Thermodynamics of fibrous aggregation of cytochrome cwith 1,4-dioxane

May 22, 2018

Title

Thermodynamics of fibrous aggregation of cytochrome cwith 1,4-dioxane

Author

Tomokadu Marutani, Takashi Inomata, Tadashi Kamiyama

Year

2018

Journal

Thermochimica Acta

Abstract

The thermodynamic properties and phase diagram of the thermal-induced fibrous aggregation of cytochrome c with a simple organic co-solvent, 1,4-dioxane, were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, circular dichroism, and scanning electron microscopy at various concentrations of 1,4-dioxane. At x = 0.2–0.3 mol fraction of 1,4-dioxane, cytochrome c transformed to an alpha helix-rich denatured state at 25 °C, which transformed into a fibrous aggregation upon heating. The enthalpy change for the fibrous aggregation, −456 kJ/mol (x = 0.30), was numerically greater than the thermal denaturation of the native state, 298 kJ/mol (x = 0), indicating that aggregate formation involved a conformation with many intermolecular interactions. At x > 0.3, cytochrome c aggregated and precipitated at 25 °C without heating, and the precipitate transformed into an amorphous state. These results suggest that the previous state is important for transition into the fibrous state. Thermodynamic data on the use of co-solvents for globular proteins will facilitate understanding of the aggregation mechanism.

Instrument

J-720

Keywords

Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Chemical stability, Thermal stability, Thermodynamics, Aggregation, Biochemistry