Biomaterial Database

Kinetics of compaction during lysozyme refolding studied by continuous-flow quasielastic light scattering. 1994

H P Feng, and J Widom

Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3500.

We recently developed an experiment, termed continuous-flow quasielastic light scattering (QLS), that is capable of monitoring the time evolution of the hydrodynamic diameter of macromolecules or macromolecular assemblies in solution. Here we report the use of this method to directly monitor the kinetics of compaction of the polypeptide chain of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) when protein refolding is initiated by 10-fold dilution from 5 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) at pH 1.5, 23 degrees C. Previously, such information could only be obtained indirectly, by analysis of the kinetics of binding ans release of a fluorescent probe dye. Refolding was also monitored by UV difference absorption spectroscopy to characterize the time scale of the formation of the native environment around the aromatic side chains under the same conditions used in the continuous-flow QLS experiments. We find that HEWL becomes compact within 1 s after the initiation of refolding, the shortest time that is accessible with our first-generation instrument. This time scale is shorter than that for the recovery of the native absorbances in the aromatic region. These results provide direct evidence that the intermediate on the folding pathway of lysozyme is compact. The implications of these results for models of protein folding are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D009113	Muramidase	A basic enzyme that is present in saliva, tears, egg white, and many animal fluids. It functions as an antibacterial agent. The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-linkages between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in peptidoglycan and between N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in chitodextrin. EC 3.2.1.17.	Lysozyme,Leftose,N-Acetylmuramide Glycanhydrolase,Glycanhydrolase, N-Acetylmuramide,N Acetylmuramide Glycanhydrolase
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D002645	Chickens	Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA.	Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D004527	Egg Proteins	Proteins which are found in eggs (OVA) from any species.	Egg Protein,Egg Shell Protein,Egg Shell Proteins,Egg White Protein,Egg White Proteins,Egg Yolk Protein,Egg Yolk Proteins,Ovum Protein,Ovum Proteins,Yolk Protein,Yolk Proteins,Protein, Egg,Protein, Egg Shell,Protein, Egg White,Protein, Egg Yolk,Protein, Ovum,Protein, Yolk,Proteins, Egg,Proteins, Egg Shell,Proteins, Egg White,Proteins, Egg Yolk,Proteins, Ovum,Proteins, Yolk,Shell Protein, Egg,Shell Proteins, Egg,White Protein, Egg,White Proteins, Egg,Yolk Protein, Egg,Yolk Proteins, Egg
D006146	Guanidines	A family of iminourea derivatives. The parent compound has been isolated from mushrooms, corn germ, rice hulls, mussels, earthworms, and turnip juice. Derivatives may have antiviral and antifungal properties.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D046911	Macromolecular Substances	Compounds and molecular complexes that consist of very large numbers of atoms and are generally over 500 kDa in size. In biological systems macromolecular substances usually can be visualized using ELECTRON MICROSCOPY and are distinguished from ORGANELLES by the lack of a membrane structure.	Macromolecular Complexes,Macromolecular Compounds,Macromolecular Compounds and Complexes,Complexes, Macromolecular,Compounds, Macromolecular,Substances, Macromolecular
D019791	Guanidine	A strong organic base existing primarily as guanidium ions at physiological pH. It is found in the urine as a normal product of protein metabolism. It is also used in laboratory research as a protein denaturant. (From Martindale, the Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed and Merck Index, 12th ed) It is also used in the treatment of myasthenia and as a fluorescent probe in HPLC.	Guanidine Hydrochloride,Guanidinium,Guanidinium Chloride,Guanidine Monohydrate,Guanidine Monohydrobromide,Guanidine Monohydrochloride,Guanidine Monohydroiodine,Guanidine Nitrate,Guanidine Phosphate,Guanidine Sulfate,Guanidine Sulfate (1:1),Guanidine Sulfate (2:1),Guanidine Sulfite (1:1),Guanidium Chloride,Chloride, Guanidinium,Chloride, Guanidium,Hydrochloride, Guanidine,Monohydrate, Guanidine,Monohydrobromide, Guanidine,Monohydrochloride, Guanidine,Monohydroiodine, Guanidine,Nitrate, Guanidine,Phosphate, Guanidine,Sulfate, Guanidine