Equilibrium parameters for the binding of monodisperse alkyl sulfate along the i-face (the interface binding surface) of pig pancreatic TB phospholipase A2 (PLA2) to form the premicellar complexes (Ei#) are characterized to discern the short-range specific interactions. Typically, (Ei#) complexes are reversible on dilution. The triphasic binding isotherm, monitored as the fluorescence emission from the single tryptophan of PLA2, is interpreted as a cooperative equilibrium for the sequential formation of three premicellar complexes (Ei#, i = 1, 2, 3). In the presence of calcium, the dissociation constant K1 for the Ei# complex of PLA2 with decyl sulfate (CMC = 4500 μM) is 70 μM with a Hill coefficient n1 = 2.1 ± 0.2; K2 for E2# is 750 μM with n2 = 8 ± 1, and K3 for E3# is 4000 μM with an n3 value of about 12. Controls show that (a) self-aggregation of decyl sulfate alone is not significant below the CMC; (b) occupancy of the active site is not necessary for the formation of Ei#; (c) Ki and ni do not change significantly due to the absence of calcium, possibly because alkyl sulfate does not bind to the active site of PLA2; (d) the Ei# complexes show a significant propensity for aggregation; and (e) PLA2 is not denatured in Ei#. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]