US EPA

7180872 

Journal Article 

Comparison of the effects of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol on peptide and protein structure and function 

Povey, JF; Smales, CM; Hassard, SJ; Howard, MJ; , 

2007 

Yes 

Journal of Structural Biology
ISSN: 1047-8477 

157 

2 

329-338 

English 

16979904 

10.1016/j.jsb.2006.07.008 

WOS:000243951800004 

The co-solvent 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) has been often used to aid formation of secondary structure in solution peptides or alternately as a denaturant within protein folding studies. Hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) and a synthetic model peptide defining HEWL helix-4 were used as comparative model systems to systematically investigate the effect of increasing TFE concentrations on the structure of proteins and peptides. HEWL was analyzed using NMR, far-UV CD and fluorescence spectroscopy; with correlation of these results towards changes in enzymatic activity and the helix-4 peptide was analysed using NMR. Data illustrates two conflicting modes of interaction: Low TFE concentrations stabilize tertiary structure, observed from an increase in the number of NMR NOE contacts. Higher TFE concentrations denatured HEWL with the loss of lysozyme tertiary structure. The effects of TFE upon secondary structural elements within HEWL are distinct from those observed for the helix-4 peptide. This illustrates a dissimilar interaction of TFE towards both protein and peptide at equivalent TFE concentrations. The concentration that TFE promotes stabilization over denaturation is likely to be protein dependent although the structural action can be extrapolated to other protein systems with implications for the use of TFE in structural stability studies. 

2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE); hen egg white lysozyme; enzymatic activity; NMR; protein folding