Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Fluorometry”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,351 records · Page 75Linked to original sources

Copper ion-selective fluorescent sensor based on the inner filter effect using a spiropyran derivative.

A highly selective copper(II) ion fluorescent sensor has been designed based on the UV-visible absorption of a spiropyran derivative coupled with the use of a metal porphyrin operative on the fluorescence inner filter effect. Spiropyrans, which combine the characteristics of metal binding and signal transduction, have been widely utilized in cationic ion recognition by UV-visible spectroscopy. In the present work, the viability of converting the absorption signal of the spiropyran molecule into a fluorescence signal was explored. On account of overlap of the absorption band of the spiropyran (lambda(abs) = 547 nm) in the presence of copper ion with the Q-band of an added fluorophore, zinc meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (lambda(abs) = 556 nm), the effective light absorbed by the porphyrin and concomitantly the emitted light intensity vary as a result of varying absorption of the spiropyran via fluorescence inner filter effect. The metal binding characteristic of the spiropyran presents an excellent selectivity for copper ion in comparison with several other heavy or transition metal ions. Since the changes in the absorbance of the absorber translate into exponential changes in fluorescence of the fluorophore, the novelty of the present device is that the analytical signal is more sensitive over that of the absorptiometry or that of the fluorometry using one single dye. To realize a practical fluorescent sensor, both the absorber and fluorophore were immobilized in a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane, and the sensing characteristics of the membrane for copper ion were investigated. The sensor is useful for measuring Cu2+ at concentrations ranging from 7.5 x 10(-7) to 3.6 x 10(-5) M with a detection limit of 1.5 x 10(-7) M. The sensor is chemically reversible, the fluorescence was switched off by immersing the membrane in copper ion solution and switched on by washing it with EDTA solution.

Benzopyrans↗

Homogeneous assay technology based on upconverting phosphors.

Upconversion photoluminescence can eliminate problems associated with autofluorescence and scattered excitation light in homogeneous luminescence-based assays without need for temporal resolution. We have demonstrated a luminescence resonance energy-transfer-based assay utilizing inorganic upconverting (UPC) lanthanide phosphor as a donor and fluorescent protein as an acceptor. UPC phosphors are excited at near-infrared and they have narrow-banded anti-Stokes emission at visible wavelengths enabling measurement of the proximity-dependent sensitized emission with minimal background. The acceptor alone does not generate any direct emission at shorter wavelengths under near-infrared excitation. A competitive model assay for biotin was constructed using streptavidin-conjugated Er3+,Yb3+-doped UPC phosphor as a donor and biotinylated phycobiliprotein as an acceptor. UPC phosphor was excited at near-infrared (980 nm) and sensitized acceptor emission was measured at red wavelength (600 nm) by using a microtitration plate fluorometer equipped with an infrared laser diode and suitable excitation and emission filters. Lower limit of detection was in the subnanomolar concentration range. Compared to time-resolved fluorometry, the developed assay technology enabled simplified instrumentation. Excitation at near-infrared and emission at red wavelengths render the technology also suitable to analysis of strongly colored and fluorescent samples, which are often of concern in clinical immunoassays and in high-throughput screening.

Biosensing Techniques↗

Transformation from block-type to graft-type oligonucleotide-glycopolymer conjugates by self-organization with half-sliding complementary oligonucleotides and their lectin recognition.

Block-type oligonucleotide-glycopolymer conjugates bearing alpha-mannosides and beta-galactosides were prepared by coupling 5'-thiol-modified oligonucleotides with iodoacetamidated glycopolymers that were synthesized by telomerization. The conjugates minimally affected the DNA conformation and melting behavior of the duplex. Their self-organization via hybridization with the half-sliding complementary oligonucleotides produced graft-type conjugates or macromolecular gapped DNA duplexes grafted with glycopolymers at regular intervals, which was confirmed using size exclusion chromatography and electrophoresis. The binding affinity of block-type and self-organized graft-type conjugates to lectins was investigated using fluorometry. The affinity of the graft-type duplex assembly bearing mannosides to Con A was approximately 2 times stronger than that of block-type single-stranded or double-stranded conjugates with full complementary oligonucleotides. The organization strategy of DNA-glycopolymer conjugates might be useful for constructing novel glyco-clusters and also for developing a new methodology for gene therapy.

Lectins↗

Influence of coupling method on the luminescence properties, coupling efficiency, and binding affinity of antibodies labeled with europium (III) chelates.

A series of chelating 4-(phenylethynyl)pyridines having various 1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino groups at the para position of the phenyl ring was synthesized. Their europium chelates were coupled to antibodies and the properties of antibody conjugates analyzed by fluorometry and in time-resolved fluorometric immunoassay. The substituents in the triazine ring were observed to have various effects on the chelate luminescence, the labeling properties of the chelates, and the immunoreactivity of labeled antibodies. The series of substituted triazinyl derivatives serves as a model of bioreactive groups that can be applied when certain properties are searched for, such as improved chelate solubilities, minimized internal quenching, different effects on the ligand triplet state, and stipulated coupling reactivities.

Antibodies↗

Functionalization of covalent DNA-streptavidin conjugates by means of biotinylated modulator components.

Covalent DNA-streptavidin conjugates are versatile biomolecular coupling reagents, since they have binding capacity for both a complementary nucleic acid and four molecules of biotin. The DNA-streptavidin hybrid molecules have been investigated for their capabilities to bind two different types of biotinylated components. Thus, (i) a functional biomolecule, e.g., a single-stranded DNA fragment or an enzyme and (ii) low-molecular weight biotin derivatives ("modulators") were coupled stepwise with the hybrid molecules. Modulators were D-biotin, aminobiotin, and biotin-fluorescein conjugate as well as a lysine-rich 10mer peptide, containing a biotin and a fluorescein substituent. These modulators were chosen to affected the hybridization properties of the DNA-streptavidin conjugates. As investigated by surface-plasmon resonance and microplate solid-phase hybridization measurements, D-biotin, biotin-fluorescein, and aminobiotin decreased the efficiency of hybridization with complementary, surface-bound oligonucleotides to a varying extent. The basic peptide increased the conjugate's hybridization efficiency. Moreover, it was demonstrated in two examples how modulators can be utilized as additional functional domains of streptavidin-based conjugates. First, fluorescein-containing modulators were used as hapten groups, allowing a sensitive detection by means of specific antibodies directed against the modulator. Second, the biotinylated peptide was used as a carrier molecule to attach multiple fluorogenic lanthanide-chelate groups to the streptavidin conjugate, enabling its sensitive detection by time-resolved fluorometry. The applicability of this kind of bioconjugation strategy to generate sensor-probes for gene detection assays was demonstrated.

Biotinylation↗

Structure and polarity of mouse brain synaptic plasma membrane: effects of ethanol in vitro and in vivo.

Structural and dielectric alteration by ethanol in vitro and chronic ethanol consumption were examined in synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) using diphenylhexatriene and charged diphenylhexatriene derivatives. These fluorophores, in combination with multifrequency phase and modulation fluorometry, allowed the examination of the surface and interior core of SPM. Limiting anisotropy and rotational relaxation time demonstrated that the synaptosomal plasma membrane surface domain was more rigid than the interior core domain. Ethanol in vitro fluidized the interior core and surface domains in SPM of the control, but not chronic ethanol-treated mice. Although the latter membranes were more rigid than control membranes, the intrinsic rigidity of the interior core of the synaptosomal plasma membrane did not strictly correlate with effects of ethanol in vitro. SPM of irradiated membranes were more rigid, but ethanol fluidized those membranes. Diphenylhexatriene lifetime and photoreactivity were sensitive to the range of dielectric constants in the SPM interior core. Ethanol in vitro increased both the surface and interior core range of dielectric constants of SPM from control but not chronic ethanol-treated animals. Thus, ethanol in vitro altered not only the fluidity but also the range of dielectric constants in both the surface and interior core domains in SPM of control but not chronic ethanol-treated mice.

Animals↗

Fatty acid flip-flop in phospholipid bilayers is extremely fast.

The rate of movement of fatty acids (FA) across phospholipid bilayers is an important consideration for their mechanism of transport across cell membranes but has not yet been measured. When FA move undirectionally across phospholipid bilayers, the rapid movement of un-ionized FA compared to ionized FA results in transport of protons. We have previously used this property to show that FA move spontaneously ("flip-flop") across the bilayer of small unilamellar vesicles within approximately 1 s (Kamp & Hamilton, 1992, 1993). This work extends the time resolution of this assay into the millisecond time range by use of stopped flow fluorometry. In small unilamellar vesicles (diameter, approximately 25 nm) at neutral pH, flip-flop of all fatty acids studied (lauric, myristic, palmitic, oleic, and stearic) was > or = 80% complete within 5-10 ms. In large unilamellar vesicles (diameter, approximately 100 nm), the same fatty acids exhibited fast flip-flop but with a measureable rate (t 1/2 = 23 +/- 12 ms). The calculated pseudounimolecular rate constant of the un-ionized FA (kFAH) approximately 15 s-1. There was no dependence of the flip-flop rate on the fatty acid chain length or structure. We also monitored the rate of desorption and transbilayer movement of (anthroyloxy)stearic acid in small unilamellar vesicles. Whereas previous studies suggested slow flip-flop of this FA analogue, the present studies suggest that (anthroyloxy)stearic acid flip-flops rapidly and that earlier studies did not truly measure the transbilayer movement step. These findings further support the view that proteins are not required for translocation of FA across cell membranes.

Arylsulfonates↗

Role of Mg2+ ions in the conformational change reported by fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate modification of Na+,K(+)-ATPase.

The role of Mg2+ in the conformational change reported by fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate modification of Na,K-ATPase has been studied by stopped-flow fluorometry. K+ causes a fluorescence quench that is reversed by Na+. The principal experimental observations are as follows: (1) Mg2+ decreases the apparent affinity of the enzyme for K+ but does not affect the maximum rate of the K+ quench. (2) The amplitude of the K+ quench depends hyperbolically on the K+ concentration, and the maximum amplitude is unaffected by the Mg2+ concentration. (3) The rate at which Na+ reverses the K+ quench depends inversely on the Mg2+ concentration. (4) The amplitude of the Na+ reversal also decreases with increasing Mg2+ concentration. The data are quantitatively explained by a model that assumes only two enzyme conformations, detectable by their fluorescence emission. Mg2+ increases Kd for K+ from 14 to 223 mM. At 22 degrees C, Kd = 0.16 mM for Mg2+ dissociation from E1, and the heat of Mg2+ binding, delta H degrees, is 11.4 kcal mol-1. Kd is more than an order of magnitude larger for Mg2+ dissociation from E2K. Mg2+ binding does not affect the forward (E1K-->E2K) rate constant (kf), but decreases the reverse rate constant (kr) thus increasing the equilibrium constant for the reaction (Kc = kf/kr) 6-fold. Therefore, Mg2+ is not directly involved in the conformational transition, but the study supports proposals that Mg2+ binding and release may help to regulate the transport cycle by shifting the distribution of enzyme between E1 and E2 conformers.

Animals↗

Reaction pathway for inhibition of blood coagulation factor Xa by tick anticoagulant peptide.

The reaction pathway for inhibition of human factor Xa (fXa) by recombinant tick anticoagulant peptide (rTAP) was studied by stopped-flow fluorometry. In the presence of the fluorogenic substrate N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-L-isoleucyl-L-glutamylglycyl-L-arginyl-7-amido-4 - methylcoumarin (B-IEGR-AMC) and under pseudo-first-order conditions, inhibition appears to occur via a two-step process. Initially, a weak enzyme-inhibitor complex forms with a dissociation constant (Ki) of 68 +/- 6 microM. The initial complex then rearranges to a more stable fXa-rTAP complex with a rate constant (k2) of 123 +/- 5 s-1. The apparent second-order rate constant (k2/Ki) describing formation of the stable complex is (1.8 +/- 0.2) x 10(6) M-1 s-1. Studies of the reaction of rTAP with fXa in the presence of the fluorescent active-site probe p-amino-benzamidine (P) revealed a reaction pathway wherein rTAP initially binds to the fXa-P complex in a two-step process prior to displacing P from the active site. These results indicate that rTAP can bind fXa via a site distinct from the active site (an exosite). The subsequent displacement of P from the active site of fXa by rTAP exhibits a dependence on the concentration of P, indicating that rTAP is locked into the active site in a third step.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Chemical depolarization-induced SR calcium release in triads isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle.

Excitation-Ca2+ release coupling properties in the heavy microsomal fraction of the rabbit skeletal muscle enriched in triads were investigated by following the same type of approach used for the studies of excitation-contraction coupling in the skinned fiber system. Incubation of the triads with Mg-ATP in a solution containing 150 mM K+, 15.0-37.2 mM Na+, 150-180 mM gluconate-, and 150-200 microM Ca2+ (priming solution) led to (a) the generation of a T-tubule membrane potential making the cytoplasmic side negative, as assessed by potential-dependent uptake of the potential probe [14C]SCN- by triads, and (b) active transport of Ca2+ into the SR moiety. One volume of the primed (viz., polarized and Ca(2+)-loaded) triads was mixed with nine volumes of depolarization solution according to Cl(-)-replacement [Donaldson, S.K.B. (1985) J. Gen. Physiol 86, 501-525; Stephenson, E. W. (1985) J. Gen. Physiol. 86, 813-832] and Na(4)-replacement [Lamb, G.D., & Stephenson, D.G. (1990) J. Physiol. 423, 495-517] protocols used for the induction of contraction in skinned fiber system. The ionic replacement procedure by either protocol produced a rapid release of Ca2+ from SR as determined by stopped-flow fluorometry using fluo-3 as a Ca2+ probe in the presence of BAPTA-calcium buffer. Both the rate constant and the magnitude of Ca2+ release increased with the degree of ionic replacement. The ionic replacement-dependent changes in the release kinetics showed a striking similarity to the voltage-dependent changes of the Ca2+ transient in the intact fiber system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Experimentally verifying molecular dynamics simulations through fluorescence anisotropy measurements.

The fluorescence anisotropy decay of the single tryptophan residue in phospholipase A2 was studied by use of differential polarized phase fluorometry and computer simulations of protein dynamics. The results enable the verification of a simulated dynamic event by direct experimental measurement on the same time scale. When all hydrogen atoms are modeled explicitly, the simulations agree well with the experimental measurements. However, the measurements contradict simulations in which nonpolar hydrogens are incorporated into "extended" or "united" atoms. These simulations predict an anisotropy decay in excess of measured values and appear to seriously underestimate the electrostatic interactions occurring between water and aromatic side chains. The results support the general validity of studying protein dynamics with the molecular-mechanics approach and illustrate a potentially serious deficiency of simulations which do not explicitly model all hydrogen atoms.

Animals↗

Temperature dependence of the rates of conformational changes reported by fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate modification of H+,K(+)- and Na+,K(+)-ATPases.

Stopped-flow fluorometry has been used to measure the forward and reverse rates of the conformational change from E1 to E2 in the fluorescein-modified proton and sodium pumps (1) as a function of Na+ and K+ concentrations to verify the proposed mechanism of ion interaction with the enzymes and (2) as a function of temperature to gain insight into the nature of the conformational transition. (1) The fluorescence changes caused by Na+ and K+ are consistent with rapid competitive binding of the two ions to the E1 conformations of the enzymes followed by rate-limiting transitions between E1K and E2K. (2) Reaction coordinate diagrams for the E1K to E2K transitions in the H,K-ATPase and Na,K-ATPase are qualitatively similar. Enthalpy barriers to reaction are partially compensated by increased entropy in the transition states. However, there are striking quantitative differences between the two enzymes. The E2K to E1K reaction of the H,K-ATPase is more than 2 orders of magnitude faster (tau 1/2 = 6 ms at 22 degrees C) than the reverse rate of the Na,K-ATPase transition (tau 1/2 = 1.6 s), explaining repeated failure to detect a K(+)-"occluded" form of the H,K-enzyme. The E2K conformer of the Na,K-ATPase is 3 orders of magnitude more stable than E1K, while the E1K and E2K conformations of the H,K-ATPase are nearly equivalent energetically.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Orientational distribution of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene in phospholipid vesicles as determined by global analysis of frequency domain fluorimetry data.

Polarized differential phase and modulation ratios were obtained for 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) in 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC), and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) vesicles by using multifrequency phase fluorometry. Data were analyzed in terms of both empirical sums-of-exponentials modeling and directly in terms of the orientational distribution functions. The orientational analysis model was used to recover the angular distribution of DPH and the rotational diffusion coefficient in the various membrane model systems throughout the phase transition. A global analysis methodology was utilized to obtain an internally consistent set of parameters that fit all of the data simultaneously. The rank order parameters (P2) and (P4) were extracted from the experimental data, and the angular distribution functions of DPH were calculated. When the time-zero anisotropy (r0) of several sets of data taken at various temperatures were linked in a single global analysis, better recovery of the fourth rank order parameter (P4), diffusion constant D, and r0 was obtained with respect to the unlinked analysis. From these recovered values, a detailed picture concerning the orientational distribution of DPH in membranes as a function of temperature was obtained. The results suggest that a single population of DPH molecules was present in the bilayers with their orientational distributions dependent upon the physical state of the membranes in the pure phases. During the phase transition, a superposition of two populations corresponding to the population of the pure phases was present. As the temperature increased in the transition region, one population was increasing at the expense of the other.

Diffusion↗

A differential polarized phase fluorometric study of the effects of high hydrostatic pressure upon the fluidity of cellular membranes.

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure (up to 2 kbar) upon the fluidity and order of the synaptic and myelin membrane fractions of goldfish brain have been studied by using steady-state and differential polarized phase fluorometry. Probe motion provided a measure of membrane order (r infinity) and probe rotational rate (R). Membrane order became progressively greater as pressure was increased up to approximately 2 kbar. This effect was similar over the temperature range 5.6-34.3 degrees C. An increase in pressure of 1 kbar had an effect on membrane order that was equivalent to a 13-19 degrees C reduction in temperature. Membrane order was essentially identical during pressurization and depressurization. At 5.6 degrees C, pressurization caused a large increase in R, and similar, though less dramatic, anomalies occurred at higher temperatures. It is suggested that this is due to the segregation of probe molecules in highly ordered membranes, which leads either to excitation transfer between 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) molecules or to changes in the rotational motion of DPH from "sticking" to "slipping".

Animals↗

Sequence variation in heparin octasaccharides with high affinity for antithrombin III.

We have isolated from nitrous acid cleavage products of heparin two major octasaccharide fragments which bind with high affinity to human antithrombin. Octasaccharide S, with the predominant structure iduronic acid----N-acetylglucosamine 6-O-sulfate----glucuronic acid-----N-sulfated glucosamine 3,6-di-O-sulfate----iduronic acid 2-O-sulfate----N-sulfated glucosamine 6-O-sulfate----iduronic acid 2-O-sulfate----anhydromannitol 6-O-sulfate, is sensitive to cleavage by Flavobacterium heparinase as well as platelet heparitinase and binds to antithrombin with a dissociation constant of (5-15) X 10(-8) M. Octasaccharide R, with the predominant structure iduronic acid 2-O-sulfate----N-sulfated glucosamine 6-O-sulfate----iduronic acid----N-acetylglucosamine 6-O-sulfate----glucuronic acid----N-sulfated glucosamine 3,6-di-O-sulfate----iduronic acid 2-O-sulfate----anhydromannitol 6-O-sulfate, is resistant to degradation by both enzymes and binds antithrombin with a dissociation constant of (4-18) X 10(-7) M. The occurrence of a 15-17% replacement of N-sulfated glucosamine 3,6-di-O-sulfate with N-sulfated glucosamine 3-O-sulfate and a 10-12% replacement of iduronic acid with glucuronic acid in both octasaccharides indicates that these substitutions have little or no effect on the binding of the oligosaccharides to the protease inhibitor. When bound to antithrombin, both octasaccharides produce a 40% enhancement in the intrinsic fluorescence of the protease inhibitor and a rate of human factor Xa inhibition of 5 X 10(5) M-1 s-1 as monitored by stopped-flow fluorometry. This suggests that the conformation of antithrombin in the region of the factor Xa binding site is similar when the protease inhibitor is complexed with either octasaccharide.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Characterization of the fluorophore 4-heptadecyl-7-hydroxycoumarin: a probe for the head-group region of lipid bilayers and biological membranes.

The fluorophore 4-heptadecyl-7-hydroxycoumarin was used as a probe to study the properties of phospholipid bilayers at the lipid-water interface. To this end, the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy, the differential polarized phase fluorometry, and the emission lifetime of the fluorophore were measured in isotropic viscous medium, in lipid vesicles, and in the membrane of vesicular stomatitis virus. In the isotropic medium (glycerol), the probe showed an increase in the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy with a decrease in temperature, but the emission lifetime was unaffected by the change in temperature. In glycerol, the observed and predicted values for maximum differential tangents of the probe were identical, indicating that in isotropic medium 4-heptadecyl-7-hydroxycoumarin is a free rotator. Nuclear magnetic resonance and differential scanning calorimetric studies with lipid vesicles containing 1-2 mol % of the fluorophore indicated that the packaging density of the choline head groups was affected in the presence of the probe with almost no effect on the fatty acyl chains. The fluorophore partitioned equally well in the gel and liquid-crystalline phase of the lipids in the membrane, and the phase transition of the bilayer lipids was reflected in the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of the probe. The presence of cholesterol in the lipid vesicles had a relatively small effect on the dynamics of lipids in the liquid-crystalline state, but a significant disordering effect was noted in the gel state. One of the most favorable properties of the probe is that its emission lifetime was unaffected by the physical state of the lipids or by the temperature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

1-Palmitoyl-2-pyrenedecanoyl glycerophospholipids as membrane probes: evidence for regular distribution in liquid-crystalline phosphatidylcholine bilayers.

We have synthesized 1-palmitoyl-2-pyrenedecanoyl-sn-glycero derivatives of 3-phosphatidylcholine, 3-phosphatidylethanolamine, 3-phosphatidylserine, 3-phosphatidylglycerol, 3-phosphatidylinositol, and 3-phosphatidic acid and investigated their behavior in monolayers and in neat and mixed bilayers. Fluorescence spectroscopy of neat pyrene phospholipid dispersions revealed a well-defined thermotropic transition at 13.5-19 degrees C depending on the polar head group. An endotherm coinciding with this transition was observed with differential scanning calorimetry, indicating it to be due to the melting of the lipid acyl chains. For pyrenephosphatidylethanolamine, the endotherm was observed at a much higher temperature (70 degrees C). Compression isotherms obtained at an argon/water interface revealed that the pyrene moiety somewhat increases the mean molecular area of a phospholipid molecule but does not prevent the expression of head-group-dependent packing behavior. Partition of the pyrene lipids between coexisting fluid and solid phases was investigated with fluorometry and calorimetry. Both techniques indicate that these lipids prefer the fluid phase and that this preference is independent of the head group. The rates and apparent activation energies of lateral diffusion in fluid bilayers were found to be similar for most pyrene lipids, suggesting that the lateral movement of phospholipids is not critically dependent on interactions at the head-group level. Lateral distribution of the pyrene lipids in gel and fluid phosphatidylcholine bilayers was studied with the excimer technique and calorimetry. In gel-state dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers, the pyrene lipids form clusters. These clusters, however, do not consist of pure pyrene lipid but of aggregates (compounds) of the labeled and unlabeled lipid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

Binding of methotrexate to dihydrofolate reductase and its relation to protonation of the ligand.

Stopped-flow spectrophotometry and stopped-flow fluorometry have been used to study the binding of methotrexate (MTX) and 3-deazamethotrexate (3-deazaMTX) to dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) isoenzymes from Streptococcus faecium and from Lactobacillus casei. The absorbance change and fluorescence quenching that occur when MTX binds to DHFR isoenzyme II from S. faecium (SFDHFR II) are both biphasic and give similar apparent rate constants for both phases. The faster phase has an apparent rate constant that is dependent on MTX concentration and therefore corresponds to the initial binding reaction. From the concentration dependence it has been calculated that the association rate constant is 3.0 X 10(5) M-1 s-1 at 20 degrees C and pH 7.3, and the association constant (equilibrium constant) under these conditions is 5.8 X 10(5) M-1. By examination of the amplitude of the fast-phase absorbance change at various wavelengths, it has been determined that the absorbance change occurring in the fast phase is due to MTX protonation. Within the limits of the method it was thus not possible to detect a difference in the rates of binding and of protonation of MTX. The MTX association rate constant is pH dependent, decreasing 330-fold as the pH is decreased from 5.0 to 9.0. The data fit well to a curve generated by assuming a single ionization with a pKa of 6.0 and a pH-independent association rate constant 1000-fold greater for binding of protonated MTX to SFDHFR II than for binding of unprotonated MTX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hydrogen-Ion Concentration↗