Probing the binding of morin with alpha-2-macroglobulin using multi-spectroscopic and molecular docking approach

Alpha-2-macroglobulin (α₂M) is an essential antiproteinase that is widely distributed in human plasma. The present study was aimed at investigating the binding of a potential therapeutic dietary flavonol, morin, with human α₂M using a multi-spectroscopic and molecular docking approach. Recently, flavonoid-protein interaction has gained significant attention, because a majority of dietary bioactive components interact with proteins, thereby altering their structure and function. The results of the activity assay exhibited a 48% reduction in the antiproteolytic potential of α₂M upon interaction with morin. Fluorescence quenching tests unequivocally confirmed quenching in the fluorescence of α₂M in the presence of morin, conforming complex formation and demonstrating that the binding mechanism involves a dynamic mode of interaction. Synchronous fluorescence spectra of α₂M with morin showed perturbation in the microenvironment around tryptophan residues. Furthermore, structural changes were observed through CD and FT-IR, showing alterations in the secondary structure of α₂M induced by morin. FRET further supports the results of the dynamic mode of quenching. Moderate interaction is shown by binding constant values using Stern–Volmer’s fluorescence spectroscopy. Morin binds to α₂M at 298 K with a binding constant of 2.7 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, indicating the strength of the association. The α₂M-morin system was found to have negative ΔG values, which suggests that the binding process was spontaneous. Molecular docking also reveals the different amino acid residues involved in this binding process, revealing that the binding energy is -8.1 kcal/mol.