Lectin–carbohydrate affinity measured using a quartz crystal microbalance

The association of two molecules is described by two parameters, association equilibrium and association rate constants, which are characteristic for a given type of interaction. Usually, they are determined for interacting molecules dissolved in solution. However, for many applications one type of molecules is immobilized on a substrate, which may influence the binding kinetics. The studied complex of concanavalin A and carboxypeptidase Y belongs to the lectin–carbohydrate type of interaction involving the recognition of oligosaccharide moieties. The concanavalin A was immobilized on a gold electrode of quartz crystal, while carboxypeptidase Y was added to a buffer (Tris-buffered saline). The constants describing the association of the investigated molecules were determined on the basis of measurements performed using a quartz crystal microbalance in liquid. The obtained values were (0.59±0.01)×106 M−1(0.59±0.01)×106 M−1 for the association equilibrium constant and (5.6±0.1)×104 M−1s−1 for the association rate constant. The saturation binding experiment gave another value of the association constant, (2.7±0.02)×106 M−1(2.7±0.02)×106 M−1. The comparison of obtained values with previously published ones verifies that the molecule orientation and binding site accessibility for specific ligands could influence the association equilibrium constant value. The presented measurements demonstrate the ability of a quartz crystal microbalance to detect and to evaluate the association process occurring between molecules.

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