Human serum albumin interaction with paraquat studied using spectroscopic methods

The interaction between herbicide paraquat and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy. Paraquat can strongly quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA by static quenching and nonradiative energy transferring; The hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions play a major role in stabilizing the complex. The binding site number n and apparent binding constant KA, corresponding thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH, ΔS at different temperatures, were calculated. The distance r between donor (HSA) and acceptor (paraquat) was obtained according to fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The effect of paraquat on the conformation of HSA was analyzed using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy.