FLUORESCENCE STUDIES ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN 2 CYTOCHROMES EXTRACTED FROM THE YEAST, HANSENULA-ANOMALA

The binding of cytochrome c to the cytochrome b2 core, both extracted from the yeast, Hansenula anomala, has been studied. Cytochrome b2 core heme is extracted and replaced by the fluorescent probe, 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS). A dissociation constant in the range of 85 .mu.M is found for the TNS-apoprotein complex with a stoichiometry of 1:1. The interaction between the two proteins is followed by monitoring changes in the TNS fluorescence. We find the interaction between the cytochrome c and the apocytochrome b2 core to be dependent upon the ionic strength. The dissociation constant of this complex at 20 mM ionic strength is 6 .+-. 2 .mu.M with a 1:1 stoichiometry. This dissociation constant is similar to that estimated, by other researchers, for the dimer Zn cytochrome c-cytochrome b2 core complex.