Fluorescence spectroscopic analysis on interaction of fleroxacin with pepsin

The interaction between fleroxacin (FLX) and pepsin was investigated by spectrofluorimetry. The effects of FLX on pepsin showed that the microenvironment of tryptophan residues and molecular conformation of pepsin were changed based on fluorescence quenching and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with three‐dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. Static quenching was suggested and it was proved that the fluorescence quenching of pepsin by FLX was related to the formation of a new complex and a non‐radiation energy transfer. The quenching constants K_SV, binding constants K and binding sites n were calculated at different temperatures. The molecular interaction distance (r = 6.71) and energy transfer efficiency (E = 0.216) between pepsin and FLX were obtained according to the Forster mechanism of non‐radiation energy transfer. Hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction played a major role in FLX–pepsin association. In addition, the hydrophobic interaction and binding free energy were further tested by molecular modeling study. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.