Ligand-protein binding is responsible for the vast majority of bio-molecular functions. Most experimental techniques examine the most populated ligand-bound state. The determination of less populated, intermediate, and transient bound states is experimentally challenging. However, hidden bound states are also important because these can strongly influence ligand binding and unbinding processes. Here, we explored the use of a classical optical spectroscopic technique, red-edge excitation shift spectroscopy (REES) to determine the number, population, and energetics associated with ligand-bound states in protein-ligand complexes. We describe a statistical mechanical model of a two-level fluorescent ligand located amongst a finite number of discrete protein microstates. We relate the progressive emission red shift with red-edge excitation to thermodynamic parameters underlying the protein-ligand free energy landscape and to photo-physical parameters relating to the fluorescent ligand. We applied the theoretical model to published red-edge excitation shift data from small molecule inhibitor-kinase complexes. The derived thermodynamic parameters allowed dissection of the energetic contribution of intermediate bound states to inhibitor-kinase interactions.
Keywords: fluorescence spectroscopy; free energy landscape; kinase inhibitors; protein–ligand interactions; red-edge excitation shift.