Photophysics of Hypericin and Hypocrellin A in Complex with Subcellular Components: Interactions with Human Serum Albumin

Time-resolved fluorescence and absorption measurements are performed on hypericin complexed with human serum albumin, HSA (1:4, 1:1 and approximately 5:1 hypericin: HSA complexes). Detailed comparisons with hypocrellin A/HSA complexes (1:4 and 1:1) are made. Our results are consistent with the conclusions of previous studies indicating that hypericin binds to HSA by means of a specific hydrogen-bonded interaction between its carbonyl oxygen and the N1-H of the tryptophan residue in the IIA subdomain of HSA. (They also indicate that some hypericin binds nonspecifically to the surface of the protein.) A single-exponential rotational diffusion time of 31 ns is measured for hypericin bound to HSA, indicating that it is very rigidly held. Energy transfer from the tryptophan residue of HSA to hypericin is very efficient and is characterized by a critical distance of 94 A, from which we estimate a time constant for energy transfer of approximately 3 x 10(-15) s. Although it is tightly bound to HSA, hypericin is still capable of executing excited-state intramolecular proton (or hydrogen atom) transfer in the approximately 5:1 complex, albeit to a lesser extent than when it is free in solution. It appears that the proton transfer process is completely impeded in the 1:1 complex. The implications of these results for hypericin (and hypocrellin A) are discussed in terms of the mechanism of intramolecular excited-state proton transfer, the mode of binding to HSA and the light-induced antiviral and antitumor activity.     

Reaction of serum albumin with dimethyl sulfoxide according to PMR spectra of frozen aqueous solutions

The reaction of human serum albumin (HSA) with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was studied by the PMR method according to the intensity of the proton signal of non-freezable water in the temperature range of 230–273°K. It was shown that the concentration of DMSO in the non-frozen liquid phase is much higher than should be expected for the simple eutectic. This is attributable to the binding of N molecules of DMSO with a molecule of HSA (at 270°K, N = 7–10). It was found that in the presence of DMSO, the amount of non-freezable water markedly increased, which is possibly due to a reaction between DMSO and proton-active centers of the protein through the intermediate water molecules.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Ékperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 104–108, January–February, 1989.     

Saturation transfer double-difference NMR spectroscopy using a dual solenoid microcoil difference probe

An experiment designed to collect a saturation transfer double difference (STDD) NMR spectrum using a solenoid microcoil NMR difference probe is reported. STDD-NMR allows the investigation of ligand-biomolecule binding, with moderate concentration requirements for unlabeled molecular targets and the ability to discern binding events in the presence of non-binding ligands. The NMR difference probe acquires the signals from two different samples at once, and cancels common signals automatically through a mechanism of switching between parallel excitation and serial acquisition of the sample signals. STDD spectra were acquired on a system consisting of human serum albumin and two ligands, octanoic acid and glucose. The non-binding ligand, glucose, was cancelled internally through phase cycling, while the protein signal was subtracted automatically by the difference probe. The proton NMR resonance signal from octanoic acid remained in the double difference spectrum. This work demonstrates that the double difference can be performed both internally and automatically through the utilization of the solenoid microcoil NMR difference probe and STDD-NMR pulse sequence, resulting in a clean signal from the binding ligand with good protein background subtraction and an overall favorable result when compared to the conventional approach.     

Spectrophotometric determination of urinary protein with o-sulfophenylfluorone-metal complex.

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of human serum albumin (HSA) was established based on the ternary complex-formation reaction of HSA with o-sulfophenylfluorone (SPF) as a xanthene dye and metal ion (niobium(V) and bismuth(III)) in the presence of a dispersion agent. This new method enabled the determination of HSA in the range of 1 - 15 microg/ml HSA by measuring the difference of the absorbance at 530 nm between HSA-SPF-metal ion and SPF-metal ion solutions. In the determination of HSA, this method is about 2-times more sensitive than the Pyrogallol Red-molybdenum(VI) method (PR method), which accounts for more than 80% of the quantification methods for urinary protein assays in Japan. There was no significant difference between the results obtained by the present method and the PR method for human urine samples. The binding process between the SPF-metal complex and HSA was studied by determining the binding parameters and the thermodynamic parameters.     

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.     

Study of interaction of proton transfer probe 1-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde with serum albumins: a spectroscopic study

In the present work, we have studied the interaction of proton transfer probe 1-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde (HN12) with Human Serum Albumin (HSA) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) by steady state absorption and emission spectroscopy combined with time resolved fluorescence measurements. The measured binding constant (K) and free energy change (DeltaG) indicate a stronger affinity of HN12 molecule for HSA than BSA. Steady state anisotropy, excitation anisotropy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies indicate that the probe molecule resides at the hydrophobic site of the protein environment.     

Binding of brucine to human serum albumin

The feature of brucine binding to human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated via fluorescence and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. The results revealed that brucine caused the fluorescence quenching of HSA by the formation of brucine–HSA complex. The hydrophobic interaction plays a major role in stabilizing the complex; the binding site number n and apparent binding constant K_A, corresponding thermodynamic parameters the free energy change (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) at different temperatures were calculated. The distance r between donor (HSA) and acceptor (brucine) was obtained according to fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The effect of brucine on the conformation of HSA was analyzed using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy.     

Molecular recognition and screening using a 15N group selective STD NMR method

We present a novel saturation transfer difference (STD) experiment where group selective (GS) saturation of amide protons in (15)N labeled hosts is achieved. It is demonstrated that a train of BIRD(d) pulses that inverts only protons attached to (15)N indeed results in saturation of the amide protons, while the background proton magnetization is much less affected. The undesired effect of partial saturation of the unlabeled protons can be completely cancelled out in difference spectra by switching the (15)N carrier between the on- and the off-resonance frequencies. As a result, clean and artifact-free STD spectra are obtained without the need of time-consuming optimization of experimental parameters and acquiring control spectra in the absence of the host. The use of the (15)N-GS STD experiment is demonstrated for the case of a glycopeptide antibiotic (dimeric eremomycin)-cell-wall analogue peptide (N-Ac-D-Ala) model system where the host and guest (1)H signals overlap. The application seems feasible for ligand screening against proteins without the prerequisite of a clean on-resonance frequency or defined ligand library. The new experiment can be used as the basis for studying intermolecular interactions where the standard STD experiment is difficult to optimize.     

Competition STD NMR for the detection of high-affinity ligands and NMR-based screening

The reported competition STD NMR method combines saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR with competition binding experiments to allow the detection of high-affinity ligands that undergo slow chemical exchange on the NMR time-scale. With this technique, the presence of a competing high-affinity ligand in the compound mixture can be detected by the disappearance or reduction of the STD signals of a low-affinity indicator ligand. This is demonstrated on a BACE1 (beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1) protein-inhibitor system. This method can also be used to derive an approximate value, or a lower limit, for the dissociation constant of the potential ligand based on the reduction of the signal intensity of the STD indicator, which is illustrated on an HSA (human serum albumin) model system. This leads to important applications of the competition STD NMR method for lead discovery: it can be used (i) for compound library screening against a broad range of drug targets to identify both high- and low-affinity ligands and (ii) to rank order analogs rapidly and derive structure-activity relationships, which are used to optimize these NMR hits into viable drug leads.     

Analysis of nucleotides binding to chromatography supports provided by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The epitope mapping of nucleotides bound to three chromatography supports is accomplished using saturation transfer difference (STD)-NMR spectroscopy. This experiment involves subtracting a spectrum in which the support was selectively saturated from one recorded without support saturation. In the difference spectrum only the signals of the ligands that bind to the support and received saturation transfer remain. The nucleotide protons in closer contact with the support have more intense signals due to a more efficient transfer of saturation. We investigate the effects on the binding to the nucleotides by the introduction of a spacer arm between l-histidine and Sepharose. Our NMR experiments evidence a clear contribution of the spacer to the interaction with all the nucleotides, increasing the mobility of the amino acid and giving different STD responses. This enhanced mobility originates the reinforcement of the interactions with the sugar moiety and phosphate group of 5'-CMP and 5'-TMP or the base of 5'-GMP and 5'-UMP. Hence, with this study we show that by using STD NMR technique on chromatographic systems it is possible to provide a fast, robust and efficient way of screening the atoms involved in the binding to the supports.     

罗布麻活性成分与人血清白蛋白结合的光谱学研究

应用荧光和紫外光谱研究了人血清白蛋白与罗布麻活性成分槲皮素(QUE)、芸香苷(RUT)和儿茶素(CAT)的结合机理. 在QUE与蛋白质浓度比小于3.5时, 其荧光猝灭机理主要是静态猝灭, 在药物浓度较高时动态猝灭所占的比例增加; RUT在整个实验浓度范围内对蛋白质的荧光猝灭机理为静态猝灭; CAT与蛋白质之间不能形成复合物, 其荧光猝灭主要由动态猝灭产生. QUE和RUT分别与蛋白质形成1∶1的复合物, 结合常数分别为(1.51±0.13)×10⁵和(0.81±0.08)×10⁵ L•mol^－1. 由于激发态质子转移, 与蛋白质的相互作用引起QUE和RUT内源荧光发射峰强度的明显增加, 进一步证实了它们与蛋白质的结合. 与蛋白质的结合也引起了QUE紫外吸收带的明显红移, 说明药物分子中的酚羟基发生了解离, 以离子形式与蛋白质发生作用. RUT的紫外吸收谱带没有明显移动, 说明它主要以中性状态与蛋白质结合. 应用与蛋白质作用后药物分子紫外吸收光谱的二阶导数谱, 对药物与蛋白质的结合模式进行了深入探讨.     

高效亲和色谱法测定2种中药成分与人血清白蛋白的结合率

采用高效亲和色谱技术(HPAC)对中药成分与人血清白蛋白(HSA)的相互作用进行了研究。首先采用点击化学的方法制备了表面键合有HSA蛋白的硅胶固定相并装填成亲和色谱柱,根据药物在该色谱柱上与空白硅胶柱上的保留时间差计算得到药物与蛋白的结合率。利用该方法测得模型化合物华法令与HSA的结合率与文献中采用超滤法测得的结果基本一致,表明该方法可用于测定药物与HSA的结合率。在此基础上用该方法测定了葛根素和告依春两种中药成分与HSA的相对结合率分别为10.26%和10.20%。同时用超滤的方法测定了葛根素与HSA的结合率为14.25%。结果表明,HPAC可以作为研究药物与蛋白相互作用的一种简便可行的方法,其测定结果与超滤方法一致。     

13C‐NMR detection of STD spectra

We have investigated the use of ¹³C for the detection of saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR spectra. By detecting the STD spectrum in the ¹³C channel it is possible to eliminate the residual water signal in the STD‐NMR spectrum. We have employed an INEPT transfer in order to shift the magnetization from the proton channel to ¹³C. As a sample system to check our method we have used human serum albumin and phenylalanine. We have shown that such a transfer can be accomplished and gives reasonable signal intensities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Epitope mapping and competitive binding of HSA drug site II ligands by NMR diffusion measurements

It is important to characterize drug-albumin binding during drug discovery and lead optimization as strong binding may reduce bioavailability and/or increase the drug's in vivo half-life. Despite knowing about the location of human serum albumin (HSA) drug binding sites and the residues important for binding, less is understood about the binding dynamics between exogenous drugs and endogenous fatty acids. In contrast to highly specific antibody-antigen interactions, the conformational flexibility of albumin allows the protein to adopt multiple conformations of approximately equal energy in order to accommodate a variety of ligands. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) diffusion measurements are a simple way to quantitatively describe ligand-protein interactions without prior knowledge of the number of binding sites or the binding stoichiometry. This method can also provide information about ligand orientation at the binding site due to buildup of exchange-transferred NOE (trNOE) on the diffusion time scale of the experiment. The results of NMR diffusion and NOE experiments reveal multiple binding interactions of HSA with dansylglycine, a drug site II probe, and caprylate, a medium-chain fatty acid that also has primary affinity for HSA's drug site II. Interligand NOE (ilNOE) detected in the diffusion analysis of a protein solution containing both ligands provides insight into the conformations adopted by these ligands while bound in common HSA binding pockets. The results demonstrate the ability of NMR diffusion experiments to identify ternary complex formation and show the potential of this method for characterizing other biologically important ternary structures, such as enzyme-cofactor-inhibitor complexes.     

Structural Basis of Artemisinin Binding Sites in Serum Albumin with the Combined Use of NMR and Docking Calculations

Artemisinin is known to bind to the main plasma protein carrier serum albumin (SA); however, there are no atomic level structural data regarding its binding mode with serum albumin. Herein, we employed a combined strategy of saturation transfer difference (STD), transfer nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (TR-NOESY), STD–total correlation spectroscopy (STD-TOCSY), and Interligand Noes for PHArmacophore Mapping (INPHARMA) NMR methods and molecular docking calculations to investigate the structural basis of the interaction of artemisinin with human and bovine serum albumin (HSA/BSA). A significant number of inter-ligand NOEs between artemisinin and the drugs warfarin and ibuprofen as well as docking calculations were interpreted in terms of competitive binding modes of artemisinin in the warfarin (FA7) and ibuprofen (FA4) binding sites. STD NMR experiments demonstrate that artemisinin is the main analyte for the interaction of the A. annua extract with BSA. The combined strategy of NMR and docking calculations of the present work could be of general interest in the identification of the molecular basis of the interactions of natural products with their receptors even within a complex crude extract.     

Affinity capillary electrophoresis and fluorescence spectroscopy for studying enantioselective interactions between omeprazole enantiomer and human serum albumin

Baseline separation of omeprazole (OME) enantiomers was achieved by affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE), using human serum albumin (HSA) as the chiral selector. The influence of several experimental variables such as HSA concentration, the type and content of organic modifiers, applied voltage and running buffer concentration on the separation was evaluated. The binding of esomeprazole (S‐omeprazole, S‐OME) and its R‐enantiomer (R‐omeprazole, R‐OME) to HSA under simulated physiological conditions was studied by ACE and fluorescence spectroscopy which was considered as a reference method. ACE studies demonstrated that the binding constants of the two enantiomers and HSA were 3.18 × 10³ M⁻¹ and 5.36 × 10³ M⁻¹, respectively. The binding properties including the fluorescence quenching mechanisms, binding constants, binding sites and the number of binding sites were obtained by fluorescence spectroscopy. Though the ACE method could not get enough data when compared with the fluorescence spectrum method, the separation and binding studies of chiral drugs could be achieved simultaneously via this method. This study is of great significance for the investigation and clinical application of chiral drugs.     

Equilibrium saturation chromatographic method for studying the binding of ligands to human serum albumin by high-performance liquid chromatography. Influence of fatty acids and sodium dodecyl sulphate on warfarin-human serum albumin binding

A size exclusion chromatographic method for studying ligand-macromolecule binding parameters is described. This equilibrium saturation method allows the determination of the concentrations of constituents in equilibrium and is specially useful for characterizing ligand--protein binding under conditions that can be compared with physiological conditions. The method has been used for measuring warfarin--human serum albumin (HSA) binding and for studying the influence of free fatty acids (FFA) and sodium dodecyl sulphate on warfarin--HSA binding. Some comparisons with the Hummel and Dreyer method are given. The influence of the FFA is strongly dependent on their chain length, with an inversion of the effect for a 10-carbon chain.     

Sensitivity enhancement in saturation transfer difference (STD) experiments through optimized excitation schemes

Investigation of ligand-protein interactions by the saturation transfer difference (STD) experiment has been well established in the drug discovery process through numerous examples. Thus, binding epitopes may be mapped by comparing signals of the ligand with and without saturation of the protein. Herein, it is shown that a less selective process allows more protons to assist in the saturation of the protein, thereby considerably enhancing the sensitivity of the STD experiment. Increasing the saturation power entails a greater risk of perturbing the ligand; however, an amplitude modulation of the waveform assists this procedure by distributing the applied energy in sidebands.     

Fractionation of human plasma proteins by hydrophobic interaction membrane chromatography

This paper discusses the fractionation of human plasma proteins HSA and HIgG by hydrophobic interaction membrane chromatography. A type of microporous polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF) membrane having 0.1 μm pore size was identified as being suitable for carrying out this separation. This membrane bound HIgG at 1.5 M ammonium sulphate concentration, a condition at which HSA did not. Based on this selective binding resulting from the selective pressure induced by the high anti-chaotropic salt concentration, these human plasma proteins were fractionated. The HIgG binding capacity of the PVDF membrane examined in this study was 42.8 mg/ml at a feed concentration of 0.45 mg/ml. Separation of simulated HSA/HIgG mixtures were carried out in the pulse and step input modes and the HSA and HIgG fractions thus obtained were analysed for purity using affinity chromatography and SDS-PAGE. HSA and HIgG purities were typically in excess of 97–98%.     

Binding of human serum albumin to N-(p-ethoxy-phenyl)-N'-(1-naphthyl)thiourea and synchronous fluorescence determination of human serum albumin.

The binding of N-(p-ethoxy-phenyl)-N'-(1-naphthyl)thiourea (EPNT) to human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated under simulative physiological conditions by fluorescence spectra in combination with UV absorption spectroscopy and a molecular modeling method. A strong fluorescence quenching reaction of EPNT to HSA was observed, and the quenching mechanism was suggested to be static quenching according to the Stern-Volmer equation. The binding constants (K) at different temperatures as well as thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change (DeltaH) and entropy change (DeltaS), were calculated according to relevant fluorescent data and the vant' Hoff equation. This indicated that a hydrophobic interaction was a predominant intermolecular force for stabilizing the complex, which is in agreement with the results of molecule modeling study. The effects of energy transfer and other ions on the binding constant were considered. In addition, synchronous fluorescence technology was successfully applied to the determination of HSA added into the EPNT solution.