Calorimetric indication of the molten globule-like state of cytochrome c induced by n-alkyl sulfates at low concentrations

The molten globule state has been proposed as a major intermediate of protein folding. However it has proven difficult to obtain thermodynamic data characterizing this state. To explore an alternative approach for characterization of the molten globule state, n-alkyl sulfates induced formation of the molten globule state of horse cytochrome c at pH 2 was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Titration of the acid unfolded state of cytochrome c with sodium octyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate or sodium tetradecyl sulfate, generated an exothermic reaction for formation of the molten globule state. The effects of various n-alkyl sulfates on the acid unfolded state of cytochrome c demonstrated that the increased alkyl chain length enhanced the exothermic values of calorimetric enthalpy and induced a more compact molten globule states. The heat contents agreed well with the conformational transition measured by molar ellipticity at 222 nm ([θ]₂₂₂) and Stoke radius (Rs) values. These results emphasize that isothermal titration calorimetry provides a reasonable alternative method for characterization of the molten globule state.     

Thermodynamic analysis of partially folded states of myoglobin in presence of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

The thermal denaturation of myoglobin was studied in the presence of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) at various pH values using differential scanning calorimetry and UV–visible spectroscopy. The most obvious effect of TFE was lowering the transition temperature up to 1.5 mol · kg⁻¹, beyond which no thermal transitions were observed. The protein conformation was analysed by fluorescence and circular dichroism measurements. Quantitative binding of ANS to the TFE induced molten globule state of myoglobin was studied by using isothermal titration calorimetry. The results enable quantitative estimation of the binding strength of ANS with the molten globule state of myoglobin along with the enthalpic and entropic contributions to the binding process. The results suggest occurrence of common structural features of the molten globule states of proteins offering two types of binding sites to ANS molecules which are a widely used fluorescence probe to characterise partially folded states of proteins.     

2,2,2-trifluoroethanol-induced molten globule state of concanavalin a and energetics of 8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate binding: calorimetric and spectroscopic investigation

The interaction of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) with concanavalin A has been investigated by using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence spectroscopy at pH 2.5 and 5.2. All of the calorimetric transitions at both the pH values were found to be irreversible. In the presence of 4 mol kg(-1) TFE at pH 2.5, concanavalin A is observed to be in a partially folded state with significant loss of native tertiary structure. The loss of specific side chain interactions in the transition from native to the TFE-induced partially folded state is demonstrated by the loss of cooperative thermal transition and reduction of the CD bands in the aromatic region. Acrylamide quenching, 8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate (ANS) binding, and energy transfer also suggest that in the presence of 4 mol kg(-1) TFE at pH 2.5 concanavalin A is in a molten globule state. ITC has been used for the first time to characterize the energetics of ANS binding to the molten globule state. ITC results indicate that the binding of ANS to the molten globule state and acid-induced state at pH 2.5 displays heterogeneity with two classes of non-interacting binding sites. The results provide insights into the role of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions in the binding of ANS to concanavalin A. The results also demonstrate that ITC can be used to characterize the partially folded states of the protein both qualitatively and quantitatively.     

Differential scanning calorimetric study of the molten globule state of cytochrome c induced by sodium n-dodecyl sulfate

The molten globule (MG) state, a compact denatured state with a significantly native-like secondary structure but a largely flexible and disordered tertiary structure, has been proposed to be a major intermediate of protein folding. To explore another approach for characterizing the MG state, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) induced formation of the MG state of horse cytochrome c at pH 2 was studied by circular dichroism, visible spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). These techniques confirmed that the addition of SDS to acid-unfolded state of cytochrome c induced the MG state. Although, the DSC thermal denaturation of cytochrome c was always calorimetrically irreversible, the MG state induced by SDS at low concentrations showed a reversible profile. The spectroscopic properties demonstrated that the hydrophobic tail of SDS utilized the hydrophobic contribution to stabilizing the heme conformation at MG state in cytochrome c. This would be the main reason of thermal profile reversibility of MG state in cytochrome c. The reversibility of DSC thermogram would allow its deconvolution and analysis of the energetic domains for this protein.     

Identification of Folding Intermediates of Streblin,The Most Stable Serine Protease: Biophysical Analysis

Streblin, a serine proteinase from plant Streblus asper, has been used to investigate the conformational changes induced by pH, temperature, and chaotropes. The near/far UV circular dichroism activities under fluorescence emission spectroscopy and 8-aniline-1-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) binding have been carried out to understand the unfolding of the protein in the presence of denaturants. Spectroscopic studies reveal that streblin belongs to the α+β class of proteins and exhibits stability towards chemical denaturants, guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl). The pH-induced transition of this protein is noncooperative for transition phases between pH 0.5 and 2.5 (midpoint, 1.5) and pH 2.5 and 10.0 (midpoint, 6.5). At pH 1.0 or lower, the protein unfolds to form acid-unfolded state, and for pH 7.5 and above, protein turns into an alkaline denatured state characterized by the absence of ANS binding. At pH 2.0 (1 M GuHCl), streblin exists in a partially unfolded state with characteristics of a molten globule state. The protein is found to exhibit strong and predominant ANS binding. In total, six different intermediate states has been identified to show protein folding pathways.     

Biophysical analysis of partially folded state of α-lactalbumin in the presence of cationic and anionic surfactants

The role of different types of interactions and their contribution in the stabilization of bovine α-lactalbumin (α-LA) molten globule in presence of cationic surfactant, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAB) and anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) have been examined using a combination of spectroscopic, light scattering and calorimetric techniques. The results correlated well with each other and were used to characterize the partially folded states of the protein both qualitatively and quantitatively. At lower concentration of the surfactants, the thermodynamic parameters obtained from UV-visible spectroscopy suggested an increased exposure of non-polar groups in HTAB while a possible restructuring of non-polar groups were indicated in SDS. The fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy showed the formation of an intermediate state at various concentrations of HTAB and SDS while the lifetime measurements supported the assumption of protein-surfactant complex stability in HTAB as compared to SDS. The hydrodynamic diameter and the ζ-potential were analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) which also implicated the combined influence of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions in protein unfolding in HTAB and only hydrophobic interactions in SDS. The binding parameters for ANS obtained from isothermal titration calorimetric (ITC) measurements suggested a high stability of α-LA molten globule and the role of enthalpic and entropic contribution in the binding of ANS in HTAB. It also indicated the fragility of α-LA molten globule in SDS. The possible binding sites as well as the interactions of ANS with the partially folded protein were also studied from the thermodynamic parameters obtained from the ITC.     

An electrospray ionization mass spectrometry investigation of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene-sulfonate (ANS) binding to proteins

The binding of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene-sulfonic acid (ANS) to various globular proteins at acidic pH has been investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Maximal ANS binding is observed in the pH range 3-5. As many as seven species of dye-bound complexes are detected for myoglobin. Similar studies were carried out with cytochrome c, carbonic anhydrase, triosephosphate isomerase, lysozyme, alpha-lactalbumin, and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). Strong ANS binding was observed wherever molten globule states were postulated in solution. ANS binding is not observed for lysozyme and BPTI, which have tightly folded structures in the native form. Alpha-lactalbumin, which is structurally related to lysozyme but forms a molten globule at acidic pH, exhibited ANS binding. Reduction of disulfide bonds in these proteins leads to the detection of ANS binding even at neutral pH. Binding was suppressed at very low pH (<2.5), presumably due to neutralization of the charge on the sulfonate moiety. The distribution of the relative intensities of the protein bound ANS species varies with the charge state, suggesting heterogeneity of gas phase conformations. The binding strength of these complexes was qualitatively estimated by dissociating them using enhanced nozzle skimmer potentials. The skimmer voltages also affected the lower and higher charge states of these complexes in a different manner.     

Cytochrome c–dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol interactions studied by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

Lipid membranes are well recognized ligands that bind peripheral and integral proteins in a specific manner and regulate their function. Cytochrome c (cyt c) is one of the partner peripheral protein that binds to the lipid membranes via electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. In this study, asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) was used to compare the interactions of cyt c with the acidic phospholipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-glycerol (DMPG), oleic acid (OA), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The influence of pH and the cyt c–lipid molar mass ratios were evaluated by monitoring the diffusion coefficients and particle diameter distributions obtained for the free and lipid-bound protein. The hydrodynamic particle diameter of cyt c (pI 10) was 4.1 nm at pH 11.4 and around 4.2 nm at pH 7.0 and 8.0. Standard molar mass marker proteins were used for calibration to obtain the molar masses of free cyt c and its complexes with lipids. AsFlFFF revealed the binding of cyt c to DMPG and to OA to be mainly electrostatic. In the absence of electrostatic interactions, minor complex formation occurred, possibly due to the extended lipid anchorage involving the hydrophobic cavity of cyt c and the hydrocarbon chains of DMPG or SDS. The possibility of the formation of the molten globule state of cyt c, induced by the interaction between cyt c and lipids, is discussed.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

A fluorescence turn-on method for real-time monitoring of protease activity based on the electron transfer between a fluorophore labeled oligonucleotide and cytochrome c

A new continuous fluorescence turn-on assay for protease activity and inhibitor screening has been developed. A fluorophore labeled single stranded DNA (FAM-DNA) and cytochrome c (cyt c) were employed. The fluorescence of the FAM-DNA was efficiently quenched when binding to cyt c, through the electron transfer between the FAM fluorophore and the heme cofactor of cyt c. In the presence of a protease, such as trypsin, cyt c was digested into small peptide fragments. The FAM-DNA was released, which resulted in the recovery of the FAM fluorescence. The rate of the cyt c digestion could be reduced via the addition of an inhibitor. As a result, reduced degree of the fluorescence recovery was obtained. The limit of detection of our assay is 1 nM trypsin and the IC₅₀ values are 3.23 μg mL⁻¹ and 0.303 μg mL⁻¹ for the inhibitor from egg white and the inhibitor from soybean, respectively. Our method could be used for the sensing of protease activity for various biochemical applications, and for the screening of protease inhibitors as drugs for the treatment of various related diseases.     

Reaction of ferricytochrome c with the iron nitrosyl complex {Fe2[S(CH2)2NH3]2(NO)4}SO4 • 2.5H2O

By an example of cysteamine iron nitrosyl complex {Fe₂[S(CH₂)₂NH₃]₂(NO)₄}SO₄ ? 2.5H₂O (CAC) it was shown for the first time that the NO donor hydrolysis in the presence of ferricytochrome c (cyt c³⁺) affords the iron nitrosyl complex NO—cyt c³⁺. It was found that cyt c³⁺ can serve as a depot for NO evolved during the hydrolysis of CAC. In the presence of CAC, the rate of NO—cyt c³⁺ complex decomposition to NO and cyt c³⁺ depends on the molar ratio [cyt c³⁺]: [CAC] and at [cyt c³⁺]: [CAC] = 0.3 it was found to be lower than that in decomposition of CAC in the absence of cyt c³⁺. As a result, the total NO evolving process becomes 5.6 times more prolonged. The number of NO groups evolved from CAC can be determined by the reaction of CAC with cyt c³⁺ in the presence of ferricyanide: at most one NO group is evolved to a solution in the spontaneous hydrolysis of CAC (pH 7.0), and no less than three of them are evolved from oxidized CAC.     

Direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c on a phosphonic acid terminated self-assembled monolayers

The direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c (cyt c) on a gold electrode modified with 3-mercaptopropylphosphonic acid [HS-(CH₂)₃-PO₃H₂, MPPA] self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) was for the first time investigated. Electrochemical measurements and surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopic reveal that the adsorption kinetics of cyt c on the MPPA-SAMs is very fast (saturation adsorption is completed within 5 s) and the immobilized cyt c molecules retain their native secondary protein structure. The nature of interaction between cyt c and -PO₃H₂ groups is mainly the electrostatic interaction. The direct electrochemistry of the immobilized cyt c on the -PO₃H₂ terminated SAMs with short chain is nearly reversible. Its formal potential (E⁰′ = 18 ± 3 mV vs. SCE) is very close to that of cyt c in an aqueous solution (E⁰′ = 18-22 mV vs. SCE). In addition, the electron transfer rate of cyt c immobilized on -PO₃H₂ terminated SAMs is relatively slow as compared to -SO₃H and -COOH terminated SAMs, indicating excess negative charge density on the SAMs surface will decrease the electron transfer rate of cyt c.     

Evaluating physical properties of molten salt reactor fluoride mixtures

In the last years, interest in the use of high-temperature molten fluoride salts as fluid fuels and coolants in nuclear power systems has been increasing. The comprehensive information on the properties of molten fuel and coolant salts is necessary for development of new designs. Experimental data on physical properties of some prospective molten salt mixtures of Li, Na, Be, Zr fluorides containing fertile and fissile materials as well as soluble fission products are unknown. At the first stage of the conceptual development estimation of the required properties from the known experimental data can be useful for selection of suitable molten salt compositions. In this paper the approaches for estimation of the physicochemical properties such as density (ρ), dynamic viscosity (η), isobaric heat capacity (c_p), and thermal conductivity (λ) for molten salt fluoride mixtures are proposed. The calculation algorithm was based on the additivity principle for the properties (P_x) of multi-component molten salt mixtures, which can be found from the relationship P_x = ΣN_iP_i. Here N_i and P_i denote mole fraction and corresponding property of individual molten salts or their binary mixtures as constituents of the more complex systems. The empirical expressions connecting the property with molar volume and molecular mass of selected fluoride compositions are also derived and tested. Estimated values are compared with each other and available experimental data.     

Light-induced hydrogen production by photosystem I–Pt nanoparticle conjugates immobilized in porous glass plate nanopores

In recent years, a number of light-induced hydrogen production systems composed of photosystem I (PSI) and hydrogen production catalysts (e.g. hydrogenases and Pt nanoparticles) have been reported. However, the utility of these systems under aerobic conditions is limited due to their poor stability in the presence of oxygen. The development of light-induced hydrogen production systems that work under aerobic conditions is, therefore, of great importance to establish artificial photosynthetic devices. Ideally, these systems should utilise water as an electron source, via water splitting by photosystem II (PSII). We report the construction of a novel light-induced hydrogen production system composed of PSI-platinum nanoparticle conjugates and cytochrome c ₆ (cyt c ₆) immobilised in nanoporous glass plates (PGP50, 50-nm pore diameter). PSI trimer (PSI_t) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus and Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) were conjugated via electrostatic interactions (PSI_t-PtNP). PSI_t-PtNP and cyt c ₆ were spontaneously absorbed in nanopores of PGP50 without denaturation. Upon irradiation in the presence of ascorbate as a sacrificial electron donor, catalytic H₂ evolution was observed for PSI_t-PtNP immobilised in the pores of PGP50 (PSI_t-PtNP/PGP50) under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions, indicating that an effective photoinduced electron transfer system had been established. PSI_t-PtNP/PGP50 was found to exhibit improved oxygen resistivity over the homogeneous solution system consisting of PSI_t-PtNP, cyt c ₆, and ascorbate, suggesting that the PSI_t-PtNP/PGP50 system could be a potential candidate for artificial photosynthetic systems. The distribution of the components, PSI_t-PtNP and cyt c ₆, in PGP50 was characterised to discuss the efficiency of light-induced hydrogen production.     

Synthesis and binding properties of carboxylphenyl-modified calix[4]arenes and cytochrome c

Two novel carboxylphenyl-modified calix[4]arenes, tetrakis-carboxylphenylcalix[4]arene (TCPC) and 1,3-bis-carboxylphenylcalix[4]arene (BCPC), as well as a corresponding analogue for comparison, tetrakis-phenylcalix[4]arene (TPC), have been synthesized by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of arylboronic acid and tetrabromocalix[4]arene as a key step. The binding properties of these calix[4]arene derivatives with bovine heart cytochrome c (cyt c) in dimethylformamide (DMF) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding affinity in the order of TCPC > BCPC ? TPC reflects a clear dependence on the number of carboxyl ligating groups attached onto a receptor and suggests the electrostatic force may be the predominant factor driving the complexing process. The stable 1:1 complexes of TCPC and BCPC with cyt c were evidenced with the binding constants of 3.15 × 10⁶ and 5.85 × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹, respectively. Due to a large overlap between the emission spectrum of TCPC and the absorption spectrum of cyt c, and a short interaction distance (estimated to be 5.6 nm) between them, the fluorescence quenching of TCPC upon complexation with cyt c is attributed to an efficient energy transfer.     

Superoxide sensor based on cytochrome c immobilized on mixed-thiol SAM with a new calibration method

Cytochrome c was immobilized on a mixed-thiol (mercaptoundecanoic acid/mercaptoundecanol) modified gold electrode (MUA:MU/cyt c electrode). Characterization of the cyt c electrode showed a quasi-reversible, electrochemical redox behavior with a formal potential of −13±5 mV (versus Ag/AgCl) for the surface adsorbed protein and 3±5 mV for covalently immobilized cyt c. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants were determined to be about 70 and 40 s⁻¹ for both states of the protein, respectively. They were found to be significantly higher than those of pure MUA-modified cyt c electrodes (MUA/cyt c electrodes). The interaction of superoxide radicals (O₂⁻) with the (MUA:MU)/cyt c electrode was characterized and used for an amperometric O₂⁻ detection. The influence of H₂O₂ and uric acid on the sensor signal was investigated. The sensitivity of the (MUA:MU)/cyt c electrode to O₂⁻ was significantly improved compared with that of the MUA/cyt c electrode. Based on a kinetic model for the superoxide detection system, a new calibration method was established. This simple and fast method used the spontaneous dismutation of KO₂ and was compared with the enzymatic superoxide generation system using xanthine oxidase.     

Electroanalytical properties of cytochrome c by direct electrochemistry on multi-walled carbon nanotubes incorporated with DNA biocomposite film

A novel conductive biocomposite film (MWCNTs–DNA–cyt c) which contains multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) along with the incorporation of DNA and cytochrome c (cyt c) has been synthesized on glassy carbon electrode (GCE), gold (Au), indium tin oxide (ITO) and screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) by potentiostatic methods. The presence of both MWCNTs and DNA in the biocomposite film enhances the surface coverage concentration (Γ), increases the electron transfer rate constant (K_s) up to 21% and decreases the degradation of cyt c during the cycling. The biocomposite film also exhibits a promising enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of halogen oxyanions and oxidation of biochemical compounds such as ascorbic acid and l-cysteine. The cyclic voltammetry has been used for the measurement of electroanalytical properties of analytes by means of biocomposite film modified GCEs. The sensitivity of MWCNTs–DNA–cyt c modified GCE possess higher values than the values obtained for DNA–cyt c film modified GCE. Further, the reduction potentials of halogen oxyanions E_pc, clearly shows that the activity of the biocomposite is dependent on the electronegativity of halogen oxyanions. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance studies revealed the enhancements in the functional properties of MWCNTs, DNA and cyt c. We have studied the surface morphology of the biocomposite films using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, which revealed that DNA and cyt c have been incorporated on MWCNTs. Finally, the flow injection analysis has been used for the amperometric detection of analytes at MWCNTs–DNA–cyt c film modified SPCE.     

Immune recognition of cytochrome c I. — Molecular requirements for antibody recognition and immune response stimulation studied in vitro with synthetic peptides

The epitope specificity of antibodies to horse cytochrome c (cyt.c) in the primary and secondary immune response of C57BL mice was studied by means of the ELISA technique with synthetic peptides of cyt.c. It was found that, in the early primary response, N- and C-end fragments of cyt.c (peptides 2–13, 14–22 and 92–104) were preferentially recognized. In the secondary response, more antibodies to the epitopes of the central part of the molecule (peptides 61–69 and 46–56) were found. This was presumed to be due to the mode of cyt.c processing and presentation in the course of immune response: at first, cyt.c was recognized in the native form and then in the processed one. The capacity of cyt.c peptides to stimulate the formation of cyt.c-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASC) was studied in splenocyte culture of C57BL mice. Peptides stimulated more ASC than cyt.c did, but larger molar doses of peptides were required. Comparison of the capacity of related peptides (1–13 and 2–13, 61–69, 61–77 and 57–77) to be recognized by antibodies produced to native cyt.cin vivo and to stimulate anti-cyt.c ASC in vitro suggested certain molecular requirements for cyt.c epitope and agretope formation. These were partially confirmed by computer analysis.     

Characterization of the Cytochrome c Membrane‐Binding Site Using Cardiolipin‐Containing Bicelles with NMR

Cytochrome (cyt) c transports electrons from Complex III to Complex IV in mitochondria. Cyt c is ordinarily anchored to the mitochondrial membrane through interaction with cardiolipin (CL), however its release into the cytosol initiates apoptosis. The cyt c interaction site with CL‐containing bicelles was characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Chemical shift perturbations in cyt c signals upon interaction with bicelles revealed that a relatively wide region, which includes the A‐site, the CXXCH motif, and the N‐ and C‐terminal helices, and contains multiple Lys residues, interacts cooperatively with CL. The specific cyt c–CL interaction increased with increasing CL molecules in the bicelles. The location of the cyt c interaction site for CL was similar to those for Complex III and Complex IV, thus indicating that cyt c recognizes lipids and partner proteins in a similar way. In addition to elucidating the cyt c membrane‐binding site, these results provide insight into the dynamic aspect of cyt c interactions in mitochondria.