Binding of 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-galactopyranoside to Momordica charantia lectin: fluorescence-quenching studies.

The binding of 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (MeUmb-Galp), to Mormordica charantia lectin was studied by equilibrium dialysis and quenching of ligand fluorescence. The fluorescence of MeUmb-Galp decreases as a function of solvent polarity. On binding to M. charantia lectin, its fluorescence was nearly 100% quenched, showing that the binding of the glycoside takes place in hydrophobic environment. The binding of the fluorescent sugar was saccharide-specific as evidenced by reversal of MeUmb-Galp fluorescence quenching by lactose. The association constant is independent of the experimental method used and at 25 degrees C the value is (1.96 +/- 0.05) X 10(4) M-1. The number of binding sites as determined by equilibrium dialysis and fluorescence quenching agree very well with each other; n being equal to 1.98 +/- 0.02. The Ka value for the glycoside was also determined by competition studies employing reversal of fluorescence quenching of MeUmb-Galp by lactose. The value of ka obtained for lactose is 1.21 X 10(4) M-1 at 30 degrees C. The internal consistency of the association constant and number of binding site values at low and high saturation indicates the absence of additional subsite on M. charantia lectin. The thermodynamic parameters do not differ greatly with change in temperature; the values of - delta H degrees and - delta S degrees are equal to 30 +/- 9.63 kJ mol-1 and 21 +/- 0.3 J mol-1 K-1 respectively in the range of 15--35 degrees C indicting that the binding of M. charantia lectin to saccharide is exothermic in nature.