Subunit-subunit interactions in TF1 as revealed by ligand binding to isolated and integrated α and β subunits

The binding of 3′-O-(1-naphthoyl)adenosinetriphosphate (1-naphthoyl-ATP), ATP and ADP to TF₁ and to the isolated α and β subunits was investigated by measuring changes of intrinsic protein fluorescence and of fluorescence anisotropy of 1-naphthoyl-ATP upon binding. The following results were obtained. (1) The isolated α and β subunits bind 1 mol 1-naphthoyl-ATP with a dissociation constant (K_D(1-naphthoyl-ATP)) of 4.6 μM and 1.9 μM, respectively. (2) The K_D(ATP) for α and β subunits is 8 μM and 11 μM, respectively. (3) The K_D(ADP) for α and β subunits is 38 μM μM and 7 μM, respectively. (4) TF₁ binds 2 mol 1-naphthoyl-ATP per mol enzyme with K_D = 170 nM. (5) The rate constant for 1-naphthoyl-ATP binding to α and β subunit is more than 5 · 10⁴ M⁻¹s⁻¹. (6) The rate constant for 1-naphthoyl-ATP binding to TF₁ is 6.6 · 10³ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹ (monophasic reaction); the rate constant for its dissociation in the presence of ATP is biphasic with a fast first phase (k^A₋₁ = 3 · 10⁻³s⁻¹) and a slower second phase (k^A₋₂ < 0.2 · 10⁻³s⁻¹). From the appearance of a second peak in the fluorescence emission spectrum of 1-naphthoyl-ATP upon binding it is concluded that the binding sites in TF₁ are located in an environment more hydrophobic than the binding sites on isolated α and β subunits. The differences in kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for ligand binding to isolated versus integrated α and β subunits, respectively, are explained by interactions between these subunits in the enzyme complex.     

Vicia graminea lectin binding to human M and N erythrocytes

The mode of binding of Vicia graminea¹²⁵I-labelled lectin to human M and N erythrocytes at 4°C has been investigated. The labelled lectin retained the full activity of native lectin. Lectin association at 4°C was characterized by a $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ of 3 to 5 min, reaching steady-state within 15 min. Incubation of cells for 15 min at 4°C with increasing concentrations of Vicia graminea¹²⁵I-labelled lectin showed that saturation binding occurred. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium data determined over a wide range of lectin concentrations yielded a curvilinear plot with an upward concave slope; this representation indicated that there was not a single homogeneous class of noninteracting binding sites. This result could indicate two or more independent classes of binding sites or one class of interacting sites exhibiting negative cooperativity. Since unlabelled lectin, which at the concentration used, rapidly binds to available receptors, did not affect the dissociation rate of the labelled lectin and since identical Scatchard plots were found using native and formaldehyde-fixed erythrocytes we conclude that there are two classes of independent Vicia graminea binding sites on human erythrocytes. Computer analysis of the Scatchard plots gave high- and low-affinity constant (7.07±1.1) · 10⁷ M^?1 and (0.2±0.01) · 10⁷ M^?1, respectively, for N erythrocytes and (1.13±0.18) · 10⁷ M^?1 and (0.24±0.01) · 10⁷ M^?1, respectively for the M cells. N erythrocytes were estimated to have 0.085 · 10⁵ high-affinity and 2.1 · 10⁵ low-affinity sites and M erythrocytes, 0.011 · 10⁵ high affinity and 0.13 · 10⁵ low-affinity sites. N cells therefore have 10-times as many sites as M cells. Studies of the dissociation of ¹²⁵I-labelled lectin from N and M cells in the presence of unlabelled lectin gave dissociation rate constants of 51 · 10^?4 s^?1 and 1.97 · 10^?4 s^?1 for the high- and low-affinity sites of N cells and 13 · 10^?4 s^?1 and 1.6 · 10^?4 s^?1 for the high- and low-affinitym sites of M cells, indicating that the binding of Vicia graminea lectin to human erythrocytes is reversible.     

Kinetics of nucleotide binding to chloroplast coupling factor (CF1).

Studies of the kinetics of association and dissociation of the formycin nucleotides FTP and FDP with CF1 were carried out using the enhancement of formycin fluorescence. The protein used, derived from lettuce chloroplasts by chloroform induced release, contains only 4 types of subunit and has a molecular weight of 280 000. In the presence of 1.25 mM MgCl2, 1 mol of ATP or FTP is bound to the latent enzyme, with Kd = 10(-7) or 2 . 10(-7), respectively. The fluorescence emission (lambdamax 340 nm) of FTP is enhanced 3-fold upon binding, and polarization of fluorescence is markedly increased. The fluorescence changes have been used to follow FTP binding, which behaves as a bimolecular process with k1 = 2.4 . 10(4) M-1 . s-1. FTP is displaced by ATP in a process apparently involving unimolecular dissociation of FTP with K-1 = 3 . 10(-3) S-1. The ratio of rates is comparable to the equilibrium constant and no additional steps have been observed. The protein has 3 sites for ADP binding. Rates of ADP binding are similar in magnitude to those for FTP. ADP and ATP sites are at least partly competitive with one another. The kinetics of nucleotide binding are strikingly altered upon activation of the protein as an ATPase. The rate of FTP binding increases to at least 10(6) M-1 . s-1. This suggests that activation involves lowering of the kinetic barriers to substrate and product binding-dissociation and has implications for the mechanism of energy transduction in photophosphorylation.     

Synthesis,characterization, DNA interaction,and cytotoxicity of novel Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes

Four complexes [Pd(L)(bipy)Cl]·4H₂O (1), [Pd(L)(phen)Cl]·4H₂O (2), [Pt(L)(bipy)Cl]·4H₂O (3), and [Pt(L)(phen)Cl]·4H₂O (4), where L = quinolinic acid, bipy = 2,2’-bipyridyl, and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, have been synthesized and characterized using IR, ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The binding of the complexes to FS-DNA was investigated by electronic absorption titration and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicate that the complexes bind to FS-DNA in an intercalative mode and the intrinsic binding constants K of the title complexes with FS-DNA are about 3.5?×?10⁴ M^?1, 3.9?×?10⁴ M^?1, 6.1?×?10⁴ M^?1, and 1.4?×?10⁵ M^?1, respectively. Also, the four complexes bind to DNA with different binding affinities, in descending order: complex 4, complex 3, complex 2, complex 1. Gel electrophoresis assay demonstrated the ability of the Pt(II) complexes to cleave pBR322 plasmid DNA.     

Equilibrium dialysis binding studies of 1,N6-ethenoadenosine diphosphate (epsilon ADP) to myosin, heavy meromyosin, and subfragment one

The binding of the fluorescent analog of adenosine diphosphate (ADP)¹, 1,N⁶-ethenoadenosine diphosphate (εADP) to myosin and its subfragments, heavy meromyosin (HMM) and subfragment one (S1), has been studied under analagous conditions to those previously used in comparable studies on the binding of ADP to these molecules. The results indicate that there are two binding sites for εADP on myosin and HMM, and one site on S1. The dissociation constants for all had an identical value, within experimental error, of 2.0 (^± .5) × 10^?5 M^?1. This is identical to the values found by Young (J. Biol. Chem., $\text{242}$, 2790 (1967)) for ADP. In addition, the kinetics of hydrolysis of εATP versus ATP by S1 were studied. Values of V_max and K_m were 25 μM phosphate sec^?1 (gm protein)^?1 and 5 × 10^?5 M^?1 for ATP, and 80 μN phosphate sec^?1 (gm protein)^?1 and 45 × 10^?5 M^?1 for εATP. The results indicate that the increased V_max that occurs when εATP is used as a substitute for ATP is not due to either an increased binding affinity of ATP for myosin and its subfragments, nor due to a decreased binding affinity of εATP versus ADP. This in turn suggests that the increase in V_max may be due to an increased hydrolytic rate of εATP vs ATP in the enzyme substrate complex.     

Kinetics of interaction of some α- and β-D-monosaccharides with concanavalin A

The rates of formation and dissociation of concanavalin A with some 4-methylumbelliferyl and p-nitrophenyl derivatives of α- and β-D-mannopyranosides and glucopyranosides were measured by fluorescence and spectral stopped-flow methods. All process examined were uniphasic. The second-order formation rate constants varied only from 6.8 · 10⁴ to 12.8 · 10⁴ M^?. s^?1, whereas the first-order dissociation rate constants ranged from 4.1. to 220 s^?1, all at ph 5.0, I = 0.3 M, and 25°C. Dissociation rates thus controlled the value of binding constant. The effect of temperature on these reactions was examined, from which enthalpies and entropies of activation and of reaction could be calculated. The effects of pH at 25°C on the reaction rates of 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-mannopyranoside and 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-glucopyranoside with concanavalin A were examined. The value of the binding constant K_ap (derived from the kinetics) at any pH could be related to the intrinsic binding constant K by the expression K_ap = K_aK(K_a + [H⁺])^?1. The values of K_a, the ionization constant of the protein segment responsive to sugar binding, were 3 · 10^?4 M and 1 · 10^?4 M for 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-mannopyranoside and 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-glucopyranoside, respectively. The binding constant of p-nitrophenyl α-D-mannopyranoside is surprisingly much less sensitive to a pH change from 5.0 to 2.7. Ionic strength had little effect on the binding characteristics of 4-methylumbelliferyl α-D-mannopyranoside to concanavalin A at pH 5.2 and 25°C.     

Electrogenic events in the ubiquinone-cytochrome bc2 oxidoreductase of rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides

The reductant of ferricytochrome c₂ in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides is a component, Z, which has an equilibrium oxidation-reduction reaction involving two electrons and two protons with a midpoint potential of 155 mV at pH 7. Under energy coupled conditions, the reduction of ferricytochrome c₂ by ZH₂ is obligatorily coupled to an apparently electrogenic reaction which is monitored by a red shift of the endogeneous carotenoids. Both ferricytochrome c₂ reduction and the associated carotenoid bandshift are similarly affected by the concentrations of ZH₂ and ferricytochrome c₂, pH, temperature the inhibitors diphenylamine and antimycin, and the presence of ubiquinone. The second-order rate constant for ferricytochrome c₂ reduction at pH 7.0 and at 24°C was 2 · 109 M^?1 · s^?1, but this varied with pH, being 5.1 · 10⁸ M^?1 · s^?1 at pH 5.2 and 4.3 · 10⁹ M^?1 · s^?1 at pH 9.3. At pH 7 the reaction had an activation energy of 10.3 kcal/mol.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies on nitrobenzylthioinosine binding to the nucleoside transporter of chinese hamster ovary cells

The binding of [G-³H]nitrobenzylthioinosine to intact Chinese hamster ovary cells has been studied kinetically and thermodynamically. The association of nitrobenzylthioinosine with cells is a second-order process which proceeds at 24°C with a rate constant of 2·10⁷ M^?1·s^?1. Dissociation of the complex was characterized as a simple first-order process with rate constant on the order of 7·10^?3 s^?1. The quotient of these is comparable to the dissociation constant as measured in equilibrium binding studies, 2.2·10^?10 M. The temperature dependence of the rate of association indicated an Arrhenius activation energy of 8.4 kcal·mol^?1, while that of the equilibrium constant for dissociation indicated a standard enthalpy change of 8.8 kcal·mol^?1. The large increase in affinity of nitrobenzylthioinosine as compared to natural nucleosides is attributable to an entropy-driven interaction with the binding site. Thymidine, dipyridamole and papaverine each decrease the apparent dissociation constant for the nitrobenzylthioinosine-cell complex; the latter, inhibitors of nucleoside transport, decrease the rate of dissociation of the complex.     

The kinetics and specificity of electron transfer from cytochromes and copper proteins to P700

The rates of electron transfer to P700 from plastocyanin and cytochrome f have been compared with those from three other c-type cytochromes and azurin, a copper protein resembling plastocyanin. Three different disruptive techniques were used to expose P700; digitonin, Triton X-100 and sonication. The following rate constants were measured at 25 °C, pH 7.0, with digitonin-treated chloroplasts: plastocyanin, 8 · 10⁷ M^?1 · s^?1; red-algal cytochrome c-553, 1.9 · 10⁷ M^?1 · s^?1; Pseudomonas cytochrome c-551, 8 · 10⁶ M^?1 · s^?1; azurin, ? 3 · 10⁵ M^?1 · s^?1; cytochrome f, ? 2 · 10⁴ M^?1 · s^?1; mammalian cytochrome c, ? 2 · 10⁴ M^?1 · s^?1. For electron transfer from plastocyanin, the effects of ionic strength, pH and temperature were also studied, and saturation effects found in earlier work were avoided by a full consideration of the various secondary reactions and inclusion of superoxide dismutase. The relative rates are discussed in relation to photosynthetic electron transport.     

Kinetics of some electron-transfer reactions in biological photosystems. I. Pulse radiolysis study of spinach ferredoxin reduction by the hydrated electron and CO−2 radical

The reduction of spinach ferredoxin by the CO^?₂ radical and the hydrated electron (e^?_aq) has been studied by pulse radiolysis in the pH range between 5.05 and 9.67. The reduction of oxidized spinach ferredoxin by both CO^?₂ and e^?_aq was found to be essentially quantitative. The CO^?₂ radical reduces spinach ferredoxin by a single second-order process at a rate k₅ = (6.2 ± 0.6) · 10⁷ M^?1 · s^?1. Reduction by e^?_aq follows a biphasic pathway. The first phase obeys second-order kinetics for the reduction of the cluster, k_app = (9.4 ± 0.3) · 10⁹ M^?1 · s^?1. The second phase follows an intramolecular first-order reaction k_B = (8.3 ± 1.7) · 10² s^?1 which is observed as a further reduction of the active site. Spectral changes accompanying the reduction of oxidized spinach ferredoxin in the ultraviolet and visible range are discussed.     

Binding of 1,N6-ethanoadenosine triphosphate to actin

G-actin is known to bind one molecule of ATP. Its polymerization to F-actin is accompanied by the splitting off of the terminal phosphate of the bound nucleotide. We have found that the fluorescent 1,N⁶-ethanoadenosine triphosphate (?ATP) can substitute for ATP in G-actin and that G-actin containing bound ?ATP possesses essentially full polymerizability. The binding of this ATP analog has been studied by following the inactivation of the ?ATP·G-actin complex. The binding constant (4?5.7 × 10⁶ M^?1) obtained in the absence of EDTA is about 50% of that for ATP, while the binding constant obtained in the presence of EDTA (0.9?3.0 × 10⁵ M^?1) is comparable to those for ATP and ADP. These findings suggest that ?ATP can be used as a structural probe for actin. The fluorescence lifetime of ?ATP bound to G·actin is 36 nsec. The rotational relaxation time of ?ATP·G-actin is near 60 nsec. at 20°C.     

The pre-steady state reaction of ferrocytochrome c with the cytochrome c-cytochrome aa3 complex

1. Using stopped-flow technique we have investigated the electron transfer form cytochrome c to cytochrome aa₃ and to the (porphyrin) cytochrome c-cytochromeaa₃ complex.2. In a low ionic strength medium, the pre-steady state reaction occurs in a biphasic way with rate constants of at least 2 · 10⁸ M^?1 · s^?1 and about 10⁷ M^?1 · s^?1 (I = 8.8 mM, pH 7.0, 10° C), respectively.3. A comparison of the rate constants, determined in the presence of an excess of cytochrome c with those found in the presence of an excess of cytochrome aa₃ reveals the existence of two slower reacting sites on the functional unit (2 hemes and 2 coppers) of cytochrome aa₃. On basis of these results we discuss various models. If no site-site interactions are assumed (non-cooperative model) cytochrome aa₃ has 2 high and 2 low affinity sites available for the reaction with ferrocytochrome c. If negative cooperativity occurs, cytochrome aa₃ has 2 high affinity sites which change into 2 low affinity sites upon binding of one cytochrome c molecule. The latter model is favoured.     

Kinetics of flash-induced electron transfer between bacterial reaction centres,mitochondrial ubiquinol: Cytochrome c oxidoreductase and cytochrome c

Ascorbate-reduced horse heart cytochrome c reduces photo-oxidized bacterial reaction centres with a second-order rate constant of (5–8) · 10⁸ M^?1 · s^?1 at an ionic strength of 50 mM. In the absence of cytochrome c, the cytochrome c₁ in the ubiquinol:cytochrome c oxidoreductase is oxidized relatively slowly (k = 3.3 · 10⁵ M^?1 · s^?1). Ferrocytochrome c binds specifically to ascorbate-reduced reductase, with a K_d of 0.6 μM, and only the free cytochrome c molecules are involved in the rapid reduction of photo-oxidized reaction centres. The electron transfer between ferricytochrome c and ferrocytochrome c₁ of the reductase is rapid, with a second-order rate constant of 2.1 · 10⁸ M^?1 · s^?1 at an ionic strength of 50 mM. The rate of electron transfer from the Rieske iron-sulphur cluster to cytochrome c₁ is even more rapid. The cytochrome b of the ubiquinol:cytochrome c oxidoreductase can be reduced by electrons from the reaction centres through two pathways: one is sensitive to antimycin and the other to myxothiazol. The amount of cytochrome b reduced in the absence of antimycin is dependent on the redox potential of the system, but in no case tested did it exceed 25% of the amount of photo-oxidized reaction centres.     

Characterization of a 5′-AMP binding site in purified membranes from Dictyostelium discoideum

Although D.discoideum amoebae do not bind AMP at their surface if they are not disrupted, total cell lysates display high levels of AMP binding activity specifically associated with the plasma membrane. The binding of AMP is not competed by adenosine and only poorly by ADP and ATP. The AMP binding sites have a single affinity of 0.6 μM for AMP; the association and dissociation rate constants are respectively 8×10³ sec^?1M^?1 and 4.8 ×10^?3sec^?1. The AMP binding occurs at a site distinct from the cAMP binding site and from the catalytic site of a membrane bound enzyme.     

Interactions of beef heart mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase and aurovertin.

Aurovertin forms a complex with soluble beef heart mitochondrial ATPase (F₁) while exhibiting a biphasic fluorence enhancement. The effect of substrate, activators and inhibitors of F₁¹ of the fluorescence of the aurovertin-F₁ complex is reported. The aurovertin-F₁ complex can exist in two different states, one showing low fluorescence and the other with high fluorescence. Transition into the low fluorescence state is induced by various nucleoside triphosphates (ATP ± Mg²⁺, ITP ± Mg²⁺, GIP + Gg²⁺, and AMP-P(NH)P ± Mg²⁺). The rate and extent of fluorescence decrease caused by nucleotide addition (except that caused by ATP) is dependent on the presence of added Mg²⁺. The inhibitors of ATPase activity (AMP-P(NH)P, GMP-P(NH)P and EDTA) at concentrations that inhibit hydrolysis of ATP did not prevent the ATP induced decrease of aurovertin fluorescence. EDTA at high concentration (>0.4 mM) enhanced the effect of ADP.The complex of aurovertin with F₁ that had previously been treated with butanedione loses sensitivity to ATP. Addition of ADP to the system containing butanedione-treated enzyme caused a 2-fold greater enhancement of fluorescence than the addition of ADP to the control system. In contrast to the butanedione-treated enzyme, the complex of aurovertin with F₁ previously treated at pH 5.6 loses sensitivity to ADP. Addition of ATP to this system lowered the fluorescence as in the system containing native enzyme.On the basis of the analyses of the aurovertin fluorescence changes and hydrolytic activity of F₁, the existence of several types of ligand binding sties with varying degrees of specificity are proposed. It is further proposed that these sites are important in control of the conformation and the catalytic properties of the ATPase molecule.     

Characterization of the uptake of sucrose and glucose by isolated seed coat halves of developing pea seeds. Evidence that a sugar facilitator with diffusional kinetics is involved in seed coat unloading

Uptake of ¹⁴C-labelled sucrose and glucose by isolated seed coat halves of pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Marzia) seeds was measured in the concentration range <0.1 μM to 100 mM. The initial influx of sucrose was strictly proportional to the external concentration, with a coefficient of proportionality (k) of 6.2 μmol·(g FW)^?1·min^?1·M^?1. Sucrose influx was not affected by 10 μM carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), but it was inhibited by 40% in the presence of 2.5 mM p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS). Influx with diffusional kinetics was also observed for glucose (k = 4.8 μmol·(g FW)^?1·min ^?1·M ^?1) and mannitol (k = 5.1 μmol·(g FW)^?1·min^?1·M^?1). For glucose an additional saturable system was found (K_m = 0.26 mM, V _max = 4.2 nmol·(g FW)^?1·min^?1), which appeared to be completely inhibited by CCCP and partly by PCMBS. In contrast to the diffusional pathway, uptake by this saturable system was slightly pH-dependent, with an optimum at pH 5.5. The influx of sucrose appears to be by the same pathway as the efflux of endogenous sucrose, which was inhibited by 36% in the presence of 2.5 mM PCMBS (De Jong A, Wolswinkel P, 1995, Physiol Plant 94: 78–86). It is argued that passive transport may be the only mechanism for sucrose transport through the plasma membrane of seed coat parenchyma cells. The estimated permeability coefficient of the plasma membrane for sucrose (P = 3.5·10^?7 cm·s^?1) is more than 1 × 10⁶-fold higher than that reported for artificial lipid membranes. This relatively high permeability is hypothesized to result from pore-forming proteins that allow the diffusion of sucrose. Furthermore, it is shown that a sucrose gradient across the plasma membrane of the seed coat parenchyma of only 22 mM will suffice to result in the net efflux of sucrose which is required to feed the embryo.     

Structure of Cu2(indomethacin)4 and the reaction with superoxide in aprotic systems

The copper complex of indomethacin (1-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-indole acetate), a common anti-inflammatory drug, was prepared and characterized. Crystal structure determination revealed the dimeric form of the 1:2 complex, namely Cu₂(indomethacin)₄ · L₂, in the unit cell. Suprisingly, the copper-copper distance (263 pm) was very close to metallic copper (256 pm). The two coordination sites in the copper-copper axis can be readily replaced by superoxide. An intriguing similarity to Cu₂(acetate)₄ was seen.Due to the lipophilic nature of the indomethacin ligand, this copper complex reacted with superoxide in aprotic solvents. The superoxide dismutating activity was successfully demonstrated in Me₂SO/water and acetonitrile/water mixtures using the nitro-blue tetrazolium assay and pulse radiolysis. The second-order rate constant of 6 · 10⁹ M^?1 · s^?1 in strictly aqueous systems dropped only slightly to 1.1 · 10⁹ M^?1 · s^?1 when aprotic solvents were used. This is the fastest rate constant ever observed for a copper-dependent dismutation of superoxide. The KO₂-induced lipid peroxidation in both erythrocytes and liver microsomes was suppressed by 70% in the presence of 1 · 10^?10 mol · ml^?1 of Cu₂(indomethacin)₄. The inhibitory action dropped to 25% when Cu₂Zn₂superoxide dismutase was employed. The formation of copper · indomethacin in rat serum after administration of indomethacin was shown in vitro and in vivo.     

The oxidation of ferrocytochrome c by Br−2, (SCN)−2, N3 and OH radicals studied by pulsed-electron and γ-ray radiolysis

The reactions of ferrocytochrome c with Br^?₂, (SCN)^?₂, N₃ and OH radicals were followed by measuring the change in the optical spectra of cytochrome c on γ-irradiation as well as the rate of change of absorbance upon pulse irradiation.Ferrocytochrome c is oxidized to ferricytochrome c by Br^?₂, (SCN)^?₂ or N₃ radical with an efficiency of about 100% through a second-order process in which no intermediates were observed. The rate constants in neutral solutions at I = 0.073 are 9.7 · 10⁸ M^?1 · s^?1, 7.9 · 10⁸ M^?1 · s^?1, 1.3 · 10⁹ M^?1 · s^?1 for the oxidation by Br^?₂, (SCN)^?₂ and N₃ radicals, respectively. The rate constants do not vary appreciably in alkaline solutions (pH 8.9). The ionic strength dependence was observed for the rate constants of the oxidation by Br^?₂ and (SCN)^?₂. Those rate constants estimated on the assumption that the radicals react only with the amino acid residues with the characteristic steric correction factors were less than one-tenth of the observed ones. These results suggest that the partially exposed region of the heme is the probable site of electron transfer from ferrocytochrome c to the radical.Hydroxyl radicals also oxidize ferrocytochrome c with a high rate constant (k > 1 · 10¹⁰ M^?1 · s^?1), but with a very small efficiency (5%).     

Binding of Paeonol to Human Serum Albumin: A Hybrid Spectroscopic Approach and Conformational Study

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the binding of paeonol to human serum albumin (HSA) through spectroscopic methods. The fluorescence quenching of HSA by paeonol was a result of the formation of the HSA–paeonol complex with low binding affinity (K = 4.45 × 10³ M^?1 at 298 K). Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG^○ = –2.08 × 10⁴ J·mol^?1, ΔS^○ = 77.9 J·mol^?1·K^?1, ΔH^○ = 2.41 × 10³ J·mol^?1, k_q = 9.67 × 10¹² M^?1·s^?1) revealed that paeonol mainly binds HSA through hydrophobic force following a static quenching mode. The binding distance was estimated to be 1.91 nm by fluorescence resonant energy transfer. The conformation of HSA was changed and aggregates were formed in the presence of paeonol, revealed by synchronous fluorescence, circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, three‐dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy, and resonance light scattering results.