An arsenic fluorescent compound as a novel probe to study arsenic-binding proteins

Protein J. 2012 Dec;31(8):656-66. doi: 10.1007/s10930-012-9441-6.

Abstract

Arsenic-binding proteins are under continuous research. Their identification and the elucidation of arsenic/protein interaction mechanisms are important because the biological effects of these complexes may be related not only to arsenic but also to the arsenic/protein structure. Although many proteins bearing a CXXC motif have been found to bind arsenic in vivo, new tools are necessary to identify new arsenic targets and allow research on protein/arsenic complexes. In this work, we analyzed the performance of the fluorescent compound APAO-FITC (synthesized from p-aminophenylarsenoxide, APAO, and fluorescein isothiocyanate, FITC) in arsenic/protein binding assays using thioredoxin 1 (Trx) as an arsenic-binding protein model. The Trx-APAO-FITC complex was studied through different spectroscopic techniques involving UV-Vis, fluorescence, atomic absorption, infrared and circular dichroism. Our results show that APAO-FITC binds efficiently and specifically to the Trx binding site, labeling the protein fluorescently, without altering its structure and activity. In summary, we were able to study a protein/arsenic complex model, using APAO-FITC as a labeling probe. The use of APAO-FITC in the identification of different protein and cell targets, as well as in in vivo biodistribution studies, conformational studies of arsenic-binding proteins, and studies for the design of drug delivery systems for arsenic anti-cancer therapies, is highly promising.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / chemistry*
  • Arsenic / metabolism
  • Arsenicals / chemistry*
  • Arsenicals / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / analogs & derivatives*
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / chemistry
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Unfolding
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Temperature
  • Thioredoxins / chemistry
  • Thioredoxins / metabolism

Substances

  • Arsenicals
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • p-aminophenylarsine oxide
  • Thioredoxins
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
  • Arsenic