Simultaneous presence of dynamic and sphere action component in the fluorescence quenching of human serum albumin by diphthaloylmaslinic acid

The fluorescence quenching of human serum albumin (HSA) by diphthaloylmaslinic acid (FMA) at different pH and temperature values was investigated by both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence. The quenching was found to be appreciable, and an upward-curving Stern-Volmer trend was detected in all cases studied at high drug concentrations. This non-linear dependence reveals the presence of a not purely dynamic fluorescence-quenching mechanism. The experimental data were analyzed using the ground-state complex and sphere action quenching models. The latter model offers a good fit with the experimental results. Time-resolved studies corroborate the simultaneous presence of dynamic and sphere action quenching. The pH significantly affects the binging affinity of FMA to HSA, being stronger at pH 7.4 than at pH 3.0. Thermodynamic parameters ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS° were evaluated at different temperatures to examine the nature of the binding forces between FMA and HSA. At pH 7.4, electrostatic interactions controlled the association process, whereas at pH 3.0 the dominant forces seemed to be the hydrophobic interactions. The probable binding site of FMA on HSA was located at subdomain IIA, as suggested by displacement measurements. The surface electrical charge of FMA-HSA complexes was studied by measuring their electrophoretic mobility. Results corroborated the binding of the ligand to the protein. Circular dichroism experiments showed that the FMA binding does not alter the secondary structure of the protein.