Interactions of very long-chain saturated fatty acids with serum albumin

Serum albumin prevents protein aggregation and amyloid formation and retains chaperone-like activity in the presence of physiological ligands

Although serum albumin has an established function as a transport protein, evidence is emerging that serum albumin may also have a role as a molecular chaperone. Using established techniques to characterize chaperone interactions, this study demonstrates that bovine serum albumin: 1) preferentially binds stressed over unstressed client proteins; 2) forms stable, soluble, high molecular weight complexes with stressed client proteins; 3) reduces the aggregation of client proteins when it is present at physiological levels; and 4) inhibits amyloid formation by both WT and L55P transthyretin. Although the antiaggregatory effect of serum albumin is maintained in the presence of physiological levels of Ca(2+) and Cu(2+), the presence of free fatty acids significantly alters this activity: stabilizing serum albumin at normal levels but diminishing chaperone-like activity at high concentrations. Moreover, here it is shown that depletion of albumin from human plasma leads to a significant increase in aggregation under physiologically relevant heat and shear stresses. This study demonstrates that serum albumin possesses chaperone-like properties and that this activity is maintained under a number of physiologically relevant conditions.

Binding of bisphenol A and acrylamide to BSA and DNA: insights into the comparative interactions of harmful chemicals with functional biomacromolecules

The interactions between bisphenol A (BPA)/acrylamide (AA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA)/deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was investigated by the equilibrium dialysis, fluorophotometry, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and circular dichroism (CD). The bindings of BPA and AA to BSA and DNA responded to the partition law and Langmuir isothermal model, respectively. The saturation mole number of AA was calculated to be 24 per mol BSA and 0.26 per mol DNA-P. All the reactions were spontaneous driven by entropy change. BPA stacked into the aromatic hydrocarbon groups of BSA and between adjacent basepairs of DNA via the hydrophobic effect. The interactions of AA with BSA and DNA induced the formation of hydrogen bond and caused changes of their secondary structures. At normal physiological condition, 0.100 mmol/l BPA reduced the binding of vitamin B(2) to BSA by more than 70%, and 2.8 mmol/l AA by almost one half. This work provides an insight into non-covalent intermolecular interaction between organic contaminant and biomolecule, helping to elucidate the toxic mechanism of harmful chemicals.

Direct determination of unbound lipophilic ligands in aqueous solutions

Due to their hydrophobic nature, lipophilic compounds are always bound to proteins when transported in the organism. The transfer of such compounds between their binding proteins and cells as well as intracellular trafficking is mediated by a very low water-phase concentration of monomers. The use of protein filled resealed red cell membranes (erythrocyte ghosts) as semipermeable bags enables us to determine directly such water-phase concentrations in a biological system where the lipophilic compound is in equilibrium with the compound bound to its binding protein. Equilibrium dissociation constants (K(d)'s) and number of binding sites are determined by regression analyses of data. We describe the method with the hydrophobic anion arachidonate and the neutral N-arachidonoylethanolamide as examples.

Lessons from the crystallographic analysis of small molecule binding to human serum albumin

SUMMARY

Human serum albumin (HSA) is an abundant and highly soluble plasma protein with the capacity to bind a remarkably diverse set of lipophilic anionic compounds so that it fulfils important roles in the transport of nutrients, hormones and toxins. The protein attracts great interest from the pharmaceutical industry since it can also bind a variety of drug molecules, impacting their delivery and efficacy. Our understanding of the binding and transport properties of albumin has been transformed by structural studies of the protein, in which crystallographic analysis has played a leading role. This review summarises the main insights to have accrued from this work, highlighting the significant advances that have been made but also pointing out some of the challenges ahead. Since further progress is likely to benefit from increased structural scrutiny of HSA, methodological developments instrumental to the success of crystallographic analysis of the protein are discussed in some detail.

Fast diffusion of very long chain saturated fatty acids across a bilayer membrane and their rapid extraction by cyclodextrins: implications for adrenoleukodystrophy

Abnormalities in the transport of saturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA; >C18:0) contribute to their toxic levels in peroxisomal disorders of fatty acid metabolism, such as adrenoleukodystrophy and adrenomyeloneuropathy. We previously showed that VLCFA desorb much slower than normal dietary fatty acids from both albumin and protein-free lipid bilayers. The important step of transbilayer movement (flip-flop) was not measured directly as a consequence of this very slow desorption from donors, and the extremely low aqueous solubility of VLCFA precludes addition of unbound VLCFA to lipid membranes. We have overcome these limitations using methyl-beta-cyclodextrin to solubilize VLCFA for rapid delivery to "acceptor" phosphatidylcholine vesicles (small and large unilamellar) and to cells. VLCFA binding was monitored in real time with the fluorescent probe fluorescein-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine in the outer membrane leaflet, and entrapped pyranine was used to detect flip-flop across the membrane. The upper limit of the rate of flip-flop across the membrane was independent of temperature and media viscosity and was similar for model raft and non-raft membranes as well as living cells. We further showed that cyclodextrins can extract VLCFA rapidly (within seconds) from vesicles and cells, which have implications for the mechanism and potential alternative approaches to treat adrenoleukodystrophy. Because VLCFA diffuse through the lipid bilayer, proteins may not be required for their transport across the peroxisomal membrane.

Binding of PFOS to serum albumin and DNA: insight into the molecular toxicity of perfluorochemicals

Background

Health risk from exposure of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) to wildlife and human has been a subject of great interest for understanding their molecular mechanism of toxicity. Although much work has been done, the toxigenicity of PFCs remains largely unknown. In this work, the non-covalent interactions between perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and serum albumin (SA) and DNA were investigated under normal physiological conditions, aiming to elucidate the toxigenicity of PFCs.

Results

In equilibrium dialysis assay, the bindings of PFOS to SA correspond to the Langmuir isothermal model with two-step sequence model. The saturation binding number of PFOS was 45 per molecule of SA and 1 per three base-pairs of DNA, respectively. ITC results showed that all the interactions were spontaneous driven by entropy change. Static quenching of the fluorescence of SA was observed when interacting with PFOS, indicating PFOS bound Trp residue of SA. CD spectra of SA and DNA changed obviously in the presence of PFOS. At normal physiological conditions, 1.2 mmol/l PFOS reduces the binding ratio of Vitamin B₂ to SA by more than 30%.

Conclusion

The ion bond, van der Waals force and hydrophobic interaction contributed to PFOS binding to peptide chain of SA and to the groove bases of DNA duplex. The non-covalent interactions of PFOS with SA and DNA alter their secondary conformations, with the physiological function of SA to transport Vitamin B₂ being inhibited consequently. This work provides a useful experimental method for further studying the toxigenicity of PFCs.

Combined fluorescence and electrochemical investigation on the binding interaction between organic acid and human serum albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a plasma protein responsible for the binding and transport of fatty acids and a variety of exogenous chemicals such as drugs and environmental pollutants. Such binding plays a crucial role in determining the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and bioavailability of the pollutants. The binding interaction between HSA and acetic acid (C2), octanoic acid (C8) and dodecanoic acid (C12) has been investigated by the combination of site-specific fluorescent probe, tryptophan intrinsic fluorescence and tyrosine electrochemistry. For the study of the fatty acid interaction with the two drug-binding sites on HSA, two fluorescent probes, dansylamide and dansyl-L-proline were employed in the displacement measurements. Intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan in HSA was monitored upon addition of the fatty acids into HSA. Electrocatalyzed response of the tyrosine residues in HSA by a redox mediator was used to investigate the binding interaction. Qualitatively, observations from these three approaches were very similar. HSA did not show any change in the fluorescence and electrochemical experiments after mixing with C2, suggesting there is no significant interaction with the short-chain fatty acid. For C8, the measured signal dropped in a single-exponential mode, indicating an independent and non-cooperative binding. The calculated association constant and binding ratio were 3.1 x 10(6) L/mol and 1 with drug binding Site I, 1.1 x 10(7) L/mol and 1 with Site II, and 7.0 x 10(4) L/mol and 4 with the tryptophan site, respectively. The measurements with C12 displayed multiple phases of fluorescence change, suggesting cooperativity and allosteric effect of the C12 binding. These results correlate well with those obtained by the established methods, and validate the new approach as a viable tool to study the interactions of environmental pollutants with biological molecules.

CD36 mediates both cellular uptake of very long chain fatty acids and their intestinal absorption in mice

The intestine has an extraordinary capacity for fatty acid (FA) absorption. Numerous candidates for a protein-mediated mechanism of dietary FA absorption have been proposed, but firm evidence for this process has remained elusive. Here we show that the scavenger receptor CD36 is required both for the uptake of very long chain FAs (VLCFAs) in cultured cells and the absorption of dietary VLCFAs in mice. We found that the fraction of CD36-dependent saturated fatty acid association/absorption in these model systems is proportional to the FA chain length and specific for fatty acids and fatty alcohols containing very long saturated acyl chains. Moreover, intestinal VLCFA absorption is completely abolished in CD36-null mice fed a high fat diet, illustrating that the predominant mechanism for VLCFA absorption is CD36-dependent. Together, these findings represent the first direct evidence for protein-facilitated FA absorption in the intestine and identify a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of diseases characterized by elevated VLCFA levels.

Bovine whey proteins – Overview on their main biological properties

Whey, a liquid by-product, is widely accepted to contain many valuable constituents. These include especially proteins that possess important nutritional and biological properties – particularly with regard to promotion of health, as well as prevention of diseases and health conditions. Antimicrobial and antiviral actions, immune system stimulation, anticarcinogenic activity and other metabolic features have indeed been associated with such whey proteins, as α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, and bovine serum albumin. The most important advances reported to date pertaining to biological properties of whey proteins are reviewed in this communication.

“Lorenzo’s Oil” Therapy for X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy: Rationale and Current Assessment of Efficacy

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a genetic disorder that damages the nervous system and is associated with the accumulation of saturated very long chain fatty acids (SVLCFA). Oral administration of "Lorenzo's oil" (LO), a 4:1 mixture of glyceryl trioleate and glyceryl trierucate, normalizes the SVLCFA levels in plasma, but its clinical efficacy and the clinical indications for its use have been controversial for more than 15 years. We review the biochemical effects of LO administration and the rationale for its use and present a current appraisal of its capacity to reduce the risk for the childhood cerebral phenotype when administered to asymptomatic boys and to slow progression of adrenomyeloneuropathy in patients without cerebral involvement. We also present current efforts to provide definitive evaluation of its clinical efficacy and discuss its possible role in the new therapeutic opportunities that will arise if newborn screening for X-ALD is validated and implemented.

Electron spin-echo studies of spin-labelled lipid membranes and free fatty acids interacting with human serum albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is an abundant plasma protein that transports fatty acids and also binds a wide variety of hydrophobic pharmacores. Echo-detected (ED) EPR spectra and D(2)O-electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) Fourier-transform spectra of spin-labelled free fatty acids and phospholipids were used jointly to investigate the binding of stearic acid to HSA and the adsorption of the protein on dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membranes. In membranes, torsional librations are detected in the ED-spectra, the intensity of which depends on chain position at low temperature. Water penetration into the membrane is seen in the D(2)O-ESEEM spectra, the intensity of which decreases greatly at the middle of the membrane. Both the chain librational motion and the water penetration are only little affected by adsorption of serum albumin at the DPPC membrane surface. In contrast, both the librational motion and the accessibility of the chains to water are very different in the hydrophobic fatty acid binding sites of HSA from those in membranes. Indeed, the librational motion of bound fatty acids is suppressed at low temperature, and is similar for the different chain positions, at all temperatures. Correspondingly, all segments of the bound chains are accessible to water, to rather similar extents.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is caused by a defect in the gene ABCD1, which maps to Xq28 and codes for a peroxisomal membrane protein that is a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter superfamily. X-ALD is panethnic and affects approximately 1:20,000 males. Phenotypes include the rapidly progressive childhood, adolescent, and adult cerebral forms; adrenomyeloneuropathy, which presents as slowly progressive paraparesis in adults; and Addison disease without neurologic manifestations. These phenotypes are frequently misdiagnosed, respectively, as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), multiple sclerosis, or idiopathic Addison disease. Approximately 50% of female carriers develop a spastic paraparesis secondary to myelopathic changes similar to adrenomyeloneuropathy. Assays of very long chain fatty acids in plasma, cultured chorion villus cells and amniocytes, and mutation analysis permit presymptomatic and prenatal diagnosis, as well as carrier identification. The timely use of these assays is essential for genetic counseling and therapy. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent overt Addison disease, and significantly reduce the frequency of the severe childhood cerebral phenotype. A promising new method for mass newborn screening has been developed, the implementation of which will have a profound effect on the diagnosis and therapy of X-ALD.

Proteins at fluid interfaces: adsorption layers and thin liquid films

A review in which many original published results of the authors as well as many other papers are discussed. The structure and some properties of the globular proteins are shortly presented, special accent being put on the alpha-chymotrypsin (alpha-ChT), lysozyme (LZ), human serum albumin (HSA), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) which have been used in the experiments with thin liquid films. The behaviour of protein adsorption layers (PAL) is extensively discussed. The dynamics of PAL formation, including the kinetics of adsorption as well as the time evolution of the surface tension of protein aqueous solutions, are considered. A considerable place is devoted to the surface tension and adsorption isotherms of the globular protein solutions, the simulation of PAL by interacting hard spheres, the experimental surface tension isotherms of the above mentioned proteins, and the interfacial tension isotherms for the protein aqueous solution/oil interface. The rheological properties of PAL at fluid interfaces are shortly reviewed. After a brief information about the experimental methods for investigation of protein thin liquid (foam or emulsion) films, the properties of the protein black foam films are extensively discussed: the conditions for their formation, the influence of the electrolytes and pH on the film type and stability, the thermodynamic properties of the black foam films, the contact angles film/bulk and their dynamic hysteresis. The next center of attention concerns some properties of the protein emulsion films: the conditions for formation of emulsion black films, the formation and development of a dimpling in microscopic, circular films. The protein-phospholipid mixed foam films are also briefly considered.

Location of high and low affinity fatty acid binding sites on human serum albumin revealed by NMR drug-competition analysis

Human serum albumin (HSA) is an abundant plasma protein that transports a wide variety of drugs and endogenous compounds. The complex binding capacity of HSA has made it a challenging system to study in detail but in order to develop our understanding of the interactions between ligands for HSA, the locations and relative affinities of different ligand binding sites must be determined. Albumin possesses multiple binding sites for its primary physiological ligand, non-esterified fatty acids (FA). Previously, titration of BSA with (13)C-labeled FA revealed multiple chemical shifts and allowed identification of a subset of three chemical shifts that were associated with high affinity FA binding. Recent crystallographic studies of HSA have mapped at least seven FA binding sites for long-chain FA and delineated the overlap with binding sites for drugs and other endogenous compounds. We aim to correlate NMR and structural data for FA to provide a more complete description of the binding capacity of HSA. Our recent mutagenesis studies allowed us to identify two high affinity binding sites in domain III of HSA. Here, we use NMR to study the binding of (13)C-carboxyl labeled palmitate to HSA in the presence and absence of competitor ligands to complete the correlation of NMR chemical shifts with specific structural binding sites. We carefully selected ligands with specific binding sites identified by crystallography and used them, either singly or in combination, to compete with [(13)C]palmitate for binding to HSA. We show that FA sites 2, 4 and 5 bind FA with high affinity, while sites 1, 3, 6 and 7 exhibit low affinity for FA, thus providing the first complete determination of relative affinities of all seven long-chain FA sites on HSA. Our results also yield direct insights into the interactions between FA and other ligands.

Probing conformational changes of human serum albumin due to unsaturated fatty acid binding by chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry with chemical cross-linking was used to probe the conformational changes of HSA (human serum albumin) in solution on interaction with monounsaturated OA (oleic acid) or polyunsaturated AA (arachidonic acid) or DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Fatty acid-free or -bound HSA was modified with lysine-specific cross-linkers and digested with trypsin. Cross-linked peptides were analysed by nano-electrospray ionization MS to localize the sites of cross-linking. Our data indicated that a local conformational change involving movement of the side chains of Lys-402 of subdomain IIIA or Lys-541 of subdomain IIIB occurred upon binding of all three fatty acids. Our data also indicated that the side chains of Lys-205 (IIA) and Lys-466 (IIIA) moved closer towards each other upon binding AA or DHA, but not OA, suggesting that the conformations of HSA when bound to mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids are distinctively different. While these observations agreed with previous X-ray crystallographic studies, the distances between epsilon-amino groups of most cross-linked lysine pairs were shorter than the crystal structure predicted, possibly reflecting a discrepancy between the solution and crystal structures. This method can serve as a useful complement to X-ray crystallography, particularly in probing the structure of a protein in solution.

Catalysis of NADH-->NADP+ transhydrogenation by adult Hymenolepis diminuta mitochondria

Hymenolepis diminuta mitochondria catalyze nonenergy-linked and energy-linked NADH-->NADP(+) transhydrogenations, with the latter driven by electron-transport dependent NADH oxidation (electron transport-driven, ETD) or ATP hydrolysis (ATP-driven, ATPD). Using submitochondrial particles, NADH-->NADP(+) transhydrogenations were characterized further. ETD and ATPD reactions were enhanced by bovine serum albumin (BSA) and were inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP), and niclosamide. The nonenergy-linked reaction was unaffected by these additives. Except for DCCD inhibition of the ATPD reaction, BSA mitigated inhibitor effects on energy-linked activities. BSA enhanced NADH oxidase (but not ATPase) activity. Although DCCD inhibited NADH oxidase and ATPase, BSA only lessened oxidase inhibition. With protonophores, an increase in NADH oxidase (but not ATPase) activity was suggested. Oxidase inhibition by rotenone was unaffected by BSA. The ATP-hydrolyzed/NADPH-formed for the ATPD reaction was almost unity. A model for H. diminuta energy-linked transhydrogenation is presented.

Allosteric modulation of myristate and Mn(III)heme binding to human serum albumin. Optical and NMR spectroscopy characterization

Human serum albumin (HSA) is best known for its extraordinary ligand binding capacity. HSA has a high affinity for heme and is responsible for the transport of medium and long chain fatty acids. Here, we report myristate binding to the N and B conformational states of Mn(III)heme-HSA (i.e. at pH 7.0 and 10.0, respectively) as investigated by optical absorbance and NMR spectroscopy. At pH 7.0, Mn(III)heme binds to HSA with lower affinity than Fe(III)heme, and displays a water molecule coordinated to the metal. Myristate binding to a secondary site FAx, allosterically coupled to the heme site, not only increases optical absorbance of Mn(III)heme-bound HSA by a factor of approximately three, but also increases the Mn(III)heme affinity for the fatty acid binding site FA1 by 10-500-fold. Cooperative binding appears to occur at FAx and accessory myristate binding sites. The conformational changes of the Mn(III)heme-HSA tertiary structure allosterically induced by myristate are associated with a noticeable change in both optical absorbance and NMR spectroscopic properties of Mn(III)heme-HSA, allowing the Mn(III)-coordinated water molecule to exchange with the solvent bulk. At pH = 10.0 both myristate affinity for FAx and allosteric modulation of FA1 are reduced, whereas cooperation of accessory sites and FAx is almost unaffected. Moreover, Mn(III)heme binds to HSA with higher affinity than at pH 7.0 even in the absence of myristate, and the metal-coordinated water molecule is displaced. As a whole, these results suggest that FA binding promotes conformational changes reminiscent of N to B state HSA transition, and appear of general significance for a deeper understanding of the allosteric modulation of ligand binding properties of HSA.

Peptide mapping of human serum albumin modified minimally by methylglyoxal in vitro and in vivo

Methylglyoxal is a potent glycating agent and important precursor of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in physiological systems. Unlike glucose, methylglyoxal is predominantly an arginine-directed glycating agent. Methylglyoxal reacts with proteins to form mainly the arginine-derived hydroimidazolone AGE, Ndelta-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolon-2-yl)-ornithine (MG-H1), argpyrimidine, the lysine-derived AGEs, N(epsilon)-(1-carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), and methylglyoxal-derived lysine dimer (MOLD). Sites within proteins susceptible to modification by methylglyoxal have not been identified. Here we show that modification of human serum albumin by methylglyoxal forms mainly hydroimidazolone MG-H1 residues. The location of MG-H1 residues was identified by mass spectrometric peptide mapping. This method identified a hot spot of hydroimidazolone formation at Arg-410, with other minor MG-H1 modifications at Arg-114, Arg-186, Arg-218, and Arg-428. Other extracellular and intracellular proteins are modified by methylglyoxal in physiological systems. Modification of arginine residues by methylglyoxal may be particularly damaging because arginine residues have a high frequency of occurrence in ligand and substrate recognition sites in receptor and enzyme active sites.

Probing three-dimensional structure of bovine serum albumin by chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry

Serum albumin is the principal transporter of fatty acids that are otherwise insoluble in circulating plasma. While the crystal structure of human serum albumin (HSA) as well as its binding with fatty acids has been characterized, the three dimensional structure of bovine serum albumin (BSA) has not been determined although both albumins share 76% sequence homology. In this study we used mass spectrometry coupled with chemical cross-linking, to probe the tertiary structure of BSA. BSA was modified with lysine specific cross-linkers, bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate (BS(3)), disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) or disuccinimidyl glutarate (DSG), digested with trypsin and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. With O-18 labeling during the digestion, through-space cross-linked peptides were readily identified in mass spectra by a characteristic 8 Da shift. From the cross-linked peptides identified in this study, we found that 12 pairs of lysine residues were separated within 20 A, while 5 pairs were spaced between 20 and 24 A. The spatial distance constraints generated from five K-K pairs in BSA were consistent with the corresponding distance obtained from the crystal structure of HSA, although only six equivalent K-K pairs could be compared. According to our data, the distance between K235 of IIA and K374 of IIB domain in BSA was farther by 7-11 A than that expected from the crystal structure of HSA, suggesting structural differences between BSA and HSA in this region. The distance constraints obtained for lysine residues using various cross-linkers should be valuable in assisting the determination of the 3-D structure of BSA.

Progress in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this article is to review and evaluate the new information about X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy that has been reported in 2002 and 2003.

RECENT FINDINGS

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy has two distinct neurological phenotypes: adrenomyeloneuropathy, a non-inflammatory axonopathy mostly in adults, and an intensely inflammatory cerebral myelinopathy mostly in children. The two forms often co-occur in the same family. Heterozygous women and the X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy mouse model often have the adrenomyeloneuropathy phenotype. More than 500 distinct mutations in the defective gene (ABCD1) have been identified, and except in one unique family, do not correlate with the phenotype. Bone marrow transplantation is beneficial in patients with early cerebral involvement. A panel of brain neuroimaging studies aids the selection of patients for bone marrow transplantation. Lorenzo's oil administered to neurologically asymptomatic boys who are less than 6 years old and have a normal magnetic resonance imaging scan appears to reduce the probability of developing neurological abnormalities later in life.

SUMMARY

Progress has been achieved in the delineation of the phenotypes, pathogenesis, diagnosis and prevention of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, and therapies are emerging.

Differential effect of bovine serum albumin on ginsenoside metabolite-induced inhibition of alpha3beta4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Ginsenosides, major active ingredients of Panax ginseng, that exhibit various pharmacological and physiological actions are transformed into compound K (CK) or M4 by intestinal microorganisms. CK is a metabolite derived from protopanaxadiol (PD) ginsenosides, whereas M4 is a metabolite derived from protopanaxatriol (PT) ginsenosides. Recent reports shows that ginsenosides might play a role as pro-drugs for these metabolites. In present study, we investigated the effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is one of major binding proteins on various neurotransmitters, hormones, and other pharmacological agents, on ginsenoside Rg2-, CK-, or M4-induced regulation of alpha3beta4 nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In the absence of BSA, treatment of ACh elicited inward peak current (I(ACh)) in oocytes expressing alpha3beta4 nicotinic ACh receptor. Co-treatment of ginsenoside Rg2, CK, or M4 with ACh inhibited I(ACh) in oocytes expressing (alpha3beta4 nicotinic ACh receptor with reversible and dose-dependent manner. In the presence of 1% BSA, treatment of ACh still elicited I(ACh) in oocytes expressing alpha3beta4 nicotinic ACh receptor and co-treatment of ginsenoside Rg2 or M4 but not CK with ACh inhibited I(ACh) in oocytes expressing alpha3beta4 nicotinic ACh receptor with reversible and dose-dependent manner. These results show that BSA interferes the action of CK rather than M4 on the inhibitory effect of I(ACh) in oocytes expressing alpha3beta4 nicotinic ACh receptor and further suggest that BSA exhibits a differential interaction on ginsenoside metabolites.

Interaction of the disodium disuccinate derivative of meso-Astaxanthin with human serum albumin: from chiral complexation to self-Assembly

To exploit the promising biochemical activities of naturally-occurring and synthetic hydrophobic carotenoids, it is necessary to improve their aqueous solubility. The disodium disuccinate derivative of synthetic meso-astaxanthin was prepared, and its behavior in pH 7.4 buffer solutions in both the presence and absence of fatty acid-free human serum albumin (HSA) was evaluated. The induced circular dichroism (CD) spectra and red-shifted absorption band of the optically inactive ligand as well as the fluorescence quenching of HSA indicated that at low ligand/protein ratios (less than approximately 1:1 ligand/protein), the meso-carotenoid bound to albumin in monomeric form. Based on the current experimental and available structural data for HSA, the binding site was tentatively localized to the large interdomain cleft of HSA. Around a 1:1 meso-carotenoid/HSA molar ratio, characteristic positive-negative bands appeared in the visible region of the CD spectrum, whose amplitudes increased in parallel with the increasing concentration of the ligand. These oppositely-signed Cotton effects are typical for chiral intermolecular exciton coupling between adjacent polyene chains arranged in right-handed assembly. Surprisingly, the magnitude of these induced CD bands continued to increase at high ligand/protein ratios (up to 13:1 meso-carotenoid/HSA). These results suggest the formation of unique, mixed-type carotenoid-albumin assemblies in which the HSA molecules themselves serve as chiral templates for the generation of supramolecular assemblies.

Binding of anandamide to bovine serum albumin

The endocannabinoid anandamide is of lipid nature and may thus bind to albumin in the vascular system, as do fatty acids. The knowledge of the free water-phase concentration of anandamide is essential for the investigations of its transfer from the binding protein to cellular membranes, because a water-phase shuttle of monomers mediates such transfers. We have used our method based upon the use of albumin-filled red cell ghosts as a dispersed biological "reference binder" to measure the water-phase concentrations of anandamide. These concentrations were measured in buffer (pH 7.3) in equilibrium with anandamide bound to BSA inside resealed human red cell membranes at low molar ratios below one. Data were obtained at 0 degrees C, 10 degrees C, 23 degrees C, and 37 degrees C. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) increases with temperature from 6.87 +/- 0.53 nM at 0 degrees C to 54.92 +/- 1.91 nM at 37 degrees C. Regression analyses of the data suggest that BSA has one high-affinity binding site for anandamide at all four temperatures. The free energy of anandamide binding (DeltaG0) is calculated to -43.05 kJ mol-1 with a large enthalpy (DeltaH0) contribution of -42.09 kJ mol-1. Anandamide has vasodilator activity, and the binding to albumin may mediate its transport in aqueous compartments.

How fatty acids bind to proteins: the inside story from protein structures

The interactions of fatty acids with proteins have been probed with a great variety of techniques and strategies. Many approaches have substituted covalently labeled fatty acids or structurally related molecules. Information from such studies ultimately requires validation by studies with natural fatty acids. However, even the best conventional approaches with natural fatty acids generally have revealed only limited aspects of fatty acid-protein interactions. In contrast, recent crystallographic and NMR studies of several proteins with bound fatty acids provide complete three-dimensional structures with molecular details of these interactions. This presentation reviews three examples of proteins that are indirectly or directly involved in cell signaling: a protein in the plasma compartment (human serum albumin); a protein family in the cytosolic compartment of mammalian cells (fatty-acid-binding proteins), and a nuclear protein (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor): it also discusses the structures of these proteins and their binding pocket(s), compares their specific modes of interactions with fatty acids, and discusses established and potential roles of fatty acid-protein interactions in cell signaling.