Hydrophobic forces between protein molecules in aqueous solutions of concentrated electrolyte

Biophys Chem. 2002 Aug 2;98(3):249-65. doi: 10.1016/s0301-4622(02)00071-6.

Abstract

Protein-protein interactions have been measured for a mutant (D101F) lysozyme and for native lysozyme in concentrated solutions of ammonium sulfate at pH 7 and sodium chloride at pH 4.5. In the mutant lysozyme, a surface aspartate residue has been replaced with a hydrophobic phenylalanine residue. The protein-protein interactions of D101F lysozyme are more attractive than those of native lysozyme for all conditions studied. The salt-induced attraction is correlated with a solvation potential of mean force given by the work required to desolvate the part of the protein surfaces that is buried by the protein-protein interaction. This work is proportional to the aqueous surface-tension increment of the salt and the fractional non-polar surface coverage of the protein. Experimental measurements of osmotic second virial coefficients validate a proposed potential of mean force that ascribes the salt-induced attraction between protein molecules to an enhancement of the hydrophobic attraction. This model provides a first approximation for predicting the protein-protein potential of mean force in concentrated aqueous electrolyte solutions; this potential is useful for determining solution conditions favorable for protein crystallization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chemical Precipitation
  • Crystallization
  • Electrolytes
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Muramidase / chemistry
  • Muramidase / genetics
  • Muramidase / isolation & purification
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Salts / chemistry
  • Solubility
  • Solutions
  • Thermodynamics
  • Water

Substances

  • Electrolytes
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Proteins
  • Salts
  • Solutions
  • Water
  • Muramidase