Counter-current distribution of interacting molecules simulation of distribution behaviour and application to protein-protein interactions

Abstract: Associations of biological macromolecules with other macromolecules, with larger assemblies of macromolecules and with themselves are widely encountered phenomena. In principle, these interactions can be studied with any method able to differentiate between free molecules and complexes formed. The most extensively used techniques are sedimentation equilibrium and velocity, elastic light scattering and molecular sieve chromatography. This thesis describes an alternative technique; counter-current distribution in aqueous two-phase systems.The counter-current distribution behaviour of a solute depends on its size and surface properties including charge and hydrophobicity. Since the surface properties of a complex formed most probably differ from those of the solutes participating in the association, complex formation should lead to changes in the average distribution behaviour of each solute. Consequently, the presence of one solute should affect the counter-current distribution of another solute if they interact with each other.In order to establish the boundary conditions and the potential as well as limitations of the counter-current distribution technique, the distribution behaviour of homogeneous and heterogeneous association equilibria have been simulated.The model developed for describing the distribution behaviour of heterogeneous associations has been tested using the well characterized interaction between bovine serum albumin and L-tryptophan. It was demonstrated that the theoretical model could predict the experimental distribution behaviour of these two molecules.However, the primary aim of the counter-current distribution experiments has been to gain insight into protein-protein interactions. The metabolically linked enzymes, malate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase, have been studied in order to determine if there is also a physical link between these two enzymes. The results showed that the cytosolic enzymes as well as the mitochondrial forms associate while the cytoplasmic enzymes did not display any association with the mitochondrial forms. Thus, an organelle specific interaction between malate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase was demonstrated.Hemoglobin and carbonic anhydrase are functionally linked through the Bohr effect. Thus, the binding of oxygen by hemoglobin in the lung capillaries is associated with the binding of protons which are formed by the catalytic action of carbonic anhydrase. From the counter- current distribution experiments it was possible to conclude that humain carbonic anhydrase II, the high activity form, associates with human hemoglobin whereas carbonic anhydrase I, the low activity form, did not show any affinity for hemoglobin.