DSC Studies of the Effects of Cisplatin and Transplatin on G-Actin

The effects of cisplatin and its trans isomer transplatin on the thermal denaturation of G-actin were studied with a Micro DSC-III differential scanning calorimeter. The denaturation enthalpy of G-actin was found to be 12 J g−1, and the denaturation temperature was 328 K. The thermal denaturation curve showed that increasing cisplatin concentration decreased the enthalpy change. However, after the ratio of cisplatin to G-actin attained 8:1 (mol:mol), the denaturation enthalpy no longer decreased. Transplatin decreased the enthalpy change more rapidly. In contrast with cisplatin, the denaturation peak at 328 K disappeared, and a strong exothermic peak appeared at 341 K when the ratio of transplatin to G-actin was 8:1 (mol:mol). The enthalpy change was 75 J g−1, which is far in excess of the range of weak interactions. This strong exothermic phenomenon probably reflects the agglutination of protein. The effects of cisplatin and transplatin on the number of the free thiol groups of G-actin are discussed.