Development of a fluorescence model for the binding of medium- to long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids to human serum albumin through a mechanistic evaluation of spectroscopic evidence

Systematic investigation of the toxic mechanism of PFOA and PFOS on bovine serum albumin by spectroscopic and molecular modeling

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), an emerging class of globally environmental contaminations, pose a great threat to humans with wide exposure from food and other potential sources. The effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on bovine serum albumin (BSA) under normal physiological conditions were characterized by fluorescence, UV-Vis absorption, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and molecular docking methods. The fluorescence study suggested that the fluorescence quenching of BSA by PFCs was a static procedure forming a PFCs-BSA complex. The negative values of enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) indicated that van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds were the dominant intermolecular forces in the binding of PFCs to BSA. The displacement experiments of site markers and molecular docking revealed that the binding of PFOA to BSA took place in sub-domain IIA (Sudlow site I) whereas PFOS was mainly located in the sub-domain IIIA (Sudlow site II) and partially bound into site I. Furthermore, the results of UV-Vis and FT-IR spectra demonstrated that the microenvironment and the secondary structure of BSA were changed in the presence of PFCs. These results indicated that PFCs indeed impact the conformation of BSA and PFOS was more toxic than PFOA, which were supported by theoretical molecular modeling methods.

Isomer-Specific Binding Affinity of Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) to Serum Proteins

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are among the most prominent contaminants in human serum, and these were historically manufactured as technical mixtures of linear and branched isomers. The isomers display unique pharmacokinetics in humans and in animal models, but molecular mechanisms underlying isomer-specific PFOS and PFOA disposition have not previously been studied. Here, ultrafiltration devices were used to examine (i) the dissociation constants (Kd) of individual PFOS and PFOA isomers with human serum albumin (HSA) and (ii) relative binding affinity of isomers in technical mixtures spiked to whole calf serum and human serum. Measurement of HSA Kd's demonstrated that linear PFOS (Kd=8(±4)×10(-8) M) was much more tightly bound than branched PFOS isomers (Kd range from 8(±1)×10(-5) M to 4(±2)×10(-4) M). Similarly, linear PFOA (Kd=1(±0.9)×10(-4) M) was more strongly bound to HSA compared to branched PFOA isomers (Kd range from 4(±2)×10(-4) M to 3(±2)×10(-4) M). The higher binding affinities of linear PFOS and PFOA to total serum protein were confirmed when both calf serum and human serum were spiked with technical mixtures. Overall, these data provide a mechanistic explanation for the longer biological half-life of PFOS in humans, compared to PFOA, and for the higher transplacental transfer efficiencies and renal clearance of branched PFOS and PFOA isomers, compared to the respective linear isomer.

A modeling assessment of the physicochemical properties and environmental fate of emerging and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic contaminants that are globally present in the environment, wildlife and humans. Phase-out actions and use restrictions to reduce the environmental release of long-chain PFCAs, PFSAs and their precursors have been taken since 2000. In particular, long-chain poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are being replaced with shorter-chain homologues or other fluorinated or non-fluorinated alternatives. A key question is: are these alternatives, particularly the structurally similar fluorinated alternatives, less hazardous to humans and the environment than the substances they replace? Several fluorinated alternatives including perfluoroether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) and perfluoroether sulfonic acids (PFESAs) have been recently identified. However, the scarcity of experimental data prevents hazard and risk assessments for these substances. In this study, we use state-of-the-art in silico tools to estimate key properties of these newly identified fluorinated alternatives. [i] COSMOtherm and SPARC are used to estimate physicochemical properties. The US EPA EPISuite software package is used to predict degradation half-lives in air, water and soil. [ii] In combination with estimated chemical properties, a fugacity-based multimedia mass-balance unit-world model - the OECD Overall Persistence (POV) and Long-Range Transport Potential (LRTP) Screening Tool - is used to assess the likely environmental fate of these alternatives. Even though the fluorinated alternatives contain some structural differences, their physicochemical properties are not significantly different from those of their predecessors. Furthermore, most of the alternatives are estimated to be similarly persistent and mobile in the environment as the long-chain PFASs. The models therefore predict that the fluorinated alternatives will become globally distributed in the environment similar to their predecessors. Although such in silico methods are coupled with uncertainties, this preliminary assessment provides enough cause for concern to warrant experimental work to better determine the properties of these fluorinated alternatives.

Determination of potential main sites of apixaban binding in human serum albumin by combined spectroscopic and docking investigations

Probing apixaban binding to human serum albumin: combining spectroscopic methods and docking investigations.

Cellular target recognition of perfluoroalkyl acids: in vitro evaluation of inhibitory effects on lysine decarboxylase

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been shown to bind with hepatic peroxisome proliferator receptor α, estrogen receptors and human serum albumin and subsequently cause some toxic effects. Lysine decarboxylase (LDC) plays an important role in cell growth and developmental processes. In this study, the inhibitory effect of 16 PFAAs, including 13 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and 3 perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs), on lysine decarboxylase (LDC) activity was investigated. The inhibition constants obtained in fluorescence enzyme assays fall in the range of 2.960 μM to 290.8 μM for targeted PFCAs, and 41.22 μM to 67.44 μM for targeted PFSAs. The inhibitory effect of PFCAs increased significantly with carbon chain (7-18 carbons), whereas the short chain PFCAs (less than 7 carbons) did not show any effect. Circular dichroism results showed that PFAA binding induced significant protein secondary structural changes. Molecular docking revealed that the inhibitory effect could be rationalized well by the cleft binding mode as well as the size, substituent group and hydrophobic characteristics of the PFAAs. At non-cytotoxic concentrations, three selected PFAAs inhibited LDC activity in HepG2 cells, and subsequently resulted in the decreased cadaverine level in the exposed cells, suggesting that LDC may be a possible target of PFAAs for their in vivo toxic effects.

Effect of body condition on tissue distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)

Arctic animals undergo large seasonal fluctuations in body weight. The effect of body condition on the distribution and composition of 16 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was investigated in liver, blood, kidney, adipose tissue, and muscle of Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) from Svalbard (n = 18, age 1-3 years). PFAS concentrations were generally highest in liver, followed by blood and kidney, while lowest concentrations were found in adipose tissue and muscle. Concentrations of summed perfluorocarboxylic acids and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates were five and seven times higher, respectively, in adipose tissue of lean compared to fat foxes. In addition, perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) and perfluoroheptanesulfonate (PFHpS) concentrations in liver, kidney, and blood, and, perfluorononanoate (PFNA) in liver and blood, were twice as high in the lean compared to the fat foxes. The ratio between perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) and its metabolite perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) was lowest in liver, muscle, and kidney, while significantly higher proportions of FOSA were found in adipose tissue and blood. The results of the present study suggest that toxic potential of exposure to PFAS among other pollutants in Arctic mammals may increase during seasonal emaciation. The results also suggest that body condition should be taken into account when assessing temporal trends of PFASs.

Bioaccumulation of perfluorinated alkyl acids: observations and models

In this review, we consider the two prevailing hypotheses for the mechanisms that control the bioaccumulation of perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs). The first assumes that partitioning to membrane phospholipids, which have a higher affinity for charged species than neutral storage lipids, can explain the high bioaccumulation potential of these compounds. The second assumes that interactions with proteins--including serum albumin, liver fatty acid binding proteins (L-FABP), and organic anion transporters--determine the distribution, accumulation and half-lives of PFAAs. We consider three unique phenomena to evaluate the two models: (1) observed patterns of tissue distribution in the laboratory and field, (2) the relationship between perfluorinated chain length and bioaccumulation, and (3) species- and gender-specific variation in elimination half-lives. Through investigation of these three characteristics of PFAA bioaccumulation, we show the strengths and weaknesses of the two modeling approaches. We conclude that the models need not be mutually exclusive, but that protein interactions are needed to explain some important features of PFAA bioaccumulation. Although open questions remain, further research should include perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) beyond the long-chain PFAAs, as these substances are being phased out and replaced by a wide variety of PFASs with largely unknown properties and bioaccumulation behavior.

Bioconcentration of perfluorinated alkyl acids: how important is specific binding?

Perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) are important global pollutants with unique pharmacokinetics. Evidence is accumulating that their behavior within organisms is affected by interaction with a number of proteins. In mammals, serum albumin, fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) and organic anion transporters (OATs) have been identified as important to the tissue distribution, species-specific accumulation, and species- and gender-specific elimination rates of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates and perfluoroalkane sulfonates. Similar pharmacokinetics has been identified in fish. Yet, no mechanistic model exists for the bioaccumulation of PFAAs in fish that explicitly considers protein interactions. In this work, we present the first mechanistic protein-binding bioconcentration model for PFAAs in fish. Our model considers PFAA uptake via passive diffusion at the gills, association with serum albumin in the circulatory and extracellular spaces, association with FABP in the liver, and renal elimination and reabsorption facilitated by OAT proteins. The model is evaluated using measured bioconcentration and tissue distribution data collected in two previous studies of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Comparing our model with previous attempts to describe PFAA bioconcentration using a nonspecific (partitioning-type) approach shows that inclusion of protein interactions is key to accurately predicting tissue-specific PFAA distribution and bioconcentration.

Assessment of estrogenic activity of perfluoroalkyl acids based on ligand-induced conformation state of human estrogen receptor

Culture-dependent and -independent methods were employed to determine the impact of carboxyl-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on fungal and bacterial soil microbial communities. Soil samples were exposed to 0 (control), 250, and 500 μg of SWNTs per gram of soil. Aliquots of soil were sampled for up to 14 days for culture-dependent analyses, namely, plate count agar and bacterial community level physiological profiles, and culture-independent analyses, namely, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), mutliplex-terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (M-TRFLP), and clone libraries. Results from culture-independent and -dependent methods show that the bacterial soil community is transiently affected by the presence of SWNTs. The major impact of SWNTs on bacterial community was observed after 3 days of exposure, but the bacterial community completely recovered after 14 days. However, no recovery of the fungal community was observed for the duration of the experiment. Physiological and DNA microbial community analyses suggest that fungi and bacteria involved in carbon and phosphorus biogeochemical cycles can be adversely affected by the presence of SWNTs. This study suggests that high concentrations of SWNTs can have widely varying effects on microbial communities and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients in soils.

Study of in vitro interaction between tetrabromobisphenol A and bovine serum albumin by fluorescence spectroscopy

The interaction between tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in simulated physiological conditions (pH = 7.4) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The results revealed that TBBPA caused the fluorescence quenching of BSA through a static quenching procedure. The binding constants (K) of TBBPA with BSA at 277, 298, and 310 K were obtained as 4.75 × 10(5) L/mol, 5.63 × 10(5) L/mol, and 6.66 × 10(5) L/mol, respectively. There may be two binding sites of TBBPA on BSA. The enthalpy change (ΔH), free energy change (ΔG), and entropy change (ΔS) of thermodynamic parameters indicated that the interaction between TBBPA and BSA was driven mainly by hydrophobic and electrostatic forces. Synchronous fluorescence spectra showed TBBPA binding slightly changed the conformation of BSA by decreasing its polarity and increasing its hydrophobicity. The results of the present study may provide valuable information for studying the distribution and toxicity mechanisms of TBBPA in vivo.

Strong associations of short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids with serum albumin and investigation of binding mechanisms

Interactions of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) with tissue and serum proteins likely contribute to their tissue distribution and bioaccumulation patterns. Protein-water distribution coefficients (K(PW) ) based on ligand associations with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein were recently proposed as biologically relevant parameters to describe the environmental behavior of PFAAs, yet empirical data on such protein binding behavior are limited. In the present study, associations of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) with two to 12 carbons (C₂-C₁₂) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates with four to eight carbons (C₄, C₆, and C₈) with BSA are evaluated at low PFAA:albumin mole ratios and various solution conditions using equilibrium dialysis, nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Log K(PW) values for C₄ to C₁₂ PFAAs range from 3.3 to 4.3. Affinity for BSA increases with PFAA hydrophobicity but decreases from the C₈ to C₁₂ PFCAs, likely due to steric hindrances associated with longer and more rigid perfluoroalkyl chains. The C₄-sulfonate exhibits increased affinity relative to the equivalent chain-length PFCA. Fluorescence titrations support evidence that an observed dependence of PFAA-BSA binding on pH is attributable to conformational changes in the protein. Association constants determined for perfluorobutanesulfonate and perfluoropentanoate with BSA are on the order of those for long-chain PFAAs (K(a) ∼10⁶/M), suggesting that physiological implications of strong binding to albumin may be important for short-chain PFAAs.

Renal elimination of perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs)

Sex-, species-, and chain length-dependent renal elimination is the hallmark of mammalian elimination of perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) and has been extensively studied for almost 30 years. In this review, toxicokinetic data of PFCAs (chain lengths ranging from 4 to 10) in different species are compared with an emphasis on their relevance to renal elimination. PFCAs vary in their affinities to bind to serum albumins in plasma, which is an important factor in determining the renal clearance of PFCAs. PFCA-albumin binding has been well characterized and is summarized in this review. The mechanism of the sex-, species-, and chain length-dependent renal PFCA elimination is a research area that has gained continuous interest since the beginning of toxicological studies of PFCAs. It is now recognized that organic anion transport proteins play a key role in PFCA renal tubular reabsorption, a process that is sex-, species-, and chain length-dependent. Recent studies on the identification of PFCA renal transport proteins and characterization of their transport kinetics have greatly improved our understanding of the PFCA renal transport mechanism at the molecular level. A mathematical representation of this renal tubular reabsorption mechanism has been incorporated in physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). Improvement of PBPK models in the future will require more accurate and quantitative characterization of renal transport pathways of PFCAs. To that end, a basolateral membrane efflux pathway for the reabsorption of PFCAs in the kidney is discussed in this review, which could provide a future research direction toward a better understanding of the mechanisms of PFCA renal elimination.

Characterization of Alizarin Red S binding sites and structural changes on human serum albumin: a biophysical study

Alizarin Red S (ARS), is a water-soluble, widely used anthraquinone dye synthesized by sulfonation of alizarin. In this report, the binding of ARS to human serum albumin (HSA) was characterized by employing fluorescence, UV/vis absorption, circular dichroism (CD), and molecular modeling methods. The data of fluorescence spectra displayed that the binding of ARS to HSA is the formation of HSA-ARS complex at 1:1 stoichiometric proportion. Hydrophobic probe 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) was employed and elucidated that the dye was located in subdomain IIIA. This phenomenon corroborates the result of site-specific probe displacement experiments, which demonstrate the dye is at indole-benzodiazepine site (Sudlow's site II); and it is also consistent with guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) induced HSA unfolding studies and molecular modeling simulations. The features of the dye, which led to structural perturbations of HSA, have also been studied in detail by methods of UV/vis, CD and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy.