SURFACE HYDROPHOBICITY OF CHICKEN HEART APOCYTOCHROME C WITH DIFFERENT UNFOLDED STATES
不同解折叠状态鸡心脱血红素细胞色素c分子的表面性质

The ability of apocytochrome c to move across lipid bilayer is dependent on its folding states. Chicken heart apocytochrome c has relatively stronger tendency to fold spontaneously,and its different unfolded states (C1, C2, C3) could be obtained in vitro. The surface hydrophobicity of chicken heart apocytochrome c with different unfolded states has been compared by hydrophobic chromatography and by assessing their ability to bind a hydrophobic probe, 1,8-ANS. In addition, the fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the tryptophan residue and the bound 1,8-ANS has also been studied. The results showed that the partially folded chicken heart apocytochrome c has a highly dynamic hydrophobic core and also tends to aggregate, which is consistent with its folding tendency. The implications in the import of apocytochrome c into mitochondria and in its interactions with phospholipids have been discussed.