The Stability of Cyclodextrin Complexes in Solution

Artificial chaperone-assisted refolding of citrate synthase

The power of genetic engineering methods, along with increasing genomic information, makes heterologous expression of proteins an extremely important biochemical tool. Unfortunately, proteins obtained in this way often are not in their native form, and folding becomes a crucial step in protein production. We have recently developed a strategy that promotes the folding of chemically denatured proteins via the sequential addition of low molecular weight "artificial chaperones." Here we describe in detail the application of this method to porcine heart citrate synthase. Refolding yields of as high as 65% have been achieved. Mechanistic studies indicate that there are significant differences between artificial chaperone-assisted refolding of citrate synthase and artificial chaperone-assisted refolding of two other proteins that have been examined, carbonic anhydrase B (Rozema, D., and Gellman, S. H. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 3478-3487) and lysozyme (Rozema, D., and Gellman, S. H. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 15760-15771). The differences among these three test proteins reveal the range of procedural variation that must be considered in the application of the artificial chaperone method to new proteins.

Novel derivatives of cyclodextrins, modified with poly(ethylene oxide) and their complexation properties

A new family of bouquet-like molecules based on cyclodextrins is described. These compounds were obtained by polymerization of ethylene oxide. This reaction was initiated by primary and secondary hydroxyl groups of cyclodextrins, which constitute an organizing core. Analysis of structure and composition of conjugates based on alpha-CD and beta-CD was performed using the data of MALDI-MS, GC-MS, and 13C-NMR spectra. Glass transition behavior of the conjugates shows that the above compounds are amorphous. Complexation properties of the conjugates are described with respect to sodium 4-nitrophenolate and calcium acetylhomotaurinate, which are used as guest molecules. Binding interaction between cyclodextrins or their conjugates and sodium 4-nitrophenolate was studied using differential absorption spectra. Association constants Ka between CD hosts and calcium acetylhomotaurinate composed of two equal anionic moieties were studied using 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The values of binding constant for beta-CD were found to increase by more than 2 orders of magnitude than that of the corresponding system based on alpha-CD. alpha-CD was shown to form the inclusion complex with one anionic moiety, whereas beta-CD produces a ternary complex with two anionic moieties of CAHT. For PEO derivatives of CDs, Ka decreases as compared with that of parent CD for both guests. These conjugates may be used as potent drug-delivery systems.

Interaction between cyclodextrins and aflatoxins Q1, M1 and P1. Fluorescence and chromatographic studies

The fluorescence properties of the aflatoxins M1, Q1, P1 in solution and the effect of various cyclodextrins (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, hydroxypropyl-beta- and alpha-beta-heptakis-di-O-methyl-beta-) on their fluorescence emission were studied. Among the aflatoxins, a substantial enhancement of the fluorescence emission of aflatoxin Q1 in the presence of aqueous solutions of alpha-, beta-, hydroxypropyl-beta, and alpha-beta-heptakis-di-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, was observed. On the contrary, gamma-cyclodextrin proved to be inefficient to enhance the fluorescence properties of this compound. No important fluorescence enhancement was found for aflatoxins P1 or M1 for any of the cyclodextrin derivatives tested. The complex formation constant (Kf) of these compounds with beta-cyclodextrin was chromatographically determined, and from the results obtained, we can conclude that Kf cannot be used alone to explain the fluorescence increase. Thermodynamic studies showed that delta-H and delta-S parameters, associated with the partition of aflatoxins in RP-HPLC, increased when beta-cyclodextrin was added to the eluent.

Prevention of precipitation of phenytoin in an infusion fluid by hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin

Injection of phenytoin is often diluted with infusion fluids before administration, which may lead to precipitation of the drug due to changes in pH and/or vehicle. It is not possible to add cyclodextrins to the original injections to prevent precipitation of the drug, because the quantities required would be impractical (>100% w/v). However, from a knowledge of the solubility of phenytoin in cyclodextrin solutions, it is possible to add sufficient amounts of a soluble cyclodextrin to infusion fluids to maintain the solubility of phenytoin after the original injection is diluted to clinical concentrations in the fluid. From solubility measurements, theoretical amounts of hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD), sufficient to prevent precipitation of phenytoin, were added to 0.9% w/v sodium chloride solution, adjusted to pH 7.0. Phenytoin injection was diluted to clinical concentrations in the cyclodextrin/NaCl solutions. The mixtures, together with analogous mixtures containing phenytoin, but no HPCD, were stored at 25 degrees C for 3 days. In the presence of the cyclodextrin no precipitates of phenytoin were observed, but in its absence an immediate massive precipitation of phenytoin occurred. This is a flexible method for using soluble cyclodextrins to prevent precipitates of drugs in infusion fluids, provided the cyclodextrin used is not toxic.

Kinetics of the self-assembly of bold alpha -cyclodextrin [2]pseudorotaxanes with polymethylene threads bearing quaternary ammonium and phosphonium end groups

The kinetics and mechanism of the formation and dissociation of a series of [2]pseudorotaxanes, comprised of α -cyclodextrin (α -CD) as the cyclic component and the ([Me3N(CH2)nNMe3]2+ (n = 8-12), [Me2EtN(CH2)10NEtMe2]2+, and [Me3P(CH2)10PMe3]2+) dications as the threads, were determined by means of 1H and 31P NMR in aqueous solution. The length of the polymethylene chain (n) of the thread, which has a minor effect on the rate constant for pseudorotaxane formation, is important in the kinetics of the dissociation reactions, with the longer, more hydrophobic chains resulting in slower pseudorotaxane dissociation. The replacement of one methyl substitutent by an ethyl group in each of the end groups on the [Me3N(CH2)10NMe3]2+ thread results in a 30-fold decrease in the formation rate constant. Replacements, by ethyls, of two or all of the methyl substitutents prevent the formation of the pseudorotaxane, even after prolonged heating. The pseudorotaxane containing the {Me3P(CH2)10PMe3.; α-CD}2+ thread forms only at elevated temperatures by a slippage mechanism, and the rate constant for its self-assembly at 75°C (8 x 10-5 M-1 s-1) is more than 106 smaller than the rate constant at 75°C (200 M-1 s-1) extrapolated for the corresponding {Me3N(CH2)10NMe3 . α -CD}2+complex. The enthalpies and entropies of activation for the formation and dissociation of the [2]pseudorotaxanes decrease with an increase in the size and hydrophobicity of the end groups, suggesting a reduced role of desolvation of the quaternized atoms in the threading or dethreading processes.Key words: pseudorotaxane, α -cyclodextrin, kinetics, self-assembly, slippage, supramolecular.

Binding of substituted acetic acids to alpha-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution

Complex binding constants of 23 aliphatic acids with alpha-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution were measured by potentiometry, solubility, or competitive spectrophotometry at 25 degrees C. All systems formed 1:1 acid:cyclodextrin complexes, and some of them also formed 1:2 complexes. The conjugate acids formed stronger complexes than did the conjugate bases (except for glycine). Empirical correlations of complex stabilities are shown with partition coefficients, surface areas, molar refraction, and other descriptors. Complex stability appears to result from the hydrophobic effect, the dispersion interaction, and interaction of the carboxylic acid group with the cyclodextrin.