Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its taurine-conjugate, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), play a unique role in modulating the apoptotic threshold in cells. The mechanism is thought to involve, in part, inhibition of translocation for Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria. Here, we attempted to use the native fluorescence of the tryptophan residues of Bax to determine whether bile acids bind directly to recombinant Bax protein. The results showed that UDCA had no effect on the tryptophan fluorescence of Bax. Similarly, there was no evidence of direct binding between Bax protein and the more hydrophobic bile acid, deoxycholic acid (DCA). In contrast, the fluorescence change detected for Bax solution titrated against TUDCA in dimethylsulfoxide was greater than that observed with solvent alone. In conclusion, data from fluorescence spectroscopy does not support a direct interaction of UDCA or DCA with Bax protein, whereas it suggests that there may be some potential interaction with TUDCA.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Review Article|
August 18 2006
Binding Studies of Bile Acids using the Native Fluorescence of the Tryptophan Residue Of Bax Protein
Wei Zhang;
Wei Zhang
1Wolfson Centre for Structure-Based Rational Design of Molecular Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Clifford J. Steer;
Clifford J. Steer
2Departments of Medicine, and Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Kenneth T. Douglas;
Kenneth T. Douglas
1Wolfson Centre for Structure-Based Rational Design of Molecular Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Cecilia M. P. Rodrigues
Cecilia M. P. Rodrigues
3Centro de Patogénese Molecular, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1573-4935
Print ISSN: 0144-8463
© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
2006
Biosci Rep (2006) 26 (3): 245–250.
Citation
Wei Zhang, Clifford J. Steer, Kenneth T. Douglas, Cecilia M. P. Rodrigues; Binding Studies of Bile Acids using the Native Fluorescence of the Tryptophan Residue Of Bax Protein. Biosci Rep 18 August 2006; 26 (3): 245–250. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10540-006-9019-7
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Cited By
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |