Interaction Site between the Protein Aggregates and Thiocyanate Ion in Aqueous Solution: A Case Study of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Thiocyanate

J Phys Chem B. 2015 Jun 4;119(22):6536-44. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b01650. Epub 2015 May 22.

Abstract

To investigate the interaction site between amyloid-like protein aggregates and thiocyanate (SCN(-)) ion, we studied the relationship between protein aggregation (cytochrome c, myoglobin, lysozyme, ribonuclease A, and β-lactoglobulin) and SCN(-) ion in aqueous 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate ([bmim][SCN]) solutions using optical spectroscopy. The addition of [bmim][SCN] (>10 mol % IL) to a protein solution induced protein aggregation owing to the intermolecular β-sheet structures except in the case of cytochrome c. Analysis of the content of 20 amino acid residues for each protein revealed that the degree of intermolecular β-sheet structures (β%) and midpoint concentration from the unfolding to aggregation state ([IL]1/2(U →βA)) is correlated primarily with the content of Lys residue in proteins (correlation coefficient (R(2)) = 0.97). The attractive interaction between the SCN(-) ions and NH3(+) groups of the side chain terminal of Lys residue inhibits protein aggregation owing to the intermolecular β-sheet structure. This finding might be related to the mechanism for the solubilization of amyloid aggregates by strong denaturants containing SCN(-) ions such as guanidine thiocyanate.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cats
  • Imidazoles / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Aggregates*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Solutions
  • Thiocyanates / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium
  • Imidazoles
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Proteins
  • Solutions
  • Thiocyanates
  • Water
  • thiocyanate