Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy to Evaluate Hill Parameters and Heterogeneity of Ligand Binding to Cytochromes P450

The cytochromes P450 (CYPs) are hemoproteins that oxidize many drugs and carcinogens. Binding interactions of two CYPs with Nile Red, pyrene, and alpha-naphthoflavone were studied using fluorescence quenching. Upon interaction with CYPs, fluorescence from pyrene excited-state dimers was quenched more efficiently than fluorescence from pyrene monomers. Quenching data was fit to the Hill equation to determine binding affinities and the Hill parameter $n$ for the interaction of substrates with CYPs. All ligands showed strong binding to the CYPs, especially alpha-naphthoflavone, but exhibited little or no cooperativity in the interaction. Modified Stern-Volmer plots were used to confirm binding affinities, and suggested heterogeneous populations of amino acid fluorophores. Fluorescence anisotropy experiments suggest that CYP molecules tumble more rapidly when alpha-naphthoflavone is added.