In this project, the interaction between the beta adrenergic blocker propranolol and bovine serum albumin was studied through use of equilibrium dialysis. Recent discoveries have shown that fatty acids may play a role in the protein -- drug interaction. We have tested this idea by adding myristic acid into the equilibrium dialysis experiments. The addition of myristic acid showed no substantial effect on the interaction. As a result, a shorter fatty acid (6-carbon caproic acid) has also been added into the experimentation to find more noticeable effects on the interaction. Analysis of fatty acid free, myristic acid/BSA and caproic acid/BSA runs showed that cooperative binding was taking place in all three runs. Cooperative binding means that the binding of one ligand to albumin increases the affinity of the binding of the other ligand. The degree of cooperativity was found to be higher in the straight BSA and myristic acid/BSA runs. The caproic acid/BSA runs showed a much lower degree of cooperativity.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Horstick, James William
• Quattrucci, David John

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 00D142M

Advisor

• Hobey, William D.

Year

• 2000

Date created

• 2000-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright