Fluorescence quenching of green fluorescent protein during denaturation by guanidine

Abstract

Fluorescence of green fluorescent protein mutant, 2-5 GFP is observed during denaturation by guanidine. The fluorescence intensity decreases exponentially but the fluorescence lifetime does not change during denaturation. The fluorescence lifetime of the denatured protein is shorter than that of native form. As the protein structure is modified by guanidine, solvent water molecules penetrate into the protein barrel and protonate the chromophore to quench fluorescence. Most fluorescence quenchers do not affect the fluorescence of native form but accelerate the fluorescence intensity decay during denaturation. Based on the observations, a simple model is suggested for the structural change of the protein molecule during denaturation.