Interaction of proteins with detergents: Binding of cationic detergents with lysozyme

Binding studies of cationic detergents such as cetyl trimethylammonium bromide, Cetylpyridinium bromide and dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide with lysozyme were carried out by equilibrium dialysis, ultraviolet difference and circular dichroism techniques at 25 C. Binding isotherms at pH 5·0, 7·0 and 9·0 show cooperative binding at all concentrations of detergents and the number of available binding sites in lysozyme increases with pH. Gibbs free energy of binding calculated on the basis of Wymans’ binding potential concept increases with pH indicating increased binding strength at higher pH. The ultraviolet difference spectra of the detergent complexes with lysozyme at pH 7·0 and 9·0 in the region of 250–300 nm indicate the involvement of aromatic amino acid residues as probable binding sites and also the carboxylate groups since the binding is cooperative. The circular dichroism spectra also indicate the involvement of aromatic amino acid residues in the binding of these detergents. This is substantiated by the decrease in the intensity of the aromatic positive bands in the near ultraviolet region. The increase in the magnitude of [θ]_{222 nm} values in the far ultraviolet region with the increase in the concentration of the detergent in the complex indicates conformational changes resulting in an increase of α-helical content producing a more ordered structure of lysozyme.These binding studies show that at pH 7·0 and 9·0, hydrophobic interactions play a major role, while at pH 5·0 only electrostatic interactions play prominent role in the binding of these detergents. Paper presented at the International Symposium on Biomolecular Structure and Interactions held at the Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, during 17–22, December 1984.