The influence of solvent composition on global dynamics of human butyrylcholinesterase powders: a neutron-scattering study

Biophys J. 2004 May;86(5):3152-65. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(04)74363-5.

Abstract

A major result of incoherent elastic neutron-scattering experiments on protein powders is the strong dependence of the intramolecular dynamics on the sample environment. We performed a series of incoherent elastic neutron-scattering experiments on lyophilized human butyrylcholinesterase (HuBChE) powders under different conditions (solvent composition and hydration degree) in the temperature range from 20 to 285 K to elucidate the effect of the environment on the enzyme atomic mean-square displacements. Comparing D(2)O- with H(2)O-hydrated samples, we were able to investigate protein as well as hydration water molecular dynamics. HuBChE lyophilized from three distinct buffers showed completely different atomic mean-square displacements at temperatures above approximately 200 K: a salt-free sample and a sample containing Tris-HCl showed identical small-amplitude motions. A third sample, containing sodium phosphate, displayed highly reduced mean-square displacements at ambient temperature with respect to the other two samples. Below 200 K, all samples displayed similar mean-square displacements. We draw the conclusion that the reduction of intramolecular protein mean-square displacements on an Angstrom-nanosecond scale by the solvent depends not only on the presence of salt ions but also on their type.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics
  • Buffers
  • Butyrylcholinesterase / chemistry*
  • Deuterium Oxide
  • Freeze Drying
  • Humans
  • Ions
  • Models, Statistical
  • Neutrons
  • Protons
  • Salts / chemistry
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Solvents
  • Temperature
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Buffers
  • Ions
  • Protons
  • Salts
  • Solvents
  • Water
  • Butyrylcholinesterase
  • Deuterium Oxide