New insights into conformational and functional stability of human alpha-thrombin probed by high hydrostatic pressure

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and urea on conformational transitions of human alpha-thrombin structure were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and by measuring the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Treatment of thrombin with urea produced a progressive red shift in the center of mass of the intrinsic fluorescence emission spectrum, with a maximum displacement of 650 cm(-1). HHP (270 MPa) shifted the centre of mass by only 370 cm(-1). HHP combined with a subdenaturing urea concentration (1.5 m) displaced the centre of mass by approximately 750 cm(-1). The binding of the fluorescent probe bis(8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate) to thrombin was increased by 1.8-, 4.0-, and 2.7-fold after treatment with high urea concentration, HHP or HHP combined with urea, respectively, thus suggesting that all treatments convert the enzyme to partially folded intermediates with exposed hydrophobic regions. On the other hand, treatment of thrombin with urea (but not HHP) combined with dithiothreitol progressively displaced the fluorescent probe, thus suggesting that this condition converts the enzyme to a completely unfolded state. Urea and HHP also led to different conformations when changes in the thrombin catalytic site environment were assessed using the fluorescence emission of fluorescein-d-Phe-Pro-Arg-cloromethylketone-alpha-thrombin: addition of urea up to 2 m gradually decreased the fluorescence emission of the probe to 65% of the initial intensity, whereas HHP caused a progressive increase in fluorescence. Hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate S-2238 was enhanced (35%) in 2 m urea and gradually abolished at higher concentrations, while HHP (270 MPa) inhibited the enzyme's catalytic activity by 45% and abolished it when 1.5 m urea was also present. Altogether, analysis of urea and HHP effects on thrombin structure and activity indicates the formation of dissimilar intermediate states during denaturation by these agents.