Transition of a compact intermediate state of pea lectin under the influence of different molecular weight polyethylene glycols.

The compact intermediate of the pea lectin found to exist at pH 2.4 was treated with low (PEG-400), medium (PEG-4000) and high (PEG-20,000) molecular weight PEGs. The changes occurring in the secondary structure of the protein were monitored by CD spectropolarimetry in the far-UV range, intrinsic fluorescence was used as a probe to observe the changes in the tertiary structure which is reflected by the changes in the tryptophan environment, further ANS binding studies were made to know the extent of exposure of the hydrophobic patches which is again indicative of the overall changes occurring in the tertiary structure of the protein. It was found that the three PEGs altered the secondary as well as tertiary structure of the pH 2.4 intermediate leading to the formation of three different intermediates. The intermediates were found to have non-native secondary structure as well as non-native tertiary structure. The intermediate formed by the action of PEG-400 was due to the induction of secondary and tertiary structure while the intermediates formed under the influence of PEG-4000 and PEG-20,000 were due to loss in secondary structure and rearrangement in tertiary structure. Also the ANS binding studies showed the absence of any MG or MG-like structures formed in the folding /unfolding pathway induced by PEGs.