Fluorescence studies of the calcium binding to whiting (Gadus merlangus) parvalbumin

The calcium binding by parvalbumin of whiting (Gadus merlangus) has been studied using tryptophanyl fluorescence characteristics. Titration of Ca2+-free parvalbumin with Ca2+ leads to a very pronounced blue shift, narrowing and intensification of the fluorescence spectrum. These spectral changs proceed in two stages reflecting the existence of at least three forms which can be interpreted as (a) the protein without Ca2+, (b) with one Ca2+ and (c) with two bound Ca2+ ions/molecule. The fluorescence of these forms has been identified and the fluorescence spectra measured at varied Ca2+ concentrations were resolved into three components corresponding to these spectral forms. The dependence of the relative concentration of the three fomrs on Ca2+ concentrations agree well with the two-step binding of Ca2+ to parvalbumin: Protein + Ca in equilibrium K1 protein x Ca; Protein x Ca + Ca in equilibrium K2 Ca x protein x Ca. The equilibrium binding constants K1 and K2 obtained by the computer fit are approximately 5 X 10(8) M-1 and 6 X 10(6) M-1. This scheme and the K1 and K2 value are in a good agreement with the independent experimental data resulting from EGTA titration of Ca2+-saturated parvalbumin and pH titratin of parvalbumin in the presence of EGTA and CA2+.