Determination of specific and non-specific protein-protein interactions for beta-lactoglobulin by analytical ultracentrifugation and membrane osmometry experiments

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • M. J. Uttinger - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • C. S. Hundschell - , Technical University of Berlin (Author)
  • V. Lautenbach - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • S. Pusara - , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Author)
  • S. Bäther - , Technical University of Berlin (Author)
  • T. R. Heyn - , Kiel University (Author)
  • J. K. Keppler - , Wageningen University & Research (WUR) (Author)
  • W. Wenzel - , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Author)
  • J. Walter - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • M. Kozlowska - , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Author)
  • A. M. Wagemans - , Technical University of Berlin (Author)
  • W. Peukert - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)

Abstract

Protein-protein interactions are essential for the understanding of biological processes. Specific protein aggregation is an important aspect for many biological systems. In particular, electrostatic interactions play the key role for protein-protein interactions, as many amino acids have pH-dependent charge states. Moreover, protein dissociation is directly related to the solution pH, ionic strength, temperature and protein concentration. The subtle interplay between different specific and non-specific interactions is demonstrated for beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) with a focus on low salt concentrations, thus mimicking technically relevant processing conditions. BLG is a well-characterized model system, proven to attain its monomer-dimer equilibrium strongly dependent upon the pH of the solution. In this manuscript, we present a unique combination of analytical ultracentrifugation and membrane osmometry experiments, which quantifies specific and non-specific interactions, i.e. in terms of the dimer dissociation constants and the second osmotic virial coefficient, at pH 3 and 7 and sodium chloride concentrations of 10 mM and 100 mM. This provides direct insight to protein-protein interactions for a system with a concentration-dependent monomer-dimer equilibrium. Moreover, using a coarse-grained extended DLVO model in combination with molecular dynamics simulations, we quantify non-specific monomer-monomer, monomer-dimer and dimer-dimer interactions as well as the binding free energy of BLG dimerization from theoretical calculations. The experimentally determined interactions are shown to be mainly governed by electrostatic interactions and further agree with free energy calculations. Our experimental protocol aims to determine non-specific and specific interactions for a dynamically interacting system and provides an understanding of protein-protein interactions for BLG at low salt concentrations.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6739-6756
Number of pages18
JournalSoft matter
Volume18
Issue number35
Publication statusPublished - 22 Aug 2022
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 36040122
ORCID /0000-0003-3146-2454/work/170587789
ORCID /0000-0002-8110-720X/work/170587891
ORCID /0000-0003-4468-921X/work/172086463

Keywords