SURFACE PRESSURE AND FLUORESCENCE STUDY OF RIBULOSE-1,5-BISPHOSPHATE CARBOXYLASE OXYGENASE ADSORPTION AT AN AIR BUFFER INTERFACE

The formation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate car{ballot box}ylase/oxygenase interfacial film was studied by means of tryptophan fluorescence and surface pressure measurements. Films were formed either from homogeneous protein solutions or by localized injection in a protein free buffer or by spreading over a protein free buffer. The film formation is due, besides the usual adsorption from the bulk, to a process of lateral diffusion of already adsorbed proteins for which we give experimental evidence. The fluorescence results are indicative of the occurrence of a transient state of the adsorbed protein. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc. All rights reserved.