Spectroscopic study of the interaction of gossypol with bovine serum albumin.

The interaction of gossypol with bovine serum albumin (BSA) at pH 7.6 in 0.02 M borax-borate buffer has been followed by circular dichroism (CD) and difference spectroscopy. From the extrinsic CD band at 390 nm, a binding constant of 2.7 X 10(3) M-1 was calculated. At 54 degrees the induced CD spectrum was abolished, suggesting that the interaction is not favoured at that temperature. The effect of various solvents and salts on the interaction has been followed by difference spectroscopy. The modification of epsilon-amino groups of lysine did not affect the interaction. Binding of gossypol to BSA does not cause a change in its secondary structure or sedimentation coefficient.