Synthesis of a IAP antagonist analogue and its binding investigation with BSA/HSA

Abstract The development of new drugs especially novel anti-cancer drugs has become a hot-spot issue that catches scholars’ attention in every field. Here a IAP antagonist analogue (IAPA) was synthesized and characterized by NMR and HRMS spectra. Its interaction with proteins, including bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA), were investigated by spectral methods and molecular simulation. Fluorescence quenching, together with UV absorption spectrum and time-resolved fluorescence spectrums indicated a static process in BSA/HSA-IAPA system. Thermodynamic parameters including ΔH and ΔS calculated by Vant't Hoff equation were all positive, showing that hydrophobic force was the major force in the interaction of compound IAPA and BSA/HSA. Site marker competitive displacement experiments proved that IAPA bound to site I at BSA/HSA. Synchronous fluorescence spectrum and three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum were also used to investigate the conformational changes of BSA/HSA after binding with compound IAPA. The above results were further verified by molecular docking.