Structure of lysozyme dissolved in neat organic solvents as assessed by NMR and CD spectroscopies

Journal Article · Tue Apr 20 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Biotechnology and Bioengineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(19990420)63:2<242::AID-BIT13>3.3.CO;2-E· OSTI ID:347677

Knubovets, T; Klibanov, A M ^[1]; Osterhout, J J ^[2]

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1. Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
2. Rowland Inst. for Science, Cambridge, MA (United States)

The structure of the model protein hen egg-white lysozyme dissolved in water and in five neat organic solvents (ethylene glycol, methanol, dimethylsufloxide (DMSO), formamide, and dimethylformamide (DMF)) has been examined by means of {sup 1}H NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies. The NMR spectra of lysozyme reveal the lack of a defined tertiary structure in all five organic solvents, although the examination of line widths suggests the possibility of some ordered structure in ethylene glycol and in methanol. The near-UV CD spectra of the protein suggest no tertiary structure in lysozyme dissolved in DMSO, formamide, and DMF, while a distinctive tertiary structure is seen in ethylene glycol and a drastically changed one in methanol. A highly developed secondary structure was observed by far-UV CD in ethylene glycol and methanol; interestingly, the {alpha}-helix content of the protein in both was greater than in water, while the {beta}-structure content was lower.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 347677
• Journal Information: Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Vol. 63, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: 20 Apr 1999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
LYSOZYME
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
NMR SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
BIOTECHNOLOGY