Interaction of Cu(2+), Pb (2+), Zn (2+) with trypsin: what is the key factor of their toxicity?

Heavy metals possess great endangerment to environment even human health because of their indissolubility and bioaccumulation. The toxicity of heavy metal ions (Cu(2+), Pb(2+), Zn(2+)) to trypsin was investigated by fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, UV-vis absorption, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and enzyme activity assay. The experimental results showed that toxic effect of heavy metal ions was due to their own characteristic, rather than the electric charges of the ion. Zn(2+) could not show the obvious toxicity to trypsin, while the structure and function of trypsin was damaged when the enzyme explored to Cu(2+) and Pb(2+). From the spectra results, we found that Cu(2+) would bind with trypsin, which lead to the fluorescence quenched and hydrophobicity increased. Pb(2+) could also change the structure and reduce the activity of trypsin in high concentration. In vitro measurement, the toxicity order of heavy metal ions to trypsin is: Cu(2+) > Pb(2+) > Zn(2+). In addition, isothermal titration calorimetry analysis proved that the interactions between Cu(2+), Pb(2+), Zn(2+) and trypsin were all spontaneous and exothermic, which indicated the adverse effect of these heavy metal ions to trypsin.