Tryptophan Environment and Functional Characterization of a Kinetically Stable Serine Protease Containing a Polyproline II Fold

The single tryptophan residue from Nocardiopsis sp. serine protease (NprotI) was studied for its microenvironment using steady state and time-resolved fluorescence. The emission maximum was observed at 353 nm with excitation at 295 nm indicating tryptophan to be solvent exposed. Upon denaturation with 6 M guanidinum thiocyanate (GuSCN) the emission maxima was shifted to 360 nm. Solute quenching studies were performed with neutral (acrylamide) and ionic (I^- and Cs⁺) quenchers to probe the exposure and accessibility of tryptophan residue of the protein. Maximum quenching was observed with acrylamide. In the native state, quenching was not observed with Cs⁺ indicating presence of only positively charged environment surrounding tryptophan. However; in denatured protein, quenching was observed with Cs⁺, indicating charge reorientation after denaturation. No quenching was observed with Cs⁺ even at pH 1.0 or 10.0; while at acidic pH, a higher rate of quenching was observed with KI. This indicated presence of more positive charge surrounding tryptophan at acidic pH. In time resolved fluorescence measurements, the fluorescence decay curves could be best fitted to monoexponential pattern with lifetimes of 5.13 ns for NprotI indicating one conformer of the trp. Chemical modification studies with phenyl glyoxal suggested presence of Arg near the active site of the enzyme. No inhibition was seen with soyabean trypsin and limabean inhibitors, while, CanPI uncompetitively inhibited NprotI. Various salts from Hofmeister series were shown to decrease the activity and PPII content of NprotI.     

Steady State and Time-Resolved Fluorescence Studies of a Hemagglutinin from Moringa oleifera

The saccharide binding and conformational characterization of a hemagglutinin, a low molecular weight protein from the seeds of Moringa oleifera was studied using steady state and time resolved fluorescence. The lectin binds sugars LacNAc (K _a = 1380 M⁻¹) and fructose (K _a = 975 M⁻¹), as determined by the fluorescence spectroscopy. It has a single tryptophan per monomer which is exposed on the surface and is in a strong electropositive environment as revealed by quenching with iodide. Quenching of the fluorescence by acrylamide involved both static (K _s = 0.216 M⁻¹) and collisional (K _sv = 8.19 M⁻¹) components. The native protein showed two different lifetimes, τ ₁ (1.6 ns) and τ ₂ (4.36 ns) which decrease and get converted into a single one, (2.21 ns) after quenching with 0.15 M acrylamide. The bimolecular quenching constant, k _q was 7.55 × 10¹¹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. ANS binding studies showed that the native protein has exposed hydrophobic patches which get further exposed at extreme acidic or alkaline pH. However, they get buried in the interior of the protein in presence of 1 M GdnHCl or urea.     

Conformational Transitions in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ariesaema curvatum</Emphasis> Lectin: Characterization of an Acid Induced Active Molten Globule

Biophysical characterization of a lectin from Ariesaema curvatum (ACL) was carried out using steady state as well as time resolved fluorescence and CD spectroscopy under various denaturing conditions. An intermediate with altered tryptophan microenvironment was detected in the phase diagram, which exibited pronounced secondary structure and hemagglutinating activity in presence of 0.25 M Gdn–HCl. An acid induced molten- globule like structure possessing activity and higher thermostability was detected. Transition to the molten globule state was reversible in nature. The lectin retained hemagglutinating activity even after incubation at 95 °C. Both chemical and thermal unfolding of the lectin were found to consist of multistate processes. Fluorescence quenching of ACL was strong with acrylamide and KI. The single tryptophan was found to be surrounded by high density of the positively charged amino acid residues as shown by a ten fold higher K_sv for KI compared to that for CsCl. The average lifetime of tryptophan fluorescence increased from 1.24 ns in the native state to 1.72 ns in the denatured state.     

Fluorescence of a Histidine-Modified Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) Effectively Quenched by Copper(II) Ions

Two histidines were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis into the structure of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein, replacing the serine at position 202 and the glutamine at position 204 for increasing the sensitivity of the protein towards different metal ions by creating possible metal binding sites near the chromophore group. There is no appreciable difference between the absorbance and fluorescence spectra of the two proteins (wild type and the double-histidine mutant) indicating that the mutation does not change the environment of the fluorophore. Fluorescence quenching was measured at different pH (6.5–8) and temperatures (20–45 °C) varying the concentration of metal ions. Under optimal conditions (pH?=?7.5, 20 °C) the mutant’s K_d is 16 nM, it binds copper more than 200fold stronger than the wild type EGFP.     

Interactions between imazethapyr and bovine serum albumin: Spectrofluorimetric study

The interaction between imazethapyr (IMA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The Stern–Volmer quenching constant (K_SV) at three temperatures was evaluated in order to determine the quenching mechanism. The dependence of fluorescence quenching on viscosity was also evaluated for this purpose. The results showed that IMA quenches the fluorescence intensity of BSA through a static quenching process. The values of the binding constant for the formed BSA–IMA complex and the number of binding sites were found to be 1.51×10⁵ M^?1 and 0.77, respectively, at room temperature. Based on the calculated thermodynamic parameters, the forces that dominate the binding process are hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces, and the binding process is spontaneous and exothermic. The quenching of protein fluorescence by iodide ion was used to probe the accessibility of tryptophan residues in BSA and the change in accessibility induced by the presence of IMA. According to the obtained results, the BSA–IMA complex is formed in the site where the Trp-134 is located, causing it to become less exposed to the solvent.     

Relation between proteins tertiary structure, tryptophan fluorescence lifetimes and tryptophan S(o)→(1)L(b) and S(o)→(1)L(a) transitions. Studies on α1-acid glycoprotein and β-lactoglobulin

We measured fluorescence lifetimes and fluorescence spectra (excitation and emission) of tryptophan residues of α₁-acid glycoprotein (three Trp residues) and β-lactoglobulin (two Trp residues) in absence and presence of 450 μM progesterone. Progesterone binds only to α₁-acid glycoprotein. In absence of progesterone, each of the two proteins displays three fluorescence lifetimes. Addition of progesterone induces a partial inhibition of the S _o → ¹ L _a transition without affecting fluorescence lifetimes. The same experiments performed in presence of denatured proteins in 6 M guanidine show that addition of progesterone inhibits partially the S _o → ¹ L _a transition and its peak is 15 nm shifted to the red compared to that obtained for native proteins. However, the S _o → ¹ L _b transition position peak is not affected by protein denaturation. Thus, the tertiary structure of the protein plays an important role by modulating the tryptophan electronic transitions. Fluorescence emission decay recorded in absence and presence of progesterone yields three fluorescence lifetimes whether proteins are denatured or not. Thus, protein tertiary structure is not responsible for the presence of three fluorescence lifetimes. These characterize tryptophan substructures reached at the excited states and which population (pre-exponential values) depend on the tryptophan residues interaction with their microenvironment(s) and thus on the global conformation of the protein.     

Fluorescence spectra of human neuroglobin

The fluorescence quenching spectra of neuroglobin by cesium ion, iodide and acrylamide, synchronous fluorescence spectra, and 8-anilino-1-naphthalene-sulfonic acid binding property were investigated. The intrinsic fluorescence of neuroglobin cannot be effectively quenched by cesium ion, with a Stern–Volmer constant of 0.23?±?0.01. However, it can be significantly quenched by iodide and acrylamide with Stern–Volmer constants of 1.30?±?0.04 and 4.56?±?0.10, respectively. The results of synchronous fluorescence spectra indicate that tryptophan residues are distributed on both the surface and interior of neuroglobin molecule, but most of them are buried in the hydrophobic interior. The neuroglobin molecule has different conformational states in various pH solutions.     

Synthesis of Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters Directed by Bovine Serum Albumin and Application for Nitrite Detection

In the present work, gold nanocluster (GNC) induced by bovine serum albumin (BSA) was synthesized as a novel fluorescence probe to detect nitrite (NO₂ ^?) sensitively and selectively. The fluorescence of GNC was found to be quenched effectively by NO₂ ^?. Under the optimum conditions, it was found that the change of fluorescence intensity was proportional with the concentration of NO₂ ^? in the linear range of 0.1–50 μM (R?=?0.9990), with a detection limit (S/N?=?3) of 30 nM. The absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies were employed to discuss the quenching mechanism. In addition, the present approach was successfully applied in real water samples.     

Steady State and Time Resolved Fluorescence Quenching and Chemical Modification Studies of a Lectin from Endophytic Fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium solani</Emphasis>

The solute quenching studies of a lectin from endophytic fungus Fusarium solani were carried out using different quenchers such as acrylamide, succinimide, potassium iodide and cesium chloride. The lectin showed emission maximum at 348 nm indicating relative exposure of tryptophan. The quenchable fraction of the fluorophore was 100% with acrylamide, whereas it was only 50% with succinimide. The ionic quenchers iodide and cesium showed opposite effects at different pH. In the case of cesium, raising the pH resulted in increased quenching and accessibility of typtophan residue, while the iodide showed just opposite effect. These studies showed that the single tryptophan residue of the lectin (per monomer) is relatively exposed, and might be in the vicinity of positively charged amino acid residues. Various amino acids of the F. solani lectin were modified using different reagents to obtain information about the hemagglutinating site. The chemical modification studies suggested tyrosine residues can be modified using N-acetylimidazole, which results in complete loss of hemagglutination activity of the lectin. Kinetics of chemical modification suggested involvement of only 2 tyrosine residues. Modification of arginine, cysteine, histidine, lysine, aspartate, glutamate and tryptophan did not result in loss of hemagglutinating activity of the lectin.     

Dynamic quenching of the multiband fluorescence of 3-hydroxyflavone

The properties of emission, absorption, and dual fluorescence excitation of 3-hydroxyflavone in acetonitrile are studied under the conditions of dynamic quenching by potassium iodide with concentrations up to 4 × 10^?2 M. The normal and tautomeric forms undergo quenching, which is more efficient for the tautomeric form. An interesting circumstance is that the absorption in the S ₀ → S ₁ and S ₀ → S ₂ singlet bands of the solution increases with increasing quencher concentration in the whole region of concentrations used, the steepest rise being recorded in the concentration region from 0 to 5 × 10^?3 M. The intensities and quantum yields of the two fluorescence bands show rather complicated nonlinear dependences on the quencher concentration. The long-wavelength fluorescence band, which belongs to the tautomeric form of 3-hydroxyflavone, is quenched considerably stronger. The experimental results reveal the kinetic character of the excited-state proton transfer in molecules of 3-hydroxyflavone in acetonitrile.     

Conformational and Functional Transitions in Class II α-mannosidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus fischeri</Emphasis>

The conformational transitions in an oligomeric and high molecular weight class II α-mannosidase from Aspergillus fischeri were examined using fluorescence and CD spectroscopy under chemical, thermal and acid denaturing conditions. The enzyme lost the activity first and then the overall folded conformation and secondary structure. The midpoint values of GdnHCl mediated changes measured by inactivation; fluorescence and negative ellipticity were 0.48 M, 1.5 M and 1.9 M, respectively. The protein almost completely unfolded in 4.0 M GdnHCl but not at 90 °C. The inactivation and unfolding were irreversible. At pH 2.0, the protein exhibited molten-globule like intermediate with rearranged secondary and tertiary structures and exposed hydrophobic amino acids on the surface. This species showed increased accessibility of Trp to the quenchers and got denatured with GdnHCl in a different manner. The insoluble aggregates of a thermally denatured protein could be detected only in the presence of 0.25–0.75 M GdnHCl.     

Interaction between isoamyl adenine and rice cytokinin oxidase

Cytokinin (CTK) dehydrogenase is responsible for regulating the endogenous CTK content by oxidative removal of the side chain. Herein, we have applied fluorescence method to study the interaction between CTK dehydrogenase and CTK in vitro and obtain some parameters of their interaction. We found that addition of isopentenyl adenine can quench the fluorescence of CTK dehydrogenase, and the quenching mechanism was to be a static quenching procedure. We have measured the number of binding sites n and the apparent binding constant K and have calculated the thermodynamics parameter ΔH, ΔG, and ΔS by fluorescence quenching method. Based on thermodynamics parameter’s results, we concluded that their binding reaction was both entropy driven and the enthalpy driven, and the Van der Waals force and hydrogen bond force played a major role in the interaction. Based on the synchronous fluorescence spectrometry results, we demonstrated that the binding site between isopentenyl adenine and CTK dehydrogenase is in the microenvironment of both tryptophan and tyrosine. The fluorescence signal of coenzyme, flavin adenine dinucleotide, decreases gradually with the addition of isopentenyl adenine. And this method can be used for isopentenyl adenine routine assay. Under optimized experimental parameters, the linear segment increases from 0.6 µM to 100 µM with a regression equation of ΔF = 0.04 + 0.15c_ip (r = 0.999, c_ip in µM) with the detection limit of 0.15 µM iP.     

Tryptophan Residue of the D-Galactose/D-Glucose-Binding Protein from <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. Coli</Emphasis> Localized in its Active Center Does not Contribute to the Change in Intrinsic Fluorescence Upon Glucose Binding

Changes of the characteristics of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of the wild type of D-galactose/D-glucose-binding protein from Escherichia coli (GGBPwt) induced by D-glucose binding were examined by the intrinsic UV-fluorescence of proteins, circular dyhroism in the near-UV region, and acrylamide-induced fluorescence quenching. The analysis of the different characteristics of GGBPwt and its mutant form GGBP-W183A together with the analysis of the microenvironment of tryptophan residues of GGBPwt revealed that Trp 183, which is directly involved in sugar binding, has the least influence on the provoked by D-glucose blue shift and increase in the intensity of protein intrinsic fluorescence in comparison with other tryptophan residues of GGBP.     

Effect of H-atom concentration on soot formation in premixed ethylene/air flames

Soot formation is a major challenge in the development of clean and efficient combustion systems based on hydrocarbon fuels. Fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanism leading to soot formation can be obtained by investigating the role of key reactive species such as atomic hydrogen taking part in soot formation pathways. In this study, two-dimensional laser induced incandescence (LII) measurements using λ?=?1064?nm laser have been used to measure soot volume fraction (f_V) in a series of rich ethylene (C₂H₄)/air flames, stabilized over a McKenna burner fitted with a flame stabilizing metal disc. Moreover, a comparison of UV (λ?=?283?nm), visible (λ?=?532?nm) and IR (λ?=?1064?nm) laser excited LII measurements of soot is discussed. Recently developed, femtosecond two-photon laser-induced fluorescence (fs-TPLIF) technique has been applied for obtaining spatially resolved H-atom concentration ([H]) profiles under the same flame conditions. The structure of the flames has also been determined using hydroxyl radical (OH) planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging. The results indicate an inverse dependence of f_V on [H] for a range of C₂H₄/air rich flames up to an equivalence ratio, Φ?=?3.0. Although an absolute relationship between [H] and f_V cannot be easily derived owing to the multiple steps involving H and other intermediate species in soot formation pathways, the present study demonstrates the feasibility to couple [H] and f_V obtained using advanced optical techniques for soot formation studies.     

Concentration quenching of Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> in a novel blue–green emitting phosphor: Ba<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZnSi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>:Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>

A novel blue–green emitting phosphor Ba₂ZnSi₂O₇: Eu²⁺ was prepared by a combustion synthesis (CS) method. An efficient green emission under conditions ranging from ultraviolet to visible light was observed. The emission spectrum shows a single intensive band centered at 503 nm, which corresponds to the 4f ⁶5d ¹→4f ⁷ transition of Eu²⁺. The excitation spectrum is a broad band extending from 260 to 465 nm, which matches the emission of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). The critical quenching concentration of Eu²⁺ in Ba₂ZnSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺ phosphor is about 0.05 mol. The corresponding concentration quenching mechanism is verified to be a dipole–dipole interaction. The value of the critical transfer distance is calculated as 19 Å, which is in good agreement with the value (20 Å) derived from the experimental data.     

A fresh look at η 2(1645), η 2(1870), η 2(2030) and f 2(1910) in \bar{p}p \to \eta \pi ^{0}\pi ^{0}\pi ^{0}

There is a large discrepancy between results of Crystal Barrel and WA102 for the branching ratio R=BR[η ₂(1870)→a ₂(1320)π]/BR[η ₂(1870)→f ₂(1270)η]. An extensive re-analysis of the Crystal Barrel data redetermines branching ratios for decays of η ₂(1870), η ₂(1645), η ₂(2030) and f ₂(1910). This re-analysis confirms a small value for R of 1.60±0.39, inconsistent with the value 20.4±6.6 of WA102. The likely origin of the discrepancy is that the WA102 data contain a strong f ₂(1910)→a ₂ π signal as well as η ₂(1870). There is strong evidence that the η ₂(1870) has resonant phase variation. A peak in f ₂(1270)a ₀(980) confirms closely the parameters of the a ₂(2255) resonance observed previously. A peak in η ₂(2030)π is interpreted naturally in terms of π ₂(2245) with reduced errors for mass and width M=2285±20(stat)±25(syst) MeV, Γ=250±20(stat)±25(syst) MeV.     

Light-Front Zero-Mode Issue for the Transition Form Factors Between Pseudoscalar and Vector Mesons

We study the light-front zero-mode contribution to the transition form factors (g, f, a _±, T _i ) (i = 1, 2, 3) for the exclusive semileptonic P → V ?ν _? and rare P → V ? ⁺?^? decays using a covariant fermion field theory model in (3+1) dimensions. While the zero-mode contribution in principle depends on the form of the vector meson vertex Γ ^μ  = γ ^μ ? (2k ? P _V ) ^μ /D, the six form factors (g, f, a ₊, T ₁, T ₂, T ₃) are found to be free from the zero mode if the denominator D contains the term proportional to the light-front longitudinal momentum fraction factor (1/x) ⁿ of the struck quark with the power n > 0. Although the form factor a _? is not free from the zero mode, the zero-mode contribution comes only either from the simple vertex Γ ^μ  = γ ^μ term or from the other term just with a constant D (i.e. n = 0). We identify the zero-mode operator that is convoluted with the initial- and final-state valence wave functions to generate the zero-mode contribution to a _?.     

Fluorescence Study on the Interaction of Bovine Serum Albumin with P-Aminoazobenzene

In this paper, the interaction between p-aminoazobenzene (PAAB) and BSA was investigated mainly by fluorescence quenching spectra, circular dichroism (CD) and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra under simulative physiological conditions. It was proved that the fluorescence quenching of BSA by PAAB was mainly a result of the formation of a PAAB-BSA complex. The modified Stern-Volmer quenching constant K _a and the corresponding thermodynamic parameters ΔH, ΔG and ΔS at different temperatures were calculated. The results indicated that van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds were the predominant intermolecular forces in stabilizing the complex. The distance r?=?4.33 nm between the donor (BSA) and acceptor (PAAB) was obtained according to Förster’s non-radioactive energy transfer theory. The synchronous fluorescence, CD and three-dimensional fluorescence spectral results showed that the hydrophobicity of amino acid residues increased and the losing of α-helix content (from 63.57 to 51.83%) in the presence of PAAB. These revealed that the microenvironment and conformation of BSA were changed in the binding reaction.     

Fluorescence Quenching and Time-resolved Fluorescence studies of α-Mannosidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus fischeri</Emphasis> (NCIM 508)

Apart from the vital role in glycoprotein biosynthesis and degradation, α-mannosidase is currently an important therapeutic target for the development of anticancer agents. Fluorescence quenching and time-resolved fluorescence of α-mannosidase, a multitryptophan protein from Aspergillus fischeri were carried out to investigate the tryptophan environment. The tryptophans were found to be differentially exposed to the solvent and were not fully accessible to the neutral quencher indicating heterogeneity in the environment. Quenching of the fluorescence by acrylamide was collisional. Surface tryptophans were found to have predominantly positively charged amino acids around them and differentially accessible to the ionic quenchers. Denaturation led to more exposure of tryptophans to the solvent and consequently in the significant increase in quenching with all the quenchers. The native enzyme showed two different lifetimes, τ ₁ (1.51 ns) and τ ₂ (5.99 ns). The average lifetime of the native protein (τ) (3.187 ns) was not affected much after denaturation (τ) (3.219 ns), while average lifetime of the quenched protein samples was drastically reduced (1.995 ns for acrylamide and 1.537 ns for iodide). This is an attempt towards the conformational studies of α-mannosidase.