Interaction of reduced lysozyme with surfactants: Disulfide effects on reformed structure in micelles

The reformation of secondary structure for unfolded, disulfide reduced hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) upon interaction with surfactants was studied using CD, fluorescence and IR (infrared) techniques. Equilibrium CD studies showed that reduced HEWL when mixed with negatively charged surfactants, such as SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), gradually regains average helical structure to a level equivalent to that obtained for the oxidized form also in SDS, but both forms lose tertiary structure in such environments. This non-native structure recovery process begins with monomer surfactant interaction but at higher concentrations is in part dependent on micelle formation, with the helical fraction reaching its maximum value with each surfactant only above the CMC. Fluorescence changes were more complex, evidencing an intermediate state at lower surfactant concentration. With positively charged surfactants the degree of helicity recovered was less, and the intermediate state in fluorescence was not seen. Stopped flow dynamics studies showed the CD kinetics fit to two exponentials as did the fluorescence. The faster steps in CD and fluorescence detected kinetics appear to be correlated which suggests formation of an intermediate on rapid interaction of the micelle and protein. The second step then reflected attainment of a stable surfactant solvated state which attains maximum helicity and moves the Trps to a more hydrophobic environment, which may occur in independent steps, as the slower kinetics are not well correlated.

► Charge, CMC, hydrophobicity of surfactant micelles affect refolding reduced HEWL.
► Reduced lysozyme helicity, enhanced with negatively charged surfactant micelles.
► Kinetics with CD and fluorescence suggest separate mechanistic steps.
► Reduced and native lysozyme mechanisms differ, have similar molten globule state.