Fluorescence behavior of globular proteins from their bulk and thin film conformations in presence of mono-, di- and tri-valent ions

Abstract

Photoluminescence behavior of globular proteins, lysozyme and bovine serum albumin (BSA), from their bulk and thin film conformations have been studied in presence of mono-, di- and tri-valent ions by using fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy at two different temperatures and the morphology of the protein thin films have been studied by using atomic force microscopy. Protein- and ion-dependent dynamic and static quenching behaviors have been identified. While dynamic quenching is observed for lysozyme for all the three different valent ions, BSA shows no quenching for mono-valent (Na+) ions, dynamic quenching for di-valent (Ni2+) ions and static quenching for tri-valent (Fe3+) ions at pH≈5.5. After heat treatment, as the conformation of the protein molecules changes, the quenching efficiency for lysozyme in presence of ions decreases but shows enhancement for BSA. In thin film geometry, the molecular conformation of both lysozyme and BSA modifies on the solid surfaces and hence quenching efficiency also modifies in comparison with that of bulk and as a result the quenching efficiency for lysozyme increases but decreases for the BSA film.