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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 7: Posters: Proteins
BP 7.29: Poster
Montag, 26. März 2012, 17:30–19:30, Poster A
CD-spectroscopy as a tool for characterizing protein-polymer complexes — •Sven Brandt1, Krystin Krauel1, Kay E. Gottschalk2, Christiane A. Helm3, and Stephan Block1 — 1ZIK HIKE - Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen,, Fleischmannstr. 42-44, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany — 2Institut für Experimentelle Physik, Universität Ulm, D-89069 Ulm — 3Institut für Physik, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 6, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany
Aggregates of platelet factor 4 (PF4), a highly positively charged protein that is stored in platelet alpha-granules, and natural or artificial polyanions are formed. Changes in the proteins secondary structure are monitored with circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, while the polyanion concentration is varied systematically. We observe pronounced structural changes of the PF4 during the interaction with highly charged polyanions. At a specific protein/monomer ratio the structural changes of the protein are most pronounced, suggesting that all proteins are incorporated into PF4-polyanion complexes. Only minor or no changes are found for weakly charged and neutral polymers. Interestingly, the most striking changes are observed for those PF4-polyanion complexes which are known to be immunogenic, such as aggregates with heparin, which can induce the life-threatening immune disorder called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).