Interactions of linear dicationic molecules with lipid A: structural requisites for optimal binding affinity

David, SA and Mathan, VI and Balaram, P (1995) Interactions of linear dicationic molecules with lipid A: structural requisites for optimal binding affinity. In: Journal of Endotoxin Research, 2 (5). pp. 325-336.

PDF 244.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (5MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

The structural determinants of the binding affinity of linear dicationic molecules toward lipid A have been examined with respect to the distance between the terminal cationic functions, the basicity, and the type of cationic moieties using a series of spermidine derivatives and pentamidine analogs by fluorescence spectroscopic methods, The presence of two terminal cationic groups corresponds to enhanced affinity, A distinct sigmoidal relationship between the intercationic distance and affinity was observed with a sharp increase at 11 Angstrom, levelling off at about 13 Angstrom. The basicity (pK) and nature of the cationic functions are poor correlates of binding potency, since molecules bearing primary amino, imidazolino, or guanido termini are equipotent, The interaction of pentamidine, a bisamidine drug, with lipid A, characterized in considerable detail employing the putative intermolecular excimerization of the drug, suggests a stoichiometry of 1:1 in the resultant complex, The binding is driven almost exclusively by electrostatic forces, and is dependent on the ionization states of both lipid A and the drug, Under conditions when lipid A is highly disaggregated, pentamidine binds specifically to bis-phosphoryl- but not to monophosphoryl-lipid A indicating that both phosphate groups of lipid A are necessary for electrostatic interactions by the terminal amidininium groups of the drug, Based on these data, a structural model is proposed for the pentamidine-lipid A complex, which may be of value in designing endotoxin antagonists from first principles.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Endotoxin Research
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Additional Information:	Copy right of this article belongs to Sage Publications.
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Molecular Biophysics Unit
Date Deposited:	28 Apr 2010 06:13
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 06:00
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/27330

Actions (login required)

View Item