the SAM headgroup (H(3)C- and/or HO-) occurs at the Asn47 side chain carbonyl oxygen and that an Asn47-Cys112 hydrogen bond promotes intramolecular ET to the copper. Inspection of models also indicates that the Cu(A) domain of ba(3)-type cytochrome c oxidase is coupled to the SAM headgroup (H(3)C- and/or HO-) near the main chain carbonyl oxygen of Cys153 and that Phe88 (analogous to Trp143 in subunit II of cytochrome c oxidase from R. sphaeroides) is not involved in the dominant tunneling pathway. Our work suggests that hydrogen bonds from hydroxyl or other proton-donor groups to carbonyl oxygens potentially can facilitate intermolecular ET between physiological redox partners.     

Fluorescence resonance energy-transfer affects the determination of the affinity between ligand and proteins obtained by fluorescence quenching method

The interaction between esculin and serum albumins was investigated to illustrate that the fluorescence resonance energy-transfer (FRET) affects the determination of the binding constants obtained by fluorescence quenching method. The binding constants (K_a) obtained by the double-logarithm curve for esculin–BSA and esculin–HSA were 1.02 × 10⁷ and 2.07 × 10⁴ L/mol, respectively. These results from synchronous fluorescence showed that the Tyr and Trp residues of HSA were affected more deeply than those in BSA. The excitation profile of esculin showed that in the presence of BSA and HSA, the S₀ → S₁ transition of esculin () appears, which is similar to the of BSA and HSA. The critical distance (R₀) between BSA and esculin is higher than that of HSA, which showed that the affinity of esculin and HSA should be higher than that of BSA. After centrifugation, the concentrations of esculin bound to albumins were determined by means of the fluorescence of esculin. It was found that much more esculin was bound to HSA than to BSA. However, the bound models for BSA and HSA are almost the same. The concentration of esculin bound to serum albumin at first decreased with the addition of esculin and then increased. From above results, it can be concluded that the affinity of esculin and HSA should be higher than that of esculin and BSA. This example showed that in the presence of FRET, the binding constants between ligands and proteins based on fluorescence quenching might be deviated.     

Characterization of binding sites for sulfadimethoxine and its major metabolite, N4-acetylsulfadimethoxine, on human and rabbit serum albumin

In order to gain an understanding of protein binding of sulfadimethoxine (SDM) and its major metabolite, N4-acetylsulfadimethoxine (N4-AcSDM), the binding of SDM and N4-AcSDM to human and rabbit serum albumin (HSA and RSA) was investigated using circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence and dialysis techniques. The CD spectral characteristics of the compounds bound to the albumins suggested that the drug-binding sites on the HSA and RSA had somewhat different asymmetries. The binding constants for SDM-HSA and -RSA interaction were smaller than those for N4-AcSDM. Two specific drug-binding sites were found on RSA, similarly to HSA, from the results of competitive displacement using fluorescence probes. Moreover, SDM and N4-AcSDM were found to share the same first binding site on the albumins. It can be presumed from the displacement data with a series of p-aminobenzoates that the characteristics of the binding sites (such as depth and width of the hydrophobic cleft) for SDM and N4-AcSDM on RSA may be almost the same, but the characteristics of these drug-binding sites on HSA may be somewhat different.     

Unusual Binding of a Potential Biomarker with Human Serum Albumin

This study investigates the specific binding of a potential biomarker, [2,2′‐bipyridyl]‐3,3′‐diol (BP(OH)₂), with human serum albumin (HSA). The binding of BP(OH)₂ at the two primary drug‐binding sites on HSA (Sudlow′s sites I and II) is explored by a competitive‐binding study and monitored by considering the green‐light emission from its diketo tautomer. Warfarin is used as a marker for site I and dansyl‐L ‐proline (DP) as a competitor for site II. Steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence measurements affirm that neither of Sudlow′s sites is the binding locus of BP(OH)₂. To gain an idea regarding the probable binding site of BP(OH)₂, we perform molecular‐docking studies, which reveal a close proximity of the probe to Trp‐214 in subdomain IIA of HSA. Confirmation of this contention is achieved by studying the quenching of the fluorescence of Trp‐214 in the presence of BP(OH)₂. Moreover, static quenching seems to be responsible for the depletion of the fluorescence of Trp‐214, as manifested by the invariance of the intrinsic fluorescence lifetime of Trp‐214, as a function of the concentration of BP(OH)₂. Based on displacement and quenching studies, supported by molecular docking, we propose that BP(OH)₂ binds in a cleft that separates subdomains IIIA and IIB, which is in close proximity to Trp‐214.     

Dichroic Probe of the Equilibrium Constant of the Distribution of Bilirubin to Human and Bovine Serum Albumins

Abstract

We describe here a method to evaluate the equilibrium constant of the distribution of a ligand, bilirubin, to two different albumins (human and bovine serum albumins, HSA and BSA) and hence to determine the association constant of the ligand to an albumin (in this case HSA) with the knowledge of the association constant of the ligand to the other albumin (in this case BSA). The circular dichroic (CD) spectra of bilirubin (BR) induced by HSA and BSA are characteristically different. If in a pre-formed BSA-BR complex HSA is added, the negative bisignate CD spectrum of BSA-BR progressively changes sign characteristic to that of HSA-BR (positively bisignate). This change in dichroism has been used to calculate the equilibrium constant K of the process: BSA-BR + HSA = HSA-BR + BSA, the value of K comes to be 1.25. The individual association constant of BSA-BR has been determined fluorimetrically to be 2.7 × 10⁷ M-¹. Since, K of the above process must be the ratio of the individual association constants of HSA-BR and BSA-BR. the association constant of HSA-BR comes to be 3.37 × 107_M^?1      

VISIBLE LIGHT IRRADIATION OF HUMAN AND BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN-BILIRUBIN COMPLEX*

Abstract— The UV absorption and the fluorescence emission spectra of both bovine (BSA) and human (HSA) serum albumin underwent noticeable changes upon irradiation of their 1:1 complexes with bilirubin; both these phenomena are suggestive of the photosensitized modification of aromatic amino acid residues. Amino acid analysis showed that after relatively short irradiation times of both albumins, only histidyl and tryptophyl residues appeared to be affected to a significant extent. After 60min of irradiation, some decrease in the tyrosine content was also observed, especially for HSA.
Conformational studies, obtained by exposing unirradiated and irradiated BSA and HSA to denaturing agents, showed that the three-dimensional organization of the 15 min irradiated samples was slightly different from that of the native proteins. On the other hand, after 15 min of irradiation, the association constant of the bilirubin-albumin complexes decreased from 2.07 to 0.54×10⁸ M ^-1 for HSA and from 2.16 to 0.87×10⁷ M ^-1 for BSA.
These data indicate that the histidyl residues are relatively unimportant for maintaining the native tertiary structure of BSA and HSA, but they are critical for determining the binding capacity of the albumins. Our data also imply that the tertiary structure of the BSA molecule is more labile than that of HSA.     

Determination of association constants between steroid compounds and albumins by partial-filling ACE

ACE is a popular technique for evaluating association constants between drugs and proteins. However, ACE has not previously been applied to study the association between electrically neutral biomolecules and plasma proteins. We studied the affinity between human and bovine serum albumins (HSA and BSA, respectively) and three neutral endogenous steroid hormones (testosterone, epitestosterone and androstenedione) and two synthetic analogues (methyltestosterone and fluoxymesterone) by applying the partial-filling technique in ACE (PF-ACE). From the endocrinological point of view, the distribution of endogenous steroids among plasma components is of great interest. Strong interactions with albumins suppress the biological activity of steroids. Notable differences in the association constants were observed. In the case of the endogenous steroids, the interactions between testosterone and the albumins were strongest, and those between androstenedione and the albumins were substantially weaker. The association constants, K(b), for testosterone, epitestosterone and androstenedione and HSA at 37 degrees C were 32 100 +/- 3600, 21 600 +/- 1500 and 13 300 +/- 1300 M(-1), respectively, while the corresponding values for the steroids and BSA were 18 800 +/- 1500, 14 000 +/- 400 and 7800 +/- 900 M(-1). Methyltestosterone was bound even more strongly than testosterone, while fluoxymesterone was only weakly bound by the albumins. Finally, the steroids were separated by PF-ACE with HSA and BSA used as resolving components.     

Comparative studies on biophysical interactions between 4-dicyanomethylene-2,6-dimethyl-4H-pyran (DDP) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) via photophysical approaches and molecular docking techniques

Photophysical studies of 4-Dicyanomethylene-2,6-Dimethyl-4H-Pyran (DDP) dye with globular proteins, Human Serum Albumin (HSA) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) were carried out in aqueous solution. An isosbestic point resulted on the addition of serum albumins, which signifies a complex or an equilibrium state of DDP dye with albumin. Addition of BSA to DDP dye results in a fluorescence enhancement accompanied with a significant hypsochromic shift, whereas with that of HSA, a fluorescence quenching with a considerable blue shift resulted. Excited state studies of DDP dye with serum albumins portray that the role of binding sites of dye with albumins vary considerably and the nature of interaction is presumably attributed to combined hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Molecular docking studies of DDP dye with albumins and two other derivatives 4-(Dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) dye and 4-(Dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-t-buyl)-4H-pyran (DCT) dyes with BSA and HSA elucidates that the hydrogen-bonding interaction accompanied with several hydrophobic, pi–pi an pi–alkyl interactions coexist between dye and albumins. The binding energy, intermolecular energy and stability of the DDP, DCM and DCT dyes through docking techniques with albumins authenticate that the dye predominantly acts as hydrogen-bonding acceptor site and the protein molecule as the donor. DDP dye prefers to exist in four different binding sites of HSA, whereas, in the case of BSA, the most preferred site is found to be hydrophobic domain (site I). Interestingly, the most preferred site of DCT dye is III A subdomain of HSA, whereas DCM dye is oriented towards I B subdomain. DDP and DCT are smaller in size and reside in the domain preferred for smaller ligands (II A and IIIA) as resulted in several drugs-HSA interaction whereas DCM dye which is categorized as medium to larger ligand based on the extended structure resides in the most favoured site IB. Fluorescence techniques in combination with molecular docking methods elucidate binding characteristics and the domain in which the dye resides in a micro heterogeneous environment is established in this study.