Location and binding mechanism of an ESIPT probe 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid in unsaturated fatty acid bound serum albumins

The binding site and the binding mechanism of 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (3HNA) in oleic acid (OA) bound serum albumins (bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA)) have been determined using steady state and time resolved emission of tryptophan residues (Trp) in proteins and the ESIPT emission of 3HNA. Time resolved anisotropy of the probe 3HNA and low temperature phosphorescence of Trp residues of BSA in OA bound BSA at 77 K reveals a drastic change of the binding site of 3HNA in the ternary system compared to that in the free protein. 3HNA binds near Trp213 in the ternary system whereas 3HNA binds near Trp134 in the free protein. The structure of OA bound BSA generated using docking methodology exhibits U-bend configuration of all bound OA. The docked pose of 3HNA in the free protein and in OA bound albumins (ternary systems) and the concomitant perturbation of the structure of proteins around the binding region of 3HNA corroborate the enhanced ESIPT emission of 3HNA and the energy transfer efficiency from the donor Trp213 of BSA to 3HNA acceptor in 3HNA–OA–BSA system.