Publication Date

12-30-2023

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

ACS Omega

DOI

10.1021/acsomega.3c09329

Abstract

This study examines the role of water in binding equilibria with a special focus on secondary solutes (cosolutes) that influence the equilibrium but are not constituents of the final product. Using a thermodynamic framework that includes an explicit term for the release of water molecules upon binding, this investigation reveals how solutes may alter equilibria by changing the activity of the reactants, reflected in ΔG°(obs), and by changing the chemical potential of the solvent, reflected in ΔGS. The framework is applied to four experimental binding systems that differ in the degree of electrostatic contributions. The model systems include the chelation of Ca2+ by EDTA and three host–guest reactions; the pairings of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene with tetramethylammonium ion, cucurbit[7]uril with N-acetyl-phenylalanine-amide, and β-cyclodextrin with adamantane carboxylate are tested. Each reaction pair is examined by isothermal titration calorimetry at 25 °C in the presence of a common osmolyte, sucrose, and a common chaotrope, urea. Molar solutions of trehalose and phosphate were also tested with selected models. In general, cosolutes that enhance binding tend to reduce the solvation free energy penalty and cosolutes that weaken binding tend to increase the solvation free energy penalty. Notably, the nonpolar–nonpolar interaction between adamantane carboxylate and β-cyclodextrin is characterized by a ΔGS value near zero. The results with β-cyclodextrin, in particular, prompt further discussions of the hydrophobic effect and the biocompatible properties of trehalose. Other investigators are encouraged to test and refine the approach taken here to further our understanding of solvent effects on molecular recognition.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Department

Chemistry

ACS Omega Dataset Eggers.7z (5320 kB)
ACS Omega Dataset

Author Response to Critical Reviews_ACSomega.pdf (405 kB)
Author Response to Critical Reviews

Share

COinS