Microscopic Binding Constants Research Articles

Using two-site binding models to analyze microscale thermophoresis data

The emergence of microscale thermophoresis (MST) as a technique for determining the dissociation constants for bimolecular interactions has enabled these quantities to be measured in systems that were previously difficult or impracticable. However, most models for analyses of these data featured the assumption of a simple 1:1 binding interaction. The only model widely used for multiple binding sites was the Hill equation. Here, we describe two new MST analytic models that assume a 1:2 binding scheme: the first features two microscopic binding constants (KD(1) and KD(2)), while the other assumes symmetry in the bivalent molecule, culminating in a model with a single macroscopic dissociation constant (KD,M) and a single factor (α) that accounts for apparent cooperativity in the binding. We also discuss the general applicability of the Hill equation for MST data. The performances of the algorithms on both real and simulated data are assessed, and implementation of the algorithms in the MST analysis program PALMIST is discussed.

Glycine-dependent activation of NMDA receptors.

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are the only neurotransmitter receptors whose activation requires two distinct agonists. Heterotetramers of two GluN1 and two GluN2 subunits, NMDA receptors are broadly distributed in the central nervous system, where they mediate excitatory currents in response to synaptic glutamate release. Pore opening depends on the concurrent presence of glycine, which modulates the amplitude and time course of the glutamate-elicited response. Gating schemes for fully glutamate- and glycine-bound NMDA receptors have been described in sufficient detail to bridge the gap between microscopic and macroscopic receptor behaviors; for several receptor isoforms, these schemes include glutamate-binding steps. We examined currents recorded from cell-attached patches containing one GluN1/GluN2A receptor in the presence of several glycine-site agonists and used kinetic modeling of these data to develop reaction schemes that include explicit glycine-binding steps. Based on the ability to match a series of experimentally observed macroscopic behaviors, we propose a model for activation of the glutamate-bound NMDA receptor by glycine that predicts apparent negative agonist cooperativity and glycine-dependent desensitization in the absence of changes in microscopic binding or desensitization rate constants. These results complete the basic steps of an NMDA receptor reaction scheme for the GluN1/GluN2A isoform and prompt a reevaluation of how glycine controls NMDA receptor activation. We anticipate that our model will provide a useful quantitative instrument to further probe mechanisms and structure-function relationships of NMDA receptors and to better understand the physiological and pathological implications of endogenous fluctuations in extracellular glycine concentrations.

RI-Dom, a Cell-Penetrating Peptide. Interaction with DNA and Membranes

riDOM (retro-inverso-dioleoyl-melittin) is a cell penetrating peptide with excellent transporter properties for DNA. It is a chimeric molecule where ri-melittin is fused to dioleoylphosphoethanolamine. The physical-chemical properties of riDOM in solution and in the presence of DNA, heparan sulfate and lipid membranes were investigated with spectroscopic and thermodynamic methods. riDOM in solution forms nanoparticles with a diameter of ∼13 nm, composed of about 220 - 270 molecules. riDOM binds tightly to DNA with a microscopic binding constant of 5 × 107 M−1 and a stoichiometry of 12 riDOM per 10 DNA base pairs. In the complex the DNA double strand is completely shielded by the more hydrophobic riDOM molecules. Sulfated glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate are also linear molecules with a negative charge. riDOM binding to heparan sulfate on cell surfaces can therefore interfere with DNA-riDOM binding.. riDOM nanoparticles bind efficiently to neutral and charged phospholipid bilayers. When dissolved in the membrane riDOM nanoparticles dissociate and form transient pores. The binding of cationic riDOM nanoparticles to negatively charged membranes consists of an initial electrostatic attraction to the membrane surface followed by a hydrophobic partitioning into the bilayer interior. ζ-potential titrations yield an effective riDOM charge of zriDOM=2 . The Gibbs free energy of binding is −8.0 to −10.0 kcal/mol which corresponds to the partition energy of a single fatty acid. Half of the hydrophobic surface of the lipid moiety with its 2 oleic acyl chains is therefore involved in a tight lipid-peptide interaction. This packing arrangement guarantees a good solubility of riDOM both in the aqueous and in the membrane phase. The binding enthalpy is small with ΔH0riDOM ∼ −6.0 to −1.0 kcal/mol and riDOM binding is hence entropy-driven.

RiDOM, a Cell-Penetrating Peptide. Interaction with DNA and Heparan Sulfate

DNA condensation in the presence of polycationic molecules is a well-known phenomenon exploited in gene delivery. riDOM (retro-inverso dioleoylmelittin) is a cell-penetrating peptide with excellent transporter properties for DNA. It is a chimeric molecule where ri-melittin is fused to dioleoylphosphoethanolamine. The physical-chemical properties of riDOM in solution and in the presence of DNA and heparan sulfate were investigated with spectroscopic and thermodynamic methods. Dynamic light scattering shows that riDOM in solution aggregates to well-defined nanoparticles with a diameter of ∼13 nm and a ζ-potential of 22 mV, composed of about 220-270 molecules. Binding of riDOM to DNA was studied with dynamic light scattering, ζ-potential measurements, and isothermal titration calorimetry and was compared with authentic melittin-DNA interaction. riDOM binds tightly to DNA with a microscopic binding constant of 5 × 10(7) M(-1) and a stoichiometry of 12 riDOM per 10 DNA base pairs. In the complex the DNA double strand is completely shielded by the more hydrophobic riDOM molecules. Authentic melittin binds to DNA with a much lower binding constant of 5 × 10(6) M(-1) and lower stoichiometry of 5 melittin per 10 DNA base pairs. The binding enthalpies for riDOM and melittin are small and the binding reactions are entropy-driven. Sulfated glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate are also linear molecules with a negative charge. riDOM binding to heparan sulfate on cell surfaces can therefore interfere with DNA-riDOM binding. riDOM-heparan sulfate complex formation was characterized by isothermal titration calorimetry and spectroscopic methods. The binding constant of riDOM for heparan sulfate is K ≈ 2 × 10(6) M(-1). Authentic melittin has a similar binding constant but riDOM shows a 3-fold higher packing density on heparan sulfate than the distinctly smaller melittin.

The N-terminal Capping Propensities of the D-helix Modulate the Allosteric Activation of the Escherichia coli cAMP Receptor Protein

Transduction of biological signals at the molecular level involves the activation and/or inhibition of allosteric proteins. In the transcription factor cAMP receptor protein (CRP) from Escherichia coli, the allosteric activation, or apo-holo transition, involves rigid body motions of domains and structural rearrangements within the hinge region connecting the cAMP- and DNA-binding domains. During this apo-holo transition, residue 138 is converted as part of the elongated D-helix to the position of the N-terminal capping residue of a shorter D-helix. The goal of the current study is to elucidate the role of residue 138 in modulating the allostery between cAMP and DNA binding. By systematically mutating residue 138, we found that mutants with higher N-terminal capping propensities lead to increased cooperativity of cAMP binding and a concomitant increase in affinity for lac-DNA. Furthermore, mutants with higher N-terminal capping propensity correlate with properties characteristic of holo-CRP, particularly, increase in protein structural dynamics. Overall, our results provide a quantitative characterization of the role of residue 138 in the isomerization equilibrium between the apo and holo forms of CRP, and in turn the thermodynamic underpin to the molecular model of allostery revealed by the high resolution structural studies.

Site‐Specific Free Energy Changes in Proteins upon Ligand Binding by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: Ca2+‐Displacement by Ln3+ in a Ca2+‐Binding Protein from Entamoeba histolytica

The study of protein-ligand interaction has been of a great interest in contemporary structural biology. The understanding of the nature of such interaction and determining the associated binding affinities are of utmost importance. Nuclear magnetic resonance has become a powerful tool in deriving information related to such interactions in proteins. Nuclear magnetic resonance data provide the site-specific information even in the case of proteins having multiple-binding sites and populations of respective species. In this communication, we set out to use such information to derive the associated microscopic binding constants.

Relation between Macroscopic Binding Constant and the Anticancer Efficacy of the Bovine Serum Albumin-Quercetin Complex against Drug-Sensitive and Drug-Resistant Cells

Problem statement: We have previously analyzed the interaction of BSA with flavonoids by using FRET. In this study, the role of BSA on increasing in solubility and on carrying the quercetin derivatives thus enhanced their anticancer efficacy against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cells were conducted. Approach: The macroscopic (KD) and microscopic (kd) binding constant of the complexation and the cellular partition of molecules were analyzed using FRET and HPLC method, respectively. Results: The KD values reflex the stability of complexes was in the order of rutin > quercetrin > quercetin. BSA was a suitable carrier of quercetin (KD = 1.68×105 M−1) which spontaneously release the molecule into solutions and cells. The substitution of rhamnoside (KD = 1.37×105 M−1) and rutinoside (KD = 5.0×104 M−1) at C3 yielded an increase in stability of the complexes. Rutin was tightly bound to BSA resulting in the changes in mode of action. Conclusion: The macroscopic binding constant was directly influenced on the cellular uptake of molecules and the suitable range of binding constant was KD≥105 M−1 by which the carrier can be useful for increasing the solubility of drug and also spontaneously release the drug into the solution and cells.

Does the ligand-biopolymer equilibrium binding constant depend on the number of bound ligands?

Conventional methods, such as Scatchard or McGhee-von Hippel analyses, used to treat ligand-biopolymer interactions, indirectly make the assumption that the microscopic binding constant is independent of the number of ligands, i, already bound to the biopolymer. Recent results on the aggregation of aromatic molecules (Beshnova et al., J Chem Phys 2009, 130, 165105) indicated that the equilibrium constant of self-association depends intrinsically on the number of molecules in an aggregate due to loss of translational and rotational degrees of freedom on formation of the complex. The influence of these factors on the equilibrium binding constant for ligand-biopolymer complexation was analyzed in this work. It was shown that under the conditions of binding of "small" molecules, these factors can effectively be ignored and, hence, do not provide any hidden systematic error in such widely-used approaches, such as the Scatchard or McGhee-von Hippel methods for analyzing ligand-biopolymer complexation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 93: 932-935, 2010.

Heme Ligand Binding Properties and Intradimer Interactions in the Full-length Sensor Protein Dos from Escherichia coli and Its Isolated Heme Domain

Dos from Escherichia coli is a bacterial gas sensor protein comprising a heme-containing gas sensor domain and a phosphodiesterase catalytic domain. Using a combination of static light scattering and gel filtration experiments, we established that, as are many other sensor proteins, the full-length protein is dimeric. The full-length dimer (association constant <10 nm) is more stable than the dimeric heme domain (association constant approximately 1 mum), and the dimer interface presumably includes both sensor and catalytic domains. Ultrafast spectroscopic studies showed little influence of the catalytic domain on kinetic processes in the direct vicinity of the heme. By contrast, the properties of ligand (CO and O(2)) binding to the heme in the sensor domain, occurring on a microsecond to second time scale, were found to be influenced by (i) the presence of the catalytic domain, (ii) the dimerization state, and in dimers, (iii) the ligation state of the other subunit. These results imply allosteric interactions within dimers. Steady-state titrations demonstrated marked cooperativity in oxygen binding to both the full-length protein and the isolated heme domain, a feature not reported to date for any dimeric sensor protein. Analysis of a variety of time-resolved experiments showed that Met-95 plays a major role in the intradimer interactions. The intrinsic binding and dissociation rates of Met-95 to the heme were modulated approximately 10-fold by intradimer and sensor-catalytic domain interactions. Dimerization effects were also observed for cyanide binding to the ferric heme domains, suggesting a similar role for Met-95 in ferric proteins.

Water-soluble octahedral polyammonium nanocapsules: synthesis and encapsulation studies

The syntheses of two water-soluble octahedral polyammonium nanocapsules 5e and 5f are described. Nanocapsule 5e was prepared via the TFA-catalyzed condensation reaction of six MOM-protected 4-hydroxybutyl-footed tetraformyl cavitands 3c with 12 ethylene diamines, followed by reduction and acidic hydrolysis of the intermediate octahedral polyimino nanocapsule. Nanocapsule 5f was prepared from 5e via the oxidation of the 4-hydroxybutyl feet to 3-carboxypropyl feet. Both nanocapsules are soluble in water below pH 5. 5f is also water-soluble above pH 7. In acidic aqueous solution, nanocapsule 5e encapsulates small negatively charged, partially hydrophobic guests, such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, N-BOC-aspartic acid, or 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate. The single site microscopic binding constants for the latter guests are 150±30, 510±50, 1550±150 M −1, respectively and were determined from 1H NMR titrations and DOSY experiments by assuming a 6:1 binding model with six identical, independent binding sites per nanocapsule (statistical binding). 5e doesn't bind small neutral hydrophobic molecules in aqueous solution. However, both nanocapsules bind to nucleotides, such as ATP, dAMP, dGMP or TTP. NMR experiments support that nucleotides are not encapsulated, but bind to the outside of the nanocapsules.

Distribution of Proton Dissociation Constants for Model Humic and Fulvic Acid Molecules

The intrinsic proton binding constants of 10 model humic acid and six model fulvic acid molecules are calculated using SPARC Performs Automated Reasoning in Chemistry (SPARC). The accuracy of the SPARC calculations is examined using estimated microscopic binding constants of various small organic acids. An equimolar mixture of the appropriate hypothetical molecules is used as a representation of soil and aqueous humic acid and fulvic acid. The probability distributions of the mixture microscopic proton binding constants and the intrinsic proton binding constants in the metal speciation models WHAM V and WHAM VI (Windermere humic aqueous models) are compared. The idea is to assess the predictive value of the molecular mixture models as representations of heterogeneous natural organic matter. For aqueous humic and fulvic acids, the results are comparable to the WHAM distribution. For soil humic acid, the WHAM probability distribution is less acidic for the carboxylic sites but similar to that of the phenolic sites. Computations made using the WHAM molecular distributions and WHAM VI are comparable to titration data for Suwannee River fulvic acid. These results suggest that mixture molecular models can be used to investigate and predict the binding of metal cations to humic and fulvic acids.

Activation and Block of the Adult Muscle-Type Nicotinic Receptor by Physostigmine: Single-Channel Studies

The plant-derived acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine has previously been shown to act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) causing either direct activation or potentiation of currents elicited by low concentrations of nicotinic agonists, or, at higher concentrations, channel block. We examined mouse adult-type muscle nAChR activation by physostigmine and found that channel activation by physostigmine exhibits many characteristics common with channel activity elicited by nicotinic agonists. Single-channel conductance was indistinguishable, and mutants known to slow channel closing in the presence of nicotinic agonists had a similar effect in the presence of physostigmine. However, physostigmine is a very inefficacious agonist. The presence of physostigmine did not alter the effective opening rate for a subsaturating dosage of carbachol, suggesting that physostigmine does not interact with the nicotinic agonist binding site. Mutations to a residue (alphaLys125) previously identified as part of the putative binding site for physostigmine reduced the duration of openings elicited by physostigmine, but the effects were generally small and, in most cases, nonsignificant. At higher concentrations, physostigmine blocked channel activity. Block manifested as a reduction in the mean open time and the emergence of a closed state, with a mean duration of 3 to 7 ms. The properties of block were consistent with two equivalent blocking sites per receptor with microscopic binding and unbinding rate constants for physostigmine of 20 microM(-1) s(-1) and 450 s(-1) (K(D) = 23 microM). These observations indicate that physostigmine is able to activate muscle nAChR by interacting with a site other than the nicotinic ligand binding site.

Melittin Interaction with Sulfated Cell Surface Sugars

Melittin is a 26-residue cationic peptide with cytolytic and antimicrobial properties. Studies on the action mechanism of melittin have focused almost exclusively on the membrane-perturbing properties of this peptide, investigating in detail the melittin-lipid interaction. Here, we report physical-chemical studies on an alternative mechanism by which melittin could interact with the cell membrane. As the outer surface of many cells is decorated with anionic (sulfated) glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), a strong Coulombic interaction between the two oppositely charged molecules can be envisaged. Indeed, the present study using isothermal titration calorimetry reveals a high affinity of melittin for several GAGs, that is, heparan sulfate (HS), dermatan sulfate, and heparin. The microscopic binding constant of melittin for HS is 2.4 x 10 (5) M (-1), the reaction enthalpy is Delta H melittin (0) = -1.50 kcal/mol, and the peptide-to-HS stoichiometry is approximately 11 at 10 mM Tris, 100 mM NaCl at pH 7.4 and 28 degrees C. Delta H melittin (0) is characterized by a molar heat capacity of Delta C P (0) = -227 cal mol (-1) K (-1). The large negative heat capacity change indicates that hydrophobic interactions must also be involved in the binding of melittin to HS. Circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrates that the binding of the peptide to HS induces a conformational change to a predominantly alpha-helical structure. A model for the melittin-HS complex is presented. Melittin binding was compared with that of magainin 2 and nisin Z to HS. Magainin 2 is known for its antimicrobial properties, but it does not cause lysis of the eukaryotic cells. Nisin Z shows activity against various Gram-positive bacteria. Isothermal titration calorimetry demonstrates that magainin 2 and nisin Z do not bind to HS (5-50 degrees C, 10 mM Tris, and 100 mM NaCl at pH 7.4).

Divalent ion‐binding properties of the two avian β‐parvalbumins

Birds express three parvalbumins, one alpha isoform and two beta isoforms. The latter are known as avian thymic hormone (ATH) and avian parvalbumin 3. Although both were discovered in thymus tissue, and presumably function in T-cell maturation, they have been detected in other tissue settings. We have conducted detailed Ca2+- and Mg2+-binding studies on recombinant ATH and the C72S variant of CPV3, employing global analysis of isothermal titration calorimetry data. In Hepes-buffered saline, ATH binds Ca2+ with apparent microscopic binding constants of 2.4 +/- 0.2 x 10(8) and 1.0 +/- 0.1 x 10(8) M(-1). The corresponding values for CPV3-C72S are substantially lower, 4.5 +/- 0.5 x 10(7) and 2.4 +/- 0.2 x 10(7) M(-1), a 1.9-kcal/mol difference in binding free energy. Thus, the beta-parvalbumin lineage displays a spectrum of Ca2+-binding affinity, with ATH and the mammalian beta isoform at the high- and low-affinity extremes and CPV3 in the middle. Interestingly, despite its decreased Ca2+ affinity, CPV3-C72S exhibits increased affinity for Mg2+, relative to ATH. Whereas the latter displays Mg2+-binding constants of 2.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) and 1.2 +/- 0.1 x 10(4) M(-1), CPV3-C72S yields values of 5.0 +/- 0.8 x 10(4) and 2.1 +/- 0.3 x 10(4) M(-1).

Galectins Bind to the Multivalent Glycoprotein Asialofetuin with Enhanced Affinities and a Gradient of Decreasing Binding Constants

Our previous isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC) studies of the binding of synthetic multivalent carbohydrates to the Man/Glc-specific lectins concanavalin A (ConA) and Dioclea grandiflora lectin (DGL) showed negative binding cooperativity that was due to the carbohydrate ligands and not the proteins [Dam, T. K., et al. (2002) Biochemistry 41, 1351-1358]. The negative cooperativity was associated with the decreasing functional valence of the carbohydrates upon progressive binding of their epitopes. The present study also shows negative cooperativity in the ITC binding data of asialofetuin (ASF), a glycoprotein that possesses nine LacNAc epitopes, to galectin-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and -7, and truncated, monomer versions of galectin-3 and -5, which are members of a family of animal lectins. Although the observed K(a) values for binding of ASF to the galectins and two truncated forms are only 50-80-fold greater than that of LacNAc, analysis of the data in terms of the relationship between the observed macroscopic free energy of binding and the decreasing microscopic free energies of binding of the epitopes shows that the first LacNAc epitope of ASF binds with approximately 6000-fold higher affinity than the last epitope. Thus, the microscopic binding constants of the galectins for the first epitope(s) of ASF are in the nanomolar range, with a gradient of decreasing binding constants of the remaining epitopes. The results indicate that the above galectins bind with fractional, high affinities to multivalent glycoproteins such as ASF, independent of the quaternary structures of the galectins. These findings have important implications for the binding of galectins to multivalent carbohydrate receptors.

Tunable Inhibition and Denaturation of α-Chymotrypsin with Amino Acid-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

Water-soluble gold nanoparticles bearing diverse l-amino acid terminals have been fabricated to probe the effect of receptor surface on protein surface binding. The interaction of these nanoparticles with alpha-chymotrypsin (ChT) was investigated by activity assay, gel electrophoresis, zeta-potential, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results show that both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the hydrophobic patches of receptors and the protein contribute to the stability of the complex. The microscopic binding constants for these receptor-protein systems are 10(6)-10(7) M(-1), with the capacity of the nanoparticle receptors to bind proteins determined by both their surface area and their surface charge density. Furthermore, it is found that the hydrophilic side chains destabilize the ChT structure through either competitive hydrogen bonding or breakage of salt bridges, whereas denaturation was much slower with hydrophobic amino acid side chains. Significantly, correlation between the hydrophobicity index of amino acid side chains and the binding affinity and denaturation rates was observed.

Affinity of S100A1 protein for calcium increases dramatically upon glutathionylation

S100A1 is a typical representative of a group of EF-hand calcium-binding proteins known as the S100 family. The protein is composed of two alpha subunits, each containing two calcium-binding loops (N and C). At physiological pH (7.2) and NaCl concentration (100 mm), we determined the microscopic binding constants of calcium to S100A1 by analysing the Ca(2+)-titration curves of Trp90 fluorescence for both the native protein and its Glu32 --> Gln mutant with an inactive N-loop. Using a chelator method, we also determined the calcium-binding constant for the S100A1 Glu73 --> Gln mutant with an inactive C-loop. The protein binds four calcium ions in a noncooperative way with binding constants of K(1) =4 +/- 2 x 10(3) m(-1) (C-loops) and K(2) approximately 10(2) m(-1) (N-loops). Only when both loops are saturated with calcium does the protein change its global conformation, exposing to the solvent hydrophobic patches, which can be detected by 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonic acid - a fluorescent probe of protein-surface hydrophobicity. S-Glutathionylation of the single cysteine residue (85) of the alpha subunits leads to a 10-fold increase in the affinity of the protein C-loops for calcium and an enormous - four orders of magnitude - increase in the calcium-binding constants of its N-loops, owing to a cooperativity effect corresponding to DeltaDeltaG = -6 +/- 1 kcal.mol(-1). A similar effect is observed upon formation of the mixed disulfide with cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol. The glutathionylated protein binds TRTK-12 peptide in a calcium-dependent manner. S100A1 protein can act, therefore, as a linker between the calcium and redox signalling pathways.

Structural Evidence for an Independent Inclusion of Hexyl and Octyl Chains of Hexyldimethyloctylammonium Bromide in an α-Cyclodextrin Cavity

Abstract Proton NMR spectroscopy was applied to determine the macroscopic binding constants and the solution structures of the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes between N,N,N-hexyldimethyloctylammonium bromide (HDOAB) and α-cyclodextrin (α-CD). The terminal methyls of the hexyl and octyl groups of HDOAB are distinguishable from each other in the NMR spectrum. The chemical-shift variations of these methyls, compared with the α-CD complexes of hexyltrimethylammonium (HTAB) and octyltrimetylammonium (OTAB) bromides, indicated that this system formed two 1:1 complexes (10% hexyl-in complex and 90% octyl-in complex). The chemical-shift variations of HDOAB and α-CD protons with the 1:1 and 1:2 complexations were quantitatively explained based on the assumption that the geometry of the hexyl and octyl groups of the HDOAB complexes with α-CD is identical to that of the HTAB and OTAB. This finding indicated that the hexyl and octyl groups bind to α-CD independently. Based on the assumption that the microscopic binding constants of the hexyl and octyl groups of HDOAB are identical to the macroscopic 1:1 binding constants of HTAB and OTAB with α-CD, the mole fraction of the hexyl-in complex in the 1:1 complex was estimated to be 0.11. This is very close to the above-mentioned estimation from the chemical-shift variations of the terminal methyls. The intensities of intermolecular cross-peaks on the ROESY spectrum of a 3 mM HDOAB and 3 mM α-CD solution indicated that the octyl-in complex is the predominant 1:1 complex. The present method and result will serve to estimate noncovalent interactions, binding equilibria, and solution structures of other multiple supramolecular complexes.

Complex formation between dodecylpyridinium chloride and multicharged anionic planar substances.

The complex formation between dodecylpyridinium chloride (DPC) and multicharged anionic planar substances, 14 azo dyes and 3 benzene- or naphthalenesulfonates, has been studied by the potentiometric titration using a surfactant selective electrode. The agreement between the observed maximum binding number and the number of anionic charges (n) on dye molecules showed n:1 complex formation. The binding isotherms were found to be composed of two types of binding; one is the noncooperative binding observed at low surfactant concentrations and the other is the cooperative binding at the higher concentrations. The microscopic binding constant for the noncooperative binding was found to take the values in the range of 50-200 mol(-)(1) dm(3) for many of the substances, but, takes more large values up to 2500 mol(-)(1) dm(3) for the substances which have a large hydrophobic part or the structure of separate hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. A multiple regression analysis showed that the data of the corresponding standard free energy change of binding were well interpreted by the equation (in unit of kJ mol(-)(1)) DeltaG degrees = - 5.85 log P(S) - 1.68 log P(D) - 2.12z + 28.4, where P(S) and P(D) are the partition coefficients of the surfactants and planar substances in the 1-octanol/water system and z is the number of anionic charges on the planar molecules. At the beginning of the cooperative binding, precipitate formation was observed for almost all of the present systems. Among these, some of the dyes having the structure of separate hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions formed a needlelike crystal, which was accompanied by a hysteresis phenomenon in the binding isotherm. The stable complex formation by both the hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between the surfactant and the planar substances was found to be important for the crystal formation. Depending on the manner of arrangement of the charged groups on the planar substances, the origin of the binding cooperativity was ascribed to the interactions between surfactants bound to one planar-substance molecule or to the association of the complexes. It was also found that the present small binding systems are useful as the model of ligand binding to protein local structures.

Binding of Short-Chain Lecithin by β-Cyclodextrin

Complex formation between diheptanoylphosphatidylcholine (DHPC) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in deuterium oxide solution has been investigated by measurements of proton NMR chemical shifts and the ROESY spectrum and molecular mechanics calculations. The vicinal coupling constants for protons of α-, β-, and γ-CDs in their DHPC complexes have been also determined for comparison among these CDs. From the variations in chemical shifts of DHPC and β-CD with the addition of β-CD, the macroscopic equilibrium constant, K1, of the 1:1 complexation of DHPC and β-CD is estimated. The magnitude of K1 is in the order of β-CD > γ-CD > α-CD for DHPC, although it is in the order of α-CD ≥ β-CD > γ-CD for single-chain surfactants. From the vicinal coupling constants of the glycerol C1H2-C2H protons of DHPC, the populations of three rotamers, gauche+ conformer (G+), gauche- conformer (G-), and trans conformer (T), are estimated. The addition of β-CD causes a decrease in the T conformer and an increase in the G+ conformer. These changes are the same as those of γ-CD but opposite to those of α-CD. The microscopic binding constants of CD complexation for the three rotamers are also estimated from the concentration dependence of vicinal coupling constants. The microscopic binding constant for the T conformer is in the order of α-CD > β-CD > γ-CD, as expected. The presence of DHPC causes large changes in vicinal coupling constants of the β-CD protons, suggesting that the β-CD macrocycle is deformed by incorporation of DHPC. A three-dimensional structure of the major complex β-CD−G+ is proposed on the basis of these variations in chemical shift and vicinal coupling constant, the ROESY spectrum, and molecular mechanics calculations: two heptanoyl chains of DHPC are simultaneously incorporated into a β-CD cavity so that the rim of β-CD is deformed to an ellipse. This tight contact between the hydrophobic groups of DHPC and β-CD leads to a large binding constant.