Specific fluorescent labeling of alpha 2-macroglobulin-bound proteases: accessibility and localization of their active site within the complex.

Pyrenebutylmethylphosphonofluoridate reacts with trypsin and elastase to yield a conjugate with a stoichiometry of one fluorescent label per enzyme molecule as already observed with chymotrypsin. The kinetics of inactivation indicate that the serine active center of the proteases is involved in the labeling reaction. The binding of the proteases to alpha 2-macroglobulin does not modify the specificity of the reaction but drastically diminishes the labeling rate which also depends upon alpha 2-macroglobulin protease binding ratio. Dynamic quenching of the conjugated pyrene moiety by acrylamide, and iodide ions is markedly reduced upon reaction of the protease with alpha 2-macroglobulin, indicating a reduced accessibility of the protease active center in the complex. Singlet--singlet energy transfer measurements from the donor pyrene labeled active center of the proteases to the alpha 2-macroglobulin acceptor labeled thiol groups which are liberated upon protease fixation, gave a rough estimate of the distance (about 25 A) between the active center of the two alpha 2-macroglobulin bound protease molecules.