A Voltammetric Study on the Interaction of Novobiocin with Cysteine: pH Effect

Abstract

The interaction of novobiocin (NOV), an aminocoumarin antibiotic, with cysteine was studied by square-wave voltammetry technique on the hanging mercury drop electrode in different pH values. After the addition of NOV into the cysteine solution, the peak current of mercurous cysteine thiolate decreased and its voltammetric peak potential shifted to more positive values. Voltammetric results showed that NOV binds with cysteine forming 1:1 nonelectroactive molecular complex by means of electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. The binding constants of NOV with cysteine at pHs 5, 7 and 10 were calculated to be 3.06×103, 1.54×104 and 1.06×105 M-1, respectively. Furthermore, apossible mechanism of such interaction was also discussed. © 2009 Sociedad Chilena de Química.