Binding of Low-Molecular-Weight Cationic Ligands to Chondroitin Sulfate as Studied by Capillary Electrophoresis Frontal Analysis

The feasibility of capillary electrophoresis frontal analysis for the study of low-molecular-weight ligand- chondroitin sulfate interactions was investigated. The interaction of the 7 cationic ligands (lidocaine, propranolol, scopolamine, N-methyl scopolamine, N-butyl scopolamine, 2-propylisochinolinium, and methyl viologen) with the glycosaminoglycan chondroitin sulfate was investigated in 0.067 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, at 25 o C. A frontal analysis method with a short analysis time, suitable for ranking ligands according to degree of complexation for chondroitin sulfate was developed. The double charged ligand methyl viologen possessed the highest affinity for chondroitin sulfate. Linear binding isotherms were obtained and apparent association constants were determined. Capillary electrophoresis frontal analysis may be an attractive tool for characterization of ligand-glycosaminoglycan interactions.