Effect of trifluoroethanol on native and acid-induced states of glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger

We have studied the effect of trifluoroethanol (TFE) on the native (pH 7.0), acid unfolded (pH 2.6), and molten globule (pH 1.4) states of glucose oxidase (GOX) by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. In the presence of 50% TFE, at pH 7.0 and 2.6, GOX exhibited a transition from native coiled-coil and acid unfolded state to non-associating α-helical state. Interestingly, at pH 1.4, 15% TFE induced the formation of β-structured intermediate by loss of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate binding site and almost all tertiary contacts. The β-structured intermediate converted into open helical conformation on further addition of TFE.