Comparative study of specific and non-specific interactions between bio-macromolecules and ligands

Abstract Interactions between inhalation anesthetics and three kinds of bio-macromolecules, firefly luciferase (FFL), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer membrane were compared with the corresponding ones between long-chain fatty acids and the bio-macromolecules. The influence of the anesthetics on FFL and DPPC bilayer membrane antagonized against that of the fatty acids. On the contrary, the influences of both ligands on BSA synergized, however, that of the anesthetics was remarkably smaller than that of the fatty acids. The results are attributable to the difference in ligand receptivities, that is, molecular-recognition abilities of the bio-macromolecules. The present study showed the importance of non-specific interactions in anesthetic mechanism.