The conformational transitions in an oligomeric and high molecular weight class II α-mannosidase from Aspergillus fischeri were examined using fluorescence and CD spectroscopy under chemical, thermal and acid denaturing conditions. The enzyme lost
the activity first and then the overall folded conformation and secondary structure. The midpoint values of GdnHCl mediated
changes measured by inactivation; fluorescence and negative ellipticity were 0.48 M, 1.5 M and 1.9 M, respectively. The protein
almost completely unfolded in 4.0 M GdnHCl but not at 90 °C. The inactivation and unfolding were irreversible. At pH 2.0,
the protein exhibited molten-globule like intermediate with rearranged secondary and tertiary structures and exposed hydrophobic
amino acids on the surface. This species showed increased accessibility of Trp to the quenchers and got denatured with GdnHCl
in a different manner. The insoluble aggregates of a thermally denatured protein could be detected only in the presence of
0.25–0.75 M GdnHCl.
Keywords α-mannosidase - Fluorescence - Circular dichroism - GdnHCl - Thermal denaturation - ANS binding - Hydrobicity - Aggregation