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. 1993 Sep;65(3):1059–1065. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(93)81168-8

Responses of two protein-protein complexes to solvent stress: does water play a role at the interface?

J A Kornblatt 1, M J Kornblatt 1, G H Hoa 1, A G Mauk 1
PMCID: PMC1225822  PMID: 8241386

Abstract

We have analyzed the stability of the cytochrome c-cytochrome b5 and cytochrome c-cytochrome c oxidase complexes as a function of solvent stress. High concentrations of glycerol were used to displace the two equilibria. Glycerol promotes complex formation between cytochrome c and cytochrome b5 but inhibits that between cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase. The results with cytochrome b5 and cytochrome c were expected; the association of this complex is largely entropy driven. Our interpretation is that the cytochrome c-cytochrome b5 complex excludes water. The results with the cytochrome c oxidase and cytochrome c couple were not expected. We interpret them to mean that either glycerol is binding to the oxidase, thereby displacing the cytochrome c, or that water is required at this protein-protein interface. A requirement for substantial quantities of water at the interface of some protein complexes is logical but has been reported only once.

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Selected References

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