A concise approach to 1,11-didechloro-6-methyl-4′-O-demethyl rebeccamycin and its binding to human serum albumin: Fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular modeling method Original Research Article

1,11-Didechloro-6-methyl-4′-O-demethyl rebeccamycin (JDC-108), a rebeccamycin analog possessing potent anti-tumor activities, was prepared via a concise one-pot strategy in good yield. The interaction between JDC-108 and human serum albumin (HSA) was studied by spectroscopic methods including fluorescence spectroscopy, UV–vis absorption spectrum, and molecular modeling. The quenching mechanism of fluorescence of HSA by JDC-108 was discussed. The number of binding sites n and apparent binding constant K were measured by fluorescence quenching method. The thermodynamic parameters ΔH, ΔG, ΔS at different temperatures were calculated and the results indicated the binding reaction was mainly entropy-driven and hydrophobic forces played major role in the reaction. The distance r between donor (HSA) and acceptor (JDC-108) was obtained according to Förster theory of non-radiation energy transfer. Synchronous fluorescence and UV–vis absorption spectrum were used to investigate the molecular conformation of HSA molecules with addition of JDC-108 and the result indicated that molecular conformation of HSA molecules was changed in the presence of JDC-108 and the hydrophobic interaction played a major role in JDC-108–HSA association, which was in good agreement with the results of molecular modeling study. In addition, the effect of common ions on the binding constants of JDC-108–HSA complex was also discussed.