Initial Conformation of Adsorbed Proteins at an Air-Water Interface

We present the results of time-resolved X-ray reflectivity measurements carried out to investigate the early stage of protein adsorption and deformation at an air-water interface. Three globular proteins [lysozyme, myoglobin, and bovine serum albumin (BSA)] were studied, and we observed that the proteins adsorbed at the air-water interface initially possessed a thinner conformation than their native structures. The degree of deformation increased in the order myoglobin < lysozyme < BSA, which was inconsistent with the order of molecular flexibility. The initial rate of protein adsorption increased in the order lysozyme < BSA < myoglobin as determined by the dynamic surface tension. More flexible proteins generally adsorb at the interface more rapidly; however, proteins with hydrophobic patches on the protein surface, such as myoglobin, adsorb at the interface with little deformation. These results provide evidence that protein unfolding during adsorption only takes place if the kinetics of adsorption are similar to or slower than the kinetics of unfolding.