Thermodynamics of the Binding of Chymotrypsin with the Black-eyed Pea Trypsin and Chymotrypsin Inhibitor (BTCI)

The binding of α-chymotrypsin to black-eyed pea trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor (BTCI) has been studied using the inhibitory activity against the enzyme and the formation of the complex enzyme/inhibitor followed by measurements of fluorescence polarization. Apparent equilibrium constants were estimated for several temperatures and the values obtained range from 0.32 × 107 to 1.36 × 107 M−1. The following values were found from van't Hoff plots: Δ Hvh° = 10.8 kcal mol-1 (from inhibitory assays) and 11.1 kcal mol−1 (from fluorescence polarization); ΔS° = 67.9 and = 67.8 kcal K−1 mol−1, respectively. Calorimetric binding enthalpy was determined (corrected for the ionization heat of the buffer) and the resulting value was ΔHcal° = 4.9 kcal mol-1. These results indicate that the binding of chymotrypsin to BTCI is an entropically driven process.