Thermochemistry of the interaction between peptides and vancomycin or ristocetin

The thermodynamics of the interaction between the glycopeptide antibiotics vancomycin and ristocetin and bacterial peptidoglycan peptide analogs have been studied by means of a microcalorimetric titration technique. From results of the calorimetric measurements, changes in Gibbs energies, enthalpies, entropies and heat capacities for the binding reactions have been calculated. The derived thermodynamic data have been discussed on the basis of stereochemical data available for the interaction of acetyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine with each of the two antibiotics. The significance of entropic factors connected with conformational changes of the antibiotics is stressed.