title: Is the molten globule a third thermodynamic state of protein? The example of alpha-lactalbumin.
abstract: Thermal and denaturant-induced transitions of the acid molten globule state of bovine alpha-lactalbumin (acid [A] state) are analyzed by scanning calorimetry, titration calorimetry, viscosimetry, and derivative spectroscopy. A denaturant-induced heat effect of the A state is shown by a calorimetric difference titration of the A-state versus unfolded (reduced) alpha-lactalbumin. However, changes of viscosity and derivative spectra do not parallel the heat effect. At thermal denaturation monitored by derivative spectroscopy and scanning microcalorimetry the presence of a gradual transition in alpha-lactalbumin A state is shown. The results are consistent with the existence of tertiary interactions in the A state and the absence of a cooperative unfolding transition of the molten globule. The results do not support the idea that the molten globule is a third thermodynamic state.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Physiology, University of Potsdam, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pfeil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000737:chemistry*; D017510:Protein Folding; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D007768:Lactalbumin