Intrinsic fluorescence of lysozyme in model protein-lipid systems

Fluorescence spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools providing new insights into the structural, dynamic and functional behavior of biological macromolecules, being particularly useful in investigating the molecular details of protein-lipid association. Complete and accurate information about the conformational dynamics of protein molecules can be obtained using tryptophan (Trp) residues as intrinsic fluorescence probes. The fluorescence of indole chromophore is extremely sensitive to environment making it an ideal choice for reporting protein conformational transitions upon membrane interactions. Hen egg white lysozyme (Lz) is a multi-tryptophan protein which is extensively used in elucidating fundamental aspects of protein-lipid interactions. The main emitters responsible for 80% of lysozyme fluorescence are Trp62 and Trp108. The present study was undertaken to ascertain the alterations in lysozyme structural state upon association with model membranes composed of zwitterionic lipid 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SOPC) and anionic lipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG). Fluorescence lifetime measurements showed that intensity-averaged lifetime () of Trp residues in lysozyme decreased upon the protein binding to model membranes. Furthermore, reduction from 1.94 to 1.74 ns was observed at decreasing lipid-to-protein molar ratio (L:P) from 1130 to 120. It was suggested that Trp specific interactions with certain amino acid residues in its surroundings is the main factor responsible for the recovered decrease in tryptophan lifetime and the observed contradictions between lifetime, quenching and steady-state experiments. Since Lz is a stable protein whose conformation is reported to change insignificantly upon the formation of protein-lipid contacts, it can be assumed that the processes behind the drop in involve Lz self-association in membrane-bound state. Trp62 and Trp108 are located in the protein active site which reportedly participates in Lz aggregation. Moreover, Cys76-Cys94 disulfide bridge capable of efficient quenching of Trp fluorescence and reducing the lifetime of protein fluorophores, also resides in the active site cleft. Thus, it may be supposed that interactions between Trp62 and Trp108 of one Lz monomeric molecule with disulfide bridge of another monomeric molecule during the protein aggregation result in reduction of values. The dependence on L:P can be explained by the fact that lysozyme self-association is apparently coverage-dependent process controlled by both electrostatic and hydrophobic protein-lipid interactions. Additional arguments in favor of the assumption on Lz aggregation come from the time- resolved anisotropy measurements. Lysozyme rotational correlation time which reflects the motion of the whole protein molecule, was found to exhibit twofold increase at increasing L:P values. The recovered membrane ability to modulate Lz aggregation behavior may largely determine the bactericidal and amyloidogenic propensities of this protein