Release of Cyt c from the model membrane due to conformational change induced by anticancer palladium complex

Cytochrome C (Cyt c) is an electron transporting protein that resides within the inter-membrane space of the mitochondria. It plays a critical role as an electron carrier in the process of oxidative phosphorylation and production of cellular ATP. Cyt c is also involved in the apoptosis process and functions as a death messenger. On the other hand, it is well known that the metallo-pharmaceuticals such as palladium complex offer potential as anti-tumor agents to fight cancer. In order to identify the role of anticancer Pd complex in release of Cyt c from the biological membrane, an artificial monolayer was assembled which is able to adsorb Cyt c. A monolayer containing a mixture of two long chain thiols (mercapto-undecanoic acid and mercapto-undecanol) was self-assembled on the surface of a gold electrode. Due to the existence of both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between Cyt c and the assembled monolayer, this membrane could be considered as a rough analogue of the biological membrane to study the release of Cyt c by Pd complex. The electrochemical and spectroscopic studies showed that bounding of Pd complex to Cyt c causes a conformational change which leads to the release of Cyt c from the model membrane.