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Unfolding and refolding of dimeric creatine kinase equilibrium and kinetic studies

Equilibrium and kinetic studies of the guanidine hydrochloride induced unfolding‐refolding of dimeric cytoplasmic creatine kinase have been monitored by intrinsic fluorescence, far ultraviolet circular dichroism, and 1‐anilinonaphthalene‐8‐sulfonate binding. The GuHCl induced equilibrium‐unfolding curve shows two transitions, indicating the presence of at least one stable equilibrium intermediate in GuHCl solutions of moderate concentrations. This intermediate is an inactive monomer with all of the thiol groups exposed. The thermodynamic parameters obtained by analysis using a three‐state model indicate that this intermediate is similar in energy to the fully unfolded state. There is a burst phase in the refolding kinetics due to formation of an intermediate within the dead time of mixing (15 ms) in the stopped‐flow apparatus. Further refolding to the native state after the burst phase follows biphasic kinetics. The properties of the burst phase and equilibrium intermediates were studied and compared. The results indicate that these intermediates are similar in some respects, but different in others. Both are characterized by pronounced secondary structure, compact globularity, exposed hydrophobic surface area, and the absence of rigid side‐chain packing, resembling the “molten globule” state. However, the burst phase intermediate shows more secondary structure, more exposed hydrophobic surface area, and more flexible side‐chain packing than the equilibrium intermediate. Following the burst phase, there is a fast phase corresponding to folding of the monomer to a compact conformation. This is followed by rapid assembly to form the dimer. Neither of the equilibrium unfolding transitions are protein concentration dependent. The refolding kinetics are also not concentration dependent. This suggests that association of the subunits is not rate limiting for refolding, and that under equilibrium conditions, dissociation occurs in the region between the two unfolding transitions. Based upon the above results, schemes of unfolding and refolding of creatine kinase are proposed.