The enthalpy for the binding of biotin to avidin has been determined a t 25, 34 and 43 "C (pH 9, ammonium acetate buffer): AH (25 "C) = -22.5 f 0.1 kcal/mol biotin; AC,, = -237 &-12 cal x mol biotin-l x K-l.Solubilities and enthalpies of solution of biotin in water and in ethanol were determined at 25 "C. The transfer process for biotin between water and ethanol was considered as a simple model for the protein binding process.The properties of avidin and the nature of the avidin-biotin binding reaction have been studied extensively, in particular by Green and coworkers [l-51. It was shown that avidin has four identical and independent binding sites for biotin. The standard free energy of binding, AGO, was determined to be -20.5 kcal/mole biotin and from calorimetric measurements around 25 "C, the corresponding enthalpy change was found to be within uncertainty limits the same. AH was shown to be independent of pH (between 5 and 9) and independent of the buffer used [3].I n the present work, some of Green's calorimetric measurements have been repeated. Measurements were further extended to three well-defined temperatures in order to arrive a t a A C,, value for the process.Solubilities and calorimetric enthalpies of solution of biotin in water and in ethanol were determined. From the results of these measurements, AH and AS for the transfer of biotin between water and ethanol were calculated. This transfer process may be looked upon as a simple model for the studied biotin-avidin binding reaction.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
MaterialsAvidin was purchased from Worthington (Freehold, NewJersey, U.S.A.) and was used without further purification (lot No. Av IAA; 11.6 unitslg). Avidin solutions were freshly prepared for each experiment.Biotin (puriss grade, BDH) was further purified by recrystallization from water. The crystals were Presented in part at First European Biophysics Congress, Baden (Wien) 1971. dried in air a t I10 "C for 12 h after which they were vacuum treated for 24 h a t room temperature. Alkaline titration gave an equivalent weight of 244.8 6 0.2 (99.5°/0).Glass-distilled water was used in the preparation of the calorimetric solutions. Ammonium acetate, used as buffer substance in the calorimetric experiments, was of analytical grade (BDH). I n the solution experiments, 99.5O/, ethanol was used. No impurities could be detected by gas chromatography.
Calorimetric Equipment and ProcedureFor the protein-binding experiments an LKB 10700-2 batch microcalorimeter was used. The instrument was fitted with reaction cells of 18-carat gold. The compartments in one of the cells were charged with 2 and 4 ml of avidin and biotin solution, respectively. The reference cell was charged with the same quantities of buffer solution. For each calorimetric run, both cells were treated in the same manner with respect to rinsing and charging procedures.Measurements were made at three temperatures, 25, 34 and 43 "C, respectively. The exact reaction temperatures were determined by means of a Calibrated thermistor placed inside t...