Enthalpy-entropy compensation and heat capacity changes for protein-ligand interactions: general thermodynamic models and data for the binding of nucleotides to ribonuclease A.

General thermodynamic models are presented that can account for the existence of heat capacity changes and compensation between the enthalpy and entropy changes in protein-ligand interactions. The models involve the coupling between some type of transition in the state of the protein (or ligand) and the binding process. The coupled transition may be a proton dissociation, the binding of a second ligand, a change in the degree of aggregation, or a conformational change in either the protein or ligand. Both mandatory coupling and nonmandatory coupling between the binding process and the transition are considered. The model is also extended to include a multistate transition of the protein. Computer simulations show that apparently linear compensation plots (plots of delta H degrees vs. delta S degrees) with a slope approximately equal to the experimental temperature are to be expected for the binding of a ligand to a protein when such coupled reactions exist. Also heat capacity changes, which may be either positive or negative, are to be expected to accompany the reaction. Experimental thermodynamic data for the binding of cytidine 3'-phosphate to ribonuclease A are presented. These data demonstrate apparent enthalpy-entropy compensation when pH and ionic strength are varied. A negative heat capacity change, ranging from -145 (at mu = 1.0 M) to -225 cal/(mol X deg) (at mu = 0.05 M), is also observed for this protein-ligand interaction. The apparent compensation and heat capacity change data are interpreted according to the models presented.