New insights in the conformation of α 1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid). Quenching resolved emission anisotropy studies

Abstract

Quenching resolved emission anisotropy method was applied to study the dynamics of the two classes of Trp residues of human α 1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid), in the absence and presence of progesterone. In the absence of progesterone, the values of the anisotropies of the surface and buried Trp residues are 0.155 and 0.178, respectively. These values lower than the limiting anisotropy (0.267) indicate that both classes of Trp residues display residual motions. In the presence of progesterone, the values of the anisotropies decrease from 0.155 to 0.146 and from 0.178 to 0.167. Thus, binding of progesterone to orosomucoid increases the internal dynamics of the protein. Also, the fact that in the absence or in the presence of progesterone, the anisotropies of both classes are close, means that the amplitudes of the motions of the two classes are not significantly different. From our data and from the well-known position of the carbohydrate residues on orosomucoid, we suggest the presence of a hydrophobic pocket within the protein and where the ‘buried’ Trp residues can be found.