Skip to main content
Log in

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic investigation of the thermal denaturation of hen egg-white lysozyme dissolved in aqueous buffer and glycerol

  • Published:
Biotechnology Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The thermal denaturation of lysozyme dissolved in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 5.1) and glycerol was studied by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In both solvents, a single temperature-induced conformational transition was observed but at the distinctly different temperatures of 73 °C in aqueous buffer and 94 ± 2 °C in glycerol. No changes in the secondary structure were observed in glycerol up to 90 °C. Thus, FTIR data were consistent with the formation of a highly ordered molten globule state at temperatures below 90 °C followed by lysozyme unfolding at higher temperatures in glycerol.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Artymiuk PJ, Blake CCF, Rice DW, Wilson KS (1982) The structures of the monoclinic and orthorhombic forms of hen egg-white lysozyme at 6 Angstroms resolution. Acta Crystallogr. Sect. B38: 778.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhakuni V (1998) Alcohol-induced molten globule intermediates of proteins: are they real folding intermediates or off pathway products? Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 357: 274-284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burova TV, Grinberg NV, Grinberg VY, Rariy RV, Klibanov AM (2000) Calorimetric evidence for a native-like conformation of hen egg-white lysozyme dissolved in glycerol. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1478: 309-317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byler DM, Susi H (1986) Examination of the secondary structure of proteins by deconvolved FTIR spectra. Biopolymers 25: 469-487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrasquillo KG, Sanchez C, Griebenow K (2000) Relationship between conformational stability and lyophilization-induced structural changes in chymotrypsin. Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. 31: 41-53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantino HR, Griebenow K, Mishra P, Langer R, Klibanov AM (1995) Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic investigation of protein stability in the lyophilized form. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 253: 69-74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creighton TE (1992) Protein Folding. New York: Freeman and Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creighton TE (1997) How important is the molten globule for correct protein folding? Trends Biochem. Sci. 22: 6-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong, A, Prestrelski SJ, Allison SD, Carpenter JF (1995) Infrared spectroscopic studies of lyophilization and temperature-induced protein aggregation. J. Pharm. Sci. 84: 415-424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyer RB, Gai F, Woodruff WH, Gilmanshin R, Callender RH (1998) Infrared studies on fast events in protein folding. Acc. Chem. Res. 31: 709-716.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griebenow K, Klibanov AM (1995) Lyophilization-induced reversible structural changes in proteins. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92: 10969-10975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griebenow K, Klibanov AM (1996) On protein denaturation in aqueous-organic but not in pure organic solvents. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118: 11695-11700.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griebenow K, Klibanov AM (1997) Can conformational changes be responsible for solvent and excipient effects on the catalytic behavior of subtilisin Carlsberg in organic solvents? Biotechnol. Bioeng. 53: 351-362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griebenow K, Santos AM, Carrasquillo KG (1999a) Secondary structure of proteins in the amorphous dehydrated state probed by FTIR spectroscopy. Dehydration-induced structural changes and their prevention. Internet J. Vib. Spect. [www.ijvs.com] 3, 1, 3.

  • Griebenow K, Diaz Laureano Y, Santos AM, Montañez Clemente I, Rodriguez L, Vidal M, Barletta G (1999b) Improved enzyme activity and enantioselectivity in organic solvents by methyl-β-cyclodextrin. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121: 8157-8163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knubovets T, Osterhout JJ, Klibanov AM (1999a) Structure of lysozyme dissolved in neat organic solvents as assessed by NMR and CD spectroscopy. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 63: 242-248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knubovets T, Osterhout JJ, Connolly PJ, Klibanov AM (1999b) Structure, thermostability, and conformational flexibility of hen egg-white lysozyme dissolved in glycerol. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 1262-1267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuwajima K, Hiraoka Y, Ikeguchi M, Sugai S (1985) Comparison of the transient folding intermediates in lysozyme and α-lactalbumin. Biochemistry 24: 874-881.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mark AE, van Gunsteren WF (1992) Simulation of the thermal denaturation of hen egg white lysozyme: trapping of the molten globule state. Biochemistry 31: 7745-7748.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matagne A, Dobson CM (1998) The folding process of hen lysozyme: a perspective from the 'new view'. Cell Mol. Life Sci. 54: 363-371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pankosca P, Fabian H, Yoder G, Baumruk V, Keiderling TA (1996) Protein structural segments and their interconnections derived from optical spectra. Thermal unfolding of ribonuclease T1 as an example. Biochemistry 25: 13094-13106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ptitsyn OB (1992) The molten globule state. In: Creighton TE, ed. Protein Folding. New York: Freeman and Co., pp. 243-300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seshadri S, Oberg KA, Fink AL (1994) Thermally denatured ribonuclease A retains secondary structure as shown by FTIR. Biochemistry 33: 1351-1355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venyaminov SY, Kalnin NN (1990) Quantitative IR spectroscopy of peptide compounds in water (H2O) solutions. I. Spectral parameters of amino acid residue absorption bands. Biopolymers 30: 1243-1257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu K, Griebenow K, Klibanov AM (1997) Correlation between catalytic activity and secondary structure of subtilisin dissolved in organic solvents. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 56: 485-491.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pérez, C., Griebenow, K. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic investigation of the thermal denaturation of hen egg-white lysozyme dissolved in aqueous buffer and glycerol. Biotechnology Letters 22, 1899–1905 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005645810247

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005645810247

Navigation