title: Cooperative effect of hydrophobic and electrostatic forces on alcohol-induced alpha-helix formation of alpha1-acid glycoprotein.
abstract: Alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a serum glycoprotein that mainly binds basic drugs. Previous reports have shown that AGP converts from a beta-sheet to an alpha-helix upon interaction with biomembranes. In the current studies, we found that alkanols, diols, and halogenols all induce this conformational change. Increased length and bulkiness of the hydrocarbon group and the presence of a halogen atom promoted this conversion, whereas the presence of a hydroxyl group inhibited it. Moreover, the effect was dependent on the hydrophobic and electrostatic properties of the alcohols. These results indicate that, in a membrane environment, hydrophobic and electrostatic factors cooperatively induce the transition of AGP from a beta-sheet to an alpha-helix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Kumamoto University 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komine
authors.forename: Norifumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otagiri
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000737:chemistry*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D009961:Orosomucoid