Biomolecular interaction mechanism of an anticancer drug, pazopanib with human serum albumin: a multi-spectroscopic and computational approach

Pazopanib (PZP) is a multi-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor and is currently approved by FDA for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma and renal cancer. Molecular interaction mechanism of PZP with human serum albumin (HSA) was explored under simulated physiological conditions (pH = 7.4), using fluorescence and UV absorption spectroscopy along with computational methods. Based on the inverse correlation between the Stern-Volmer constant (K_sv) and temperature, it was concluded that PZP quenched the protein fluorescence through static quenching mechanism. This was also confirmed from the UV-vis absorption spectral results. Moderate binding affinity between PZP and HSA was evident from the K_a values (5.51 - 1.05 × 10⁵ M^-1) while PZP-HSA complex formation was driven by hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions as well as hydrogen bonds, as revealed by positive entropy change (ΔS = +98.37 J mol^-1 K^-1) and negative enthalpy change (ΔH = -60.31 kJ mol^-1). Three-dimensional fluorescence spectral results disclosed microenvironmental perturbations around Trp and Tyr residues of the protein upon PZP binding. Interestingly, the addition of PZP to HSA significantly protected the protein against thermal stress. Competitive drug displacement results obtained with warfarin, phenylbutazone and diazepam elucidated Sudlow's Site I, positioned in subdomain IIA of HSA, as the preferred binding site of PZP which was well supported by molecular docking analysis, while molecular dynamics simulation results suggested the stability of the PZP-HSA complex.Communicated by Vsevolod Makeev.

Exploring the interaction between tyrphostin 9 and human serum albumin using biophysical and computational methods

Tyrphostin 9 (Tyr 9) is a potent platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) inhibitor, which induces apoptosis in various cancer cell types. The binding of Tyr 9 to the major transport protein, human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated using several spectroscopic techniques and molecular docking method. Fluorescence quenching titration results showed progressive decrease in the protein fluorescence with increasing drug concentrations. A decreasing trend of the Stern-Volmer constant, K _sv with increasing temperature characterized the drug-induced quenching as static quenching, thus pointed towards the formation of Tyr 9-HSA complex. The binding constant of Tyr 9-HSA interaction was found to lie within the range 3.48-1.69 × 10⁵ M^-1 at three different temperatures, i.e. 15 °C, 25 °C and 35 °C, respectively and suggested intermediate binding affinity between Tyr 9 and HSA. The drug-HSA complex seems to be stabilized by hydrophobic forces, van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds, as suggested from the thermodynamic data as well as molecular docking results. The far-UV and the near-UV CD spectral results showed slight alteration in the secondary and tertiary structures, respectively, of the protein upon Tyr 9 binding. Interaction of Tyr 9 with HSA also produced microenvironmental perturbations around protein fluorophores, as evident from the three-dimensional fluorescence spectral results but increased protein's thermal stability. Both competitive drug binding results and molecular docking analysis suggested Sudlow's Site I of HSA as the preferred Tyr 9 binding site. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Influence of Buffer Composition and Calcium Chloride on GdnHCl Denaturation of Bacillus licheniformis α-Amylase

The influence of buffer composition on the conformational stability of native and calciumdepleted Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase (BLA) was investigated against guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) denaturation using circular dichroism, fluorescence and UV-difference spectroscopy. Differential effect of buffer composition on GdnHCl denaturation of BLA was evident from the magnitude of these spectral signals, which followed the order: sodium phosphate > Tris-HCl > HEPES > MOPS. These effects became more pronounced with calcium-depleted BLA. Sephacryl S-200 gel chromatographic results showed significant BLA aggregation in the presence of 6 M GdnHCl.