We report different analytical methods used to study the effects of 3\'-azido-3\'-deoxythymidine, aspirin, taxol, cisplatin, atrazine, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic, biogenic polyamines, chlorophyll, chlorophyllin, poly(ethylene glycol), vanadyl cation, vanadate anion, cobalt-hexamine cation, and As2O3, on the stability and secondary structure of human serum albumin (HSA) in aqueous solution, using capillary electrophoresis, Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet visible, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic methods. The concentrations of HSA used were 4% to 2% or 0.6 to 0.3 mM, while different ligand concentrations were 1 microM to 1 mM. Structural data showed drugs are mostly located along the polypeptide chains with both specific and nonspecific interactions. The stability of drug-protein complexes were in the order K(VO(2+)) 1.2 x 10(8) M(-1) > K(AZT) 1.9 x 10(6) M(-)1 > K(PEG) 4.1 x 10(5) M(-1) > K(atrazine) 3.5 x 10(4) M(-1) > K(chlorophyll) 2.9 x 10(4) M(-1) > K2,4-D 2.5 x 10(4) M-1 > K(spermine) 1.7 x 10(4) M(-1) > K(taxol) 1.43 x 10(4) M(-1) > K(Co(3+)) > 1.1 x 10(4) M(-1) > K(aspirin) 1.04 x 10(4)i(-1) > K(chlorophyllin) 7.0 x 10(3) M(-1) > K(VO(3)(-)) 6.0 x 103 M(-1) > K(spermidine) 5.4 x 10(3) M(-1) > K(putrescine) 3.9 x 10(3) M(-1)> K(As(2)O(3)) 2.2 x 10(3) M(-1)> K(cisplatin) 1.2 x 10(2) M(-1). The protein conformation was altered (infrared and CD results) with major reduction of alpha-helix from 60 to 55% (free HSA) to 49 to 40% and increase of beta-structure from 22 to 15% (free HSA) to 33 to 23% in the drug-protein complexes. The alterations of protein secondary structure are attributed to a partial unfolding of HSA on drug complexation.

3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) is the first effective drug used clinically for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The drug interactions with DNA and protein are associated with its mechanism of action in vivo. This study was designed to examine the interaction of AZT with the Na,K-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) in H2O and D2O solutions at physiological pH using drug concentration of 0.1 microM to 1 mM and final protein concentration of 0.5 to 1 mg/mL. Ultraviolet absorption and Fourier transform infrared difference spectroscopy with its self-deconvolution, second-derivative resolution enhancement, and curve-fitting procedures were used to characterize the drug-binding mode, the drug-binding constant, and the effects of drug interaction on the protein secondary structure. Spectroscopic evidence showed that at low drug concentration (0.1 microM), AZT binds (H-bonding) mainly to the polypeptide C=O and C-N groups with two binding constants of K1 = 5.3 x 10(5) M(-1) and K2 = 9.8 x 10(3) M(-1). As drug content increased, AZT-lipid complex prevailed. At a high drug concentration (1 mM), drug binding resulted in minor protein secondary structural changes from that of the alpha-helix 19.8%; beta-pleated 25.6%; turn 9.1%; beta-antiparallel 7.5% and random 38%, in the free Na,K-ATPase to that of the alpha-helix 19%; beta-pleated 21.1%; turn 10.1%; beta-antiparallel 8.8% and random 41%, in the AZT-ATPase complexes.