Influences of urea, pH and metal ions on the interaction between cepharanthine and lysozyme by steady state fluorescence spectroscopy

Raubasine-Induced Groove Binding in Salmon Testes DNA: Exploring the Structural Modulation, Antiglycation, and Antioxidant Properties

As one of nature's most fundamental blueprints and due to its critical role in life processes, DNA has naturally become the cornerstone of numerous research efforts. One particularly intriguing area of study is understanding how small molecules interact with nucleic acids. In this study, we investigated the interaction between the plant-derived indole alkaloid Raubasine (Ajmalicine; AJM) and Salmon Testes (ST) DNA using biophysical and computational techniques. A hyperchromic shift in the fluorescence intensity indicated the effective binding of AJM to ST DNA. The binding constant was in the order of 105 M-1 with a single preferential binding mode. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that exothermic binding was driven by positive entropy and negative enthalpy. The salt-dependent fluorescence analysis indicates the involvement of nonpolyelectrolytic forces in the interaction. Studies of iodide quenching, urea denaturation, dye displacement, and molecular docking further support that AJM binds to ST DNA through groove binding. Structural perturbation of DNA was evident from circular dichroism. The stability of the AJM-DNA complex was confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. Prolonged elevated blood glucose levels induce nonenzymatic glycation of DNA, resulting in DNA-AGE (advanced glycation end-products) formation and free radical production, which disrupts the DNA structure. We explored ST-DNA glycation and its suppression by AJM. DNA-AGEs in vitro were characterized using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The inhibition of glycation by AJM was assessed through changes in AGEs fluorescence intensity, gel electrophoresis patterns, and antioxidant activity, highlighting its ability to target glycated sites or neutralize free radicals generated during glycation. Our findings reveal AJM's potential to prevent the formation of AGEs, which may offer promising avenues for targeted therapies against glycation-related diseases such as diabetes, neurodegeneration, and cancer.

Multispectroscopic and Theoretical Investigation on the Binding Interaction of a Neurodegenerative Drug, Lobeline with Human Serum Albumin: Perturbation in Protein Conformation and Hydrophobic-Hydrophilic Surface

Lobeline (LOB), a naturally occurring alkaloid, has a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities and therapeutic potential, including applications in central nervous system disorders, drug misuse, multidrug resistance, smoking cessation, depression, and epilepsy. LOB represents a promising compound for developing treatments in various medical fields. However, despite extensive pharmacological profiling, the biophysical interaction between the LOB and proteins remains largely unexplored. In the current article, a range of complementary photophysical and cheminformatics methodologies were applied to study the interaction mechanism between LOB and the carrier protein HSA. Steady-state fluorescence and fluorescence lifetime experiments confirmed the static-quenching mechanisms in the HSA-LOB system. "K" (binding constant) of the HSA-LOB system was determined to be 105 M-1, with a single preferable binding site in HSA. The forces governing the HSA-LOB stable complex were analyzed by thermodynamic parameters and electrostatic contribution. The research also investigated how various metal ions affect complex binding. Site-specific binding studies depict Site I as probable binding in HSA by LOB. We conducted synchronous fluorescence, 3D fluorescence, and circular dichroism studies to explore the structural alteration occurring in the microenvironment of amino acids. To understand the robustness of the HSA-LOB complex, we used theoretical approaches, including molecular docking and MD simulations, and analyzed the principal component analysis and free energy landscape. These comprehensive studies of the structural features of biomolecules in ligand binding are of paramount importance for designing targeted drugs and delivery systems.

Exploring the interaction of a potent anti-cancer drug Selumetinib with bovine serum albumin: Spectral and computational attributes

The binding of drugs to plasma proteins determines its fate within the physiological system, hence profound understanding of its interaction within the bloodstream is important to understand its pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and thereby its therapeutic potential. In this regard, our work delineates the mechanism of interaction of Selumetinib (SEL), a potent anti-cancer drug showing excellent effect against multiple solid tumors, with plasma protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), using methods such as absorption, steady-state fluorescence, time-resolved, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), circular dichroism (CD), synchronous and 3D-fluorescence, salt fluorescence, molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. The BSA fluorescence intensity was quenched with increasing concentration of SEL which indicates interactions of SEL with BSA. Stern-Volmer quenching analysis and lifetime studies indicate the involvement of dynamic quenching. However, some contributions from the static quenching mechanism could not be ruled out unambiguously. The association constant was found to be 5.34 × 105 M-1 and it has a single binding site. The Förster distance (r) indicated probable energy transmission between the BSA and SEL. The positive entropy changes and enthalpy change indicate that the main interacting forces are hydrophobic forces, also evidenced by the results of molecular modeling studies. Conformation change in protein framework was revealed from FTIR, synchronous and 3D fluorescence and CD studies. Competitive binding experiments as well as docking studies suggest that SEL attaches itself to site I (subdomain IIA) of BSA where warfarin binds. Molecular dynamic simulations indicate the stability of the SEL-BSA complex. The association energy between BSA and SEL is affected in the presence of different metals differently.

Exploring the mechanism of interaction between TBG and halogenated thiophenols: Insights from fluorescence analysis and molecular simulation

Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, growth, organ differentiation, and energy homeostasis, exerting significant effects in various key metabolic pathways. Halogenated thiophenols (HTPs) exhibit high toxicity and harmfulness to organisms, and numerous studies have demonstrated their thyroid-disrupting effects. To understand the mechanism of action of HTPs on TBG, a combination of competitive binding experiments, multiple fluorescence spectroscopy techniques, molecular docking, and molecular simulations was employed to investigate the binding mechanism and identify the binding site. The competition binding assay between HTPs and ANS confirmed the competition of HTPs with thyroid hormone T4 for the active site of TBG, resulting in changes in the TBG microenvironment upon the binding of HTPs to the active site. Key amino acid residues involved in the binding process of HTPs and TBG were further investigated through residue energy decomposition. The distribution of high-energy contributing residues was determined. Analysis of root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) demonstrated the stability of the HTPs-TBG complex. These findings confirm the toxic mechanism of HTPs in thyroid disruption, providing a fundamental reference for accurately assessing the ecological risk of pollutants and human health. Providing mechanistic insights into how HTPS causes thyroid diseases.

Influence of Fe(III) on the Fluorescence of Lysozyme: a Facile and Direct Method for Sensitive and Selective Sensing of Fe(III)

Lysozyme is widely used for the synthesis of nanomaterials (e.g., gold nanoparticle) to fluorescently sense metal ions. However, the effect of metal ions on the fluorescence of lysozyme is not studied yet. Herein, we have explored the interactions of lysozyme with different metal ions to develop a direct sensing platform for Fe(III). It has been observed that the fluorescence of lysozyme was slightly decreased in the presence of Cu(II), Hg(II), As(V), Co(II), Cd(II), Cr(II), Fe(II), Mn(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II), while a significant decrease in the lysozyme fluorescence was observed for Fe(III). The effect of thermal stability on the fluorescence quenching was also studied from 25 to 60 °C. In the present study, the lysozyme sensing probe was able to selectively and accurately detect 0.5-50 ppm of Fe(III) with a LOD of 0.1 ppm (1.8 µM) at 25 °C.

Molecular interaction of sulfonamides and ovalbumin, an allergenic egg protein, exploring biophysical, theoretical and biological studies

Biophysical, theoretical and biological in vitro studies were carried out to evaluate the interaction of the main allergen protein of egg white (ovalbumin, OVA) with sulphonamides (SA): sulphathiazole (S1), sulfaquinoxaline (S2), sulfadimethoxine (S3) and sulfamethazine (S4). The binding constants for the OVA-SA supramolecular complexes ranged from 1.20 to 30.66 × 10⁵ M^-1, observing the following order of affinity: S1 > S2 > S4 > S3. The preferential forces in the stabilization of the OVA complexes with S2 and S3 were hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces, whereas for OVA-S1 and OVAS4, were electrostatic interactions. Interaction process led to a change in the native structure of the protein, which may potentiate its natural allergenicity. Cations Ca(II), Mg(II) and Fe(III) favor the interaction of OVA with S1 and S2. The theoretical studies performed were consistent with the spectroscopic data. Finally, it was found that the interaction process for sulfonamides evaluated with OVA change the inhibition activity profile these antibiotics against strains of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Bacillus megaterium APFSG3isox, but not the minimal inhibitory concentration values.

Interactions of tetracyclines with milk allergenic protein (casein): a molecular and biological approach

Tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and chlortetracycline (CTC) interactions with the allergenic milk protein casein (CAS) were here evaluated simulating food conditions. The antibiotics assessed interact with CAS through static quenching and form non-fluorescent complexes. At 30 °C, the binding constant (K_b) varied from 0.05 to 1.23 × 10⁶ M^-1. Tetracycline interacts with CAS preferably through electrostatic forces, while oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline interactions occur by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. The interaction process is spontaneous, and the magnitude of interaction based on K_b values, followed the order: TC < CTC < OTC. The distances between the donor (protein) and the receptors (TC, OTC, and CTC) were determined by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and varied from 3.67 to 4.08 nm. Under natural feeding conditions, the citrate decreased the affinity between TC and CAS; a similar effect was observed for OTC in the presence of Ca(II), Fe(III) and lactose. Synchronized and three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence studies indicated alterations in the original protein conformation due to the interaction process, which may influence allergenic processes. In addition, complexation with CAS modulated the antimicrobial activity of CTC against S. aureus, demonstrated that the interaction process possibly alters the biological properties of antibiotics and the own protein, in the food conditions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Effect of curcumin derivatives on hen egg white lysozyme amyloid fibrillation and their interaction study by spectroscopic methods

Two novel Boc-L-isoleucine-functionalized curcumin derivatives have been synthesized and characterized, which exhibited enhanced solubility in water compared with the natural curcumin. The solubility could reach 2.12mg/mL for the monosubstituted compound and 3.05mg/mL for the disubstituted compound, respectively. Their anti-amyloidogenic capacity on the model protein, hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL), was examined in aqueous solution. ThT fluorescence assay showed that the operation concentration was only 0.5mM when the inhibition ratio was above 70%. Meanwhile, the inhibitory capacity of monosubstituted curcumin derivative on the formation of HEWL amyloid fibrils was found to be superior to that of disubstituted derivative, suggesting that the phenolic hydroxyl group might contribute to the anti-amyloidogenic activity. Interaction study showed that both curcumin derivatives could bind with HEWL near tryptophan residues and form new ground-state complex before HEWL self-assemblies into amyloid fibrils and thus inhibits the formation of amyloid fibrils. Both of the two cucumin derivatives have displayed low cytotoxicity with HeLa cell.

Study on the interactions between toxic nitroanilines and lysozyme by spectroscopic approaches and molecular modeling

Being exogenous environmental pollutants, nitroanilines (NAs) are highly toxic and have mutagenic and carcinogenic activity. Being lack of studies on interactions between NAs and lysozyme at molecular level, the binding interactions of lysozyme with o-nitroaniline (oNA), m-nitroaniline (mNA) and p-nitroaniline (pNA) were investigated by means of steady-state fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, as well as molecular modeling. The experimental results revealed that the fluorescence of lysozyme is quenched by oNA and mNA through a static quenching, while the fluorescence quenching triggered by pNA is a combined dynamic and static quenching. The number of binding sites (n) and the binding constant (K_b) corresponding thermodynamic parameters ΔH^⊖, ΔS^⊖, ΔG^⊖ at different temperatures were calculated. The reactions between NAs and lysozyme were spontaneous and entropy driven and the binding of NAs to lysozyme induced conformation changes of lysozyme. The difference of the position of -NO₂ group affected the binding and the binding constants K_b decreased in the following pattern: K_b (pNA) >K_b (mNA) >K_b (oNA). Molecular docking studies were performed to reveal the most favorable binding sites of NAs on lysozyme. Our recently results could offer mechanistic insights into the nature of the binding interactions between NAs and lysozyme and provide information about the toxicity risk of NAs to human health.

Binding of naringin and naringenin with hen egg white lysozyme: A spectroscopic investigation and molecular docking study

The interactions of naringenin (NG) and naringin (NR) with Hen Egg White Lysozyme (HEWL) in aqueous medium have been investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy, steady-state fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and molecular docking analyses. Both NG and NR can quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HEWL via static quenching mechanism. At 300K, the value of binding constant (K_b) of HEWL-NG complex (5.596±0.063×10⁴M^-1) was found to be greater than that of HEWL-NR complex (3.404±0.407×10⁴M^-1). The negative ΔG° values in cases of both the complexes specify the spontaneous binding. The binding distance between the donor (HEWL) and acceptor (NG/NR) was estimated using the Försters theory and the possibility of non-radiative energy transfer from HEWL to NG/NR was observed. The presence of metal ions (Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe²⁺) decreased the binding affinity of NG/NR towards HEWL. Synchronous fluorescence studies indicate the change in Trp micro-environment due to the incorporation of NG/NR into HEWL. CD and FT-IR studies indicated that the α-helicity of the HEWL was slightly enhanced due to ligand binding. NG and NR inhibited the enzymatic activity of HEWL and exhibited their affinity for the active site of HEWL. Molecular docking studies revealed that both NG and NR bind in the close vicinity of Trp 62 and Trp 63 residues which is vital for the catalytic activity.