Species differences of serum albumins: I. Drug binding sites

Chiral resolution of tryptophan derivatives by CE using canine serum albumin and bovine serum albumin as chiral selectors

This work deals with the application of BSA and canine serum albumin (CSA) for enantioseparation of tryptophan derivatives with CE. The aim of this work was the investigation of the influence of different functional groups of tryptophan derivatives on enantioseparation. CSA as a chiral selector was tested to compare its selector properties with those of BSA. The enantiomers of the tryptophan derivatives were separated by adding BSA or CSA to the BGE. The influence of pH, temperature, BSA and CSA concentration and organic modifiers was investigated. It was found that the stereoselectivity for the different tryptophan derivatives is dependent on the albumin species. It turned out that the different functional groups of the derivatives showed a significant influence on stereoselectivity.

Marked Strain Differences in the Pharmacokinetics of an α4β1 Integrin Antagonist, 4-[1-[3-Chloro-4-[N-(2-methylphenyl)-ureido]phenylacetyl]-(4S)-fluoro-(2S)-pyrrolidine-2-yl]-methoxybenzoic Acid (D01-4582), in Sprague-Dawley Rats Are Associated with Albumin Genetic Polymorphism

Strain differences in pharmacokinetics of an alpha4beta1 integrin antagonist, 4-[1-[3-chloro-4-[N-(2-methylphenyl)-ureido]phenylacetyl]-(4S)-fluoro-(2S)-pyrrolidine-2-yl]methoxybenzoic acid (D01-4582), in Sprague-Dawley rat strains (SD rat and CD rat) and their mechanism were investigated. Total plasma clearances of D01-4582 were 31.5 and 5.23 ml/min/kg in SD and CD rats, respectively. From in vivo studies, hepatic uptake process was thought to be involved in the strain differences. Differences in the uptake of D01-4582 by isolated hepatocytes prepared from the both strains were not observed when hepatocytes were incubated with simple buffer, but marked differences were observed when hepatocytes were incubated with plasma. When the dissociation constants (Kd) for the plasma protein binding of D01-4582 were examined in six rat strains, each strain was classified into two groups: a high-Kd group, which included SD rats, Brown Norway rats, and Wistar rats; and a low-Kd group, which included CD rats, Lewis rats, and Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats. Since all rat strains in the low-Kd group showed higher area under the concentration-time curve for D01-4582 than rats in the high-Kd group, it was considered that the strain differences in the pharmacokinetics of D01-4582 were due to differences in the binding affinity. Purified albumin also showed strain differences in Kd. The cDNA sequence of the albumin was analyzed, and 11 substitutions were observed. V238L and T293I were found only in the high-Kd group, suggesting that these amino acid changes reduced the binding affinity of albumin for D01-4582. In conclusion, the strain differences in D01-4582 pharmacokinetics were suggested to be caused by an alteration in Kd, associated with albumin genetic polymorphism.

Spectrofluorimetric studies on the binding of salicylic acid to bovine serum albumin using warfarin and ibuprofen as site markers with the aid of parallel factor analysis

The interactions of salicylic acid (SL) and two different site markers (warfarin for site I and ibuprofen for site II) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in pH 7.4 Tris-HCl buffer have been investigated with the use of spectrofluorimetry. An equilibrium solution of BSA and SA was titrated separately with the two markers. This initial work showed that the binding of SL with BSA could be quite complex, and that there was probably a competitive interaction occurring between ibuprofen and SL. However, the spectral results were difficult to interpret clearly for the interaction of warfarin and SL in similar circumstances. To extract more information from the resolution of fluorescence excitation-emission spectra, the contour plots of the fluorescence spectra indicated that the optimal excitation wavelengths for BSA, SL, warfarin and ibuprofen were different, and were found to be at 278, 295, 306 and 218 nm, respectively. The spectral information was arranged into three-way excitation-emission fluorescence matrix (EEM) stack arrays, and was submitted for analysis by the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) algorithm. Firstly, it was demonstrated that the estimated excitation and emission spectral responses for SL, BSA and the site markers, warfarin and ibuprofen, agreed well with the measured spectra. Then, the interpretation of the plots of simultaneously extracted (by PARAFAC) equilibrium concentrations for the above four reactants, showed that: (i) the SL primarily appears to bind in site I but at a different location from the high-affinity binding site (HAS) for warfarin, and the interaction partially overlaps with the low-affinity binding site (LAS) for warfarin. (ii) The SL may have two LAS-one in site II where the HAS for ibuprofen is located, and the other in site I at the LAS for ibuprofen. Thus, application of the PARAFAC method for the study of competitive interaction of SL and BSA with the aid of two different site markers has extracted information unobtainable by traditional methods such as the Scatchard plot, and provided useful means of data visualization.

Role of Site-Specific Binding to Plasma Albumin in Drug Availability to Brain

Many studies have reported greater drug uptake into brain than that predicted based upon existing models using the free fraction (f(u)) of drug in arterial serum. To explain this difference, circulating plasma proteins have been suggested to interact with capillary membrane in vivo to produce a conformational change that favors net drug dissociation and elevation of f(u). Albumin, the principal binding protein in plasma, has two main drug binding sites, Sudlow I and II. We tested this hypothesis using drugs that bind selectively to either site I (warfarin) or site II (ibuprofen), as well as mixed ligands that have affinity for both sites (tolbutamide and valproate). Brain uptake was determined in the presence and absence of albumin using the in situ rat brain perfusion technique. Unidirectional brain uptake transfer constants (K(in)) were measured and compared with those predicted using the modified Kety-Crone-Renkin model: K(in) = F(1-e(-f(u) x PS(u)/F)), where F is perfusion flow and PS(u) is the permeability-surface area product to free drug of brain capillaries. The results demonstrated good agreement between measured and predicted K(in) over a 100-fold range in perfusion fluid albumin concentration using albumin from three different species (i.e., human, bovine, and rat), as well as whole-rat serum. K(in) decreased in the presence of albumin in direct proportion to perfusion fluid f(u) with constant PS(u). The results show that brain uptake of selected Sudlow site I and II ligands matches that predicted by the modified Kety-Crone-Renkin model with no evidence for enhanced dissociation.

A molecular functional study on the interactions of drugs with plasma proteins

The binding of drugs to plasma proteins, such as albumin and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a major determinant in the disposition of drugs. A topology analysis of drug binding sites on HSA and AGP was determined using various methods, including spectroscopy, QSAR, photoaffinity labeling and site directed mutagenesis. Recombinant albumin was found to be useful for rapidly identifying drug binding sites. The binding sites on AGP are not completely separated but are partially overlapped, and Trp, Tyr, Lys and His residues in the drug binding pockets play important roles in this process. Drug displacement is somewhat complex, due to the involvement of multiple effects. The reduced binding in uremic patients may be explained by a mechanism that involves a combination of direct displacement by free fatty acids as well as cascade effects of free fatty acids and unbound uremic toxins for significant inhibition in serum binding. Albumin-containing dialysate is useful for the extracorporeal removal of endogenous toxins and in the treatment of drug overdoses. Oxidized albumin is a useful biomarker for the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of oxidative stress. Interestingly, AGP undergoes a structural transition to a unique structure that differs from the native and denatured states, when it interacts with membranes.

Competition of cytarabine and aspirin in binding to serum albumin in multidrug therapy

The aim of this study was to describe a competition between cytarabine (araC) and aspirin (ASA) in binding with bovine serum albumin (BSA). High-affinity binding sites for both drugs were determined using a spectrofluorimetric method. Cytarabine as well as aspirin binds in the IIA hydrophobic subdomain of the transporting protein. Binding constants for araC-BSA and ASA-BSA were calculated by the Scatchard method. Analysis of ultraviolet (UV) difference spectra showed that araC, which has a higher affinity to BSA in comparison to ASA [Ka(araC) > Ka(ASA)] displaces ASA in high-affinity binding sites. The competition between drugs in low-affinity binding sites was investigated using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 13C-NMR spectra. We concluded that in the low-affinity binding sites cytarabine decreases the affinity of albumin toward aspirin. However, the interaction between araC and BSA becomes more difficult in the presence of aspirin.

High-Performance Frontal Analysis of the Binding of Thyroxine Enantiomers to Human Serum Albumin Binding of Thyroxine Enantiomers to Human Serum Albumin Kimura

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to characterize the binding property between thyroxine and human serum albumin (HSA) qualitatively and enantioselectively using high-performance frontal analysis (HPFA).

METHODS

An on-line HPLC system consisting of an HPFA column, an extraction column, and an analytical HPLC column was developed to be used to determine the unbound concentrations of thyroxine enantiomers.

RESULTS

Both enantiomers were bound to human serum albumin at two high-affinity sites with similar affinities. The binding constant (K) and the number of binding sites on an HSA molecule (n) evaluated from Scatchard plot analysis were K = 1.01 x 10(6)m(-1) and n = 1.90 for L: -thyroxine, and K = 9.71 x 10(5) m(-1) and n = 1.97 for D: -thyroxine. The binding sites were identified using phenylbutazone and diazepam as site-specific probes for sites I and II, respectively, and each enantiomer was found to bind to both sites. Incorporation of a chiral HPLC column into the on-line system permitted the investigation of enantiomer-enantiomer interactions, which revealed that both enantiomers competitively bind to the same binding sites without significant allosteric effects.

The study on the interaction between seryl-histidine dipeptide and proteins by circular dichroism and molecular modeling

The selective cleavage of proteins is very important in key biological processes. Chemical (nonenzymatic) reagents such as cyanogen bromide and transition metal complexes are used extensively with great defects. In this paper, the binding of seryl-histidine dipeptide (abbreviated as SH) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme were investigated by the circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) at 298K, molecular docking studies and quantum chemical calculations based on the previous results of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). From the studies of CD, it showed that SH interacted strongly with BSA and lysozyme. The change percentages of the secondary structures of BSA and lysozyme were calculated. The contents of the beta-sheets decreased remarkably. It indicated that the interactions between SH and proteins could break the hydrogen bonds of beta-sheets selectively. The docking studies between SH and BSA showed that the position of the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl group of SH (O(12)) was in favor of a nucleophilic attack on carbon atom of the amide bond of a beta-sheet (C(34)) because the distance between O(12) and C(34) was 3.37A. Natural charges, natural atomic hybrid percentages and square sums of HOMO coefficients calculated by the NBO and population analysis at HF/6-31G* supported the suggested mechanism. And so SH may be an interesting agent for the therapeutic use.

Study of Ligand−Receptor Binding Using SPME: Investigation of Receptor, Free, and Total Ligand Concentrations

The theoretical background and practical approaches for studying ligand-receptor (protein) binding by solid phase microextraction (SPME) are investigated, along with methods for simultaneous calculation of receptor, free, and total ligand concentrations. With the introduction of new extraction phases (restricted access materials, molecularly imprinted polymers, and immobilized antibodies), SPME allows better separation of small molecules of ligand from larger molecules of receptor, and improved accuracy. This sample preparation method based on nonexhaustive extraction is well suited as a general method to study and quantify systems involving multiple equilibriums, with significant advantages over currently used methods. SPME was used previously for the determination of protein binding constants, but only with conventional extraction phases and in simple cases, with a 1:1 combination ratio between the ligand and the receptor or when negligible depletion conditions were met. The new theoretical approach presented in this study allows the quantification of any binding equilibrium, regardless of the extent of depletion. Restricted-access particles are used as extraction phase, and if the amount of receptor is limited, selected regions of the binding curve may be obtained using a single sample, with a volume as low as 10 muL. The equations developed here are simple and independent of the analytical method used for the quantification of the amount of ligand. Three different practical approaches are presented: the method of multiple standard solutions, the method of successive extractions from the same sample and the method of successive additions to the same sample. The usefulness of this novel approach is demonstrated by using it to determine the binding parameters of some selected drugs to human serum albumin. These parameters are subsequently used to calculate albumin, free drug, and total drug concentrations from unknown mixtures. The results are in good agreement with previously published data. Quantification of the amount of ligand extracted by SPME is done by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

Flavonoid–serum albumin complexation: determination of binding constants and binding sites by fluorescence spectroscopy

After a meal rich in plant products, dietary flavonols can be detected in plasma as serum albumin-bound conjugates. Flavonol-albumin binding is expected to modulate the bioavailability of flavonols. In this work, the binding of structurally different flavonoids to human and bovine serum albumins is investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy using three methods: the quenching of the albumin fluorescence, the enhancement of the flavonoid fluorescence, the quenching of the fluorescence of the quercetin-albumin complex by a second flavonoid. The latter method is extended to probes whose high-affinity binding sites are known to be located in one of the two major subdomains (warfarin and dansyl-L-asparagine for subdomain IIA, ibuprofen and diazepam for subdomain IIIA). Overall, flavonoids display moderate affinities for albumins (binding constants in the range 1-15 x 10(4) M(-1)), flavones and flavonols being most tightly bound. Glycosidation and sulfation could lower the affinity to albumin by one order of magnitude depending on the conjugation site. Despite multiple binding of both quercetin and site probes, it can be proposed that the binding of flavonols primarily takes place in subdomain IIA. Significant differences in affinity and binding location are observed for the highly homologous HSA and BSA.

Evaluation of the protein binding ratio of drugs by a micro-scale ultracentrifugation method

Ultracentrifugation methods have been widely used for the determination of the free fraction of compounds in plasma, especially for lipophilic compounds. To estimate the effect of contaminated proteins in the "protein-free phase" fraction, 200 microL of human plasma was separated into three layers by ultracentrifugation at 436,000g for 140 min with a table-top ultracentrifuge. Twenty microliters of the middle layer was taken as the protein-free fraction. Major contaminated proteins were analyzed by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS/MS) and identified as albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, apolipoprotein E, and apolipoprotein A-1. alpha-1-acid glycoprotein was not detected. Contamination of albumin was 0.13% of that in plasma. Simulation analysis demonstrated that at an actual free fraction of 1% (protein binding ratio of 99%), the extent of overestimation of free fraction was just 13% and the apparent free fraction was 1.13%. Human plasma protein binding ratios of 10 drugs estimated by this method correlated well with reported values determined by other methods, such as ultrafiltration and equilibrium dialysis, with a correlation factor of 0.98 and a slope of 0.99. Collectively, our results indicate the reliability of this micro-scale ultracentrifugation technique for the evaluation of the protein binding of drugs despite a little contamination of albumin.

The comparative interaction of human and bovine serum albumins with CYP2C9 in human liver microsomes

The effect of human serum albumin (HSA), in its endogenous, free fatty acid free (FAF) and globulin free (GF) form, on the activity of CYP2C9 was studied in human liver microsomes using tolbutamide as the substrate. The widely used BSA was included to assess the differential effect of BSA and HSA. CYP2C9 activity was expressed as CLint (Vmax/Km). HSA(FAF) and BSA showed a concentration-dependent and biphasic (activation and inhibition) interaction with CYP2C9 activity. HSA(GF) and HSA exhibited an inhibitory effect, with an inhibition constant, Ki, of 19.9 microM (0.13% albumin) and 42.2 microM (0.35% albumin), respectively. Enzyme-kinetics revealed that the activation is accompanied by a decrease in Km values, while with inhibition Km values increased. A simplified method to calculate clearance, utilizing a single slope (V/S) determination based on V over the lowest linear range of [S] (designated as CLone) was assessed. Virtually identical values were obtained for CLint and CLone. The free-drug hypothesis was tested by comparing ratios of relative CLint/unbound fraction (FDH Test ratio). The FDH Test ratio for HSA was about 1, indicating that HSA binding of tolbutamide reduced the CYP2C9 activity in accord with the free-drug hypothesis. The FDH Test ratios for BSA and HSA(FAF) were 3.7 and 3.0, revealing a monophasic activation of CYP2C9. For 2%HSA(GF) the ratio of 0.3 confirmed inhibition. As revealed by their removal, free fatty acids and globulins, significantly alter the interaction of HSA with CYP2C9. In addition, HSA and BSA showed different effects on the oxidation of tolbutamide by CYP2C9.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Thalidomide

Thalidomide is a racemic glutamic acid derivative approved in the US for erythema nodosum leprosum, a complication of leprosy. In addition, its use in various inflammatory and oncologic conditions is being investigated. Thalidomide interconverts between the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers in plasma, with protein binding of 55% and 65%, respectively. More than 90% of the absorbed drug is excreted in the urine and faeces within 48 hours. Thalidomide is minimally metabolised by the liver, but is spontaneously hydrolysed into numerous renally excreted products. After a single oral dose of thalidomide 200 mg (as the US-approved capsule formulation) in healthy volunteers, absorption is slow and extensive, resulting in a peak concentration (C(max)) of 1-2 mg/L at 3-4 hours after administration, absorption lag time of 30 minutes, total exposure (AUC( infinity )) of 18 mg. h/L, apparent elimination half-life of 6 hours and apparent systemic clearance of 10 L/h. Thalidomide pharmacokinetics are best described by a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination. Because of the low solubility of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract, thalidomide exhibits absorption rate-limited pharmacokinetics (the 'flip-flop' phenomenon), with its elimination rate being faster than its absorption rate. The apparent elimination half-life of 6 hours therefore represents absorption, not elimination. The 'true' apparent volume of distribution was estimated to be 16L by use of the faster elimination-rate half-life. Multiple doses of thalidomide 200 mg/day over 21 days cause no change in the pharmacokinetics, with a steady-state C(max) (C(ss)(max)) of 1.2 mg/L. Simulation of 400 and 800 mg/day also shows no accumulation, with C(ss)(max) of 3.5 and 6.0 mg/L, respectively. Multiple-dose studies in cancer patients show pharmacokinetics comparable with those in healthy populations at similar dosages. Thalidomide exhibits a dose-proportional increase in AUC at doses from 50 to 400 mg. Because of the low solubility of thalidomide, C(max) is less than proportional to dose, and t(max) is prolonged with increasing dose. Age, sex and smoking have no effect on the pharmacokinetics of thalidomide, and the effect of food is minimal. Thalidomide does not alter the pharmacokinetics of oral contraceptives, and is also unlikely to interact with warfarin and grapefruit juice. Since thalidomide is mainly hydrolysed and passively excreted, its pharmacokinetics are not expected to change in patients with impaired liver or kidney function.

Linoleic acid metabolites act to increase contractility in isolated rat heart

Previous in vivo studies in dogs suggest that the 9,10-monoepoxide of linoleic acid (9,10-cis-epoxyoctadecenoic acid [9,10-EOA]) has toxic cardiovascular effects that result in death at higher doses. More recent work with rabbit renal proximal tubule cells suggests that the 12,13-metabolites of linoleic acid are more toxic than the 9,10-isomers. Thus, in the current study, we tested the hypothesis that 12,13-EOA and 12,13-dihydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (12,13-DHOA) have direct adverse effects on the heart. Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were exposed to 30 microM linoleic acid, 30 microM 12,13-EOA, or 30 microM 12,13-DHOA for 60 min followed by a 30-min recovery period. As indicated by peak left intraventricular pressure and/or +dP/dt(max), all three of the agents elicited moderate increases in contractile function that peaked within 10 20 min. The effects of linoleic acid and 12,13-EOA returned to control values during the remainder of the 60-min exposure, whereas the positive inotropic response to 12,13-DHOA was maintained until washout. Sustained arrhythmias and negative inotropic actions were not observed with any of the three compounds. Subsequently, the monoepoxides were infused into conscious rats (35 mg/kg/h) while blood pressure, heart rate, and EKG were monitored for 24 h using biotelemetry techniques. The only effect observed was a slight decline in blood pressure. Thus, current data suggest that linoleic acid and its oxidative metabolites do not have direct cardiotoxic effects during acute exposure.

Interaction of serum proteins with CYP isoforms in human liver microsomes: inhibitory effects of human and bovine albumin, alpha-globulins, alpha-1-acid glycoproteins and gamma-globulins on CYP2C19 and CYP2D6

The effects of serum proteins on the in vitro hydroxylation pathways of mephenytoin (CYP2C19) and debrisoquine (CYP2D6) were studied to enhance the predictability of in vivo drug metabolism from in vitro assays. Both CYP substrates are known to be weakly bound to albumin and the applicability of the free drug hypothesis was further appraised. Since bovine serum albumin (BSA) is used widely in in vitro assays, a comparison between human and bovine proteins was made. Four major serum proteins were studied: albumin, alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), alpha- and gamma-globulins. Human serum albumin (HSA) inhibited both CYP activities about 20% more than BSA. The addition of human alpha-globulins, but not the bovine protein, resulted in marked reduction of 86% and 41% in CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 activities, respectively. This reduction of activity was strikingly greater than the fraction bound (14 and 22%, respectively). The inhibition was of the competitive type and the Ki values of human alpha-globulins on CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 were found to be 0.45% (4.5 mg/ml) and 3.5% (35 mg/ml), respectively. The effect of both human and bovine gamma-globulins on CYP isoforms was negligible. The Ki values of human and bovine AGP for CYP2C19 were 1.84% (420 microM) and 0.93% (210 microM), respectively. For HSA, human alpha-globulins and human and bovine AGP, the strongly decreased CYP activities in vitro cannot be explained by the free drug hypothesis. A direct interaction of these serum proteins with CYP enzymes is postulated. Differential effects of bovine and human serum proteins and CYP specific inhibition were observed.

Species-dependency in chiral-drug recognition of serum albumin studied by chromatographic methods

Stereoselective binding of benzodiazepine and coumarin drugs to serum albumin from human and six mammalian species were studied by chiral chromatographic techniques. The applied methods were affinity chromatography on the albumins immobilized on Sepharose 4B, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation on columns based on human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), and chiral HPLC analysis of ultrafiltrates of solutions containing the racemic drug and the native protein. Substantial differences in preferred configurations and conformations were detected among the species. The binding stereoselectivity of the 2,3-benzodiazepine drug, tofisopam, in human, is opposite to that in all other species. In the binding of 1,4-benzodiazepines, dog albumin is very similar to HSA. Highly preferred binding of (S)-phenprocoumon was found with dog albumin.

Evalution of capillary electrophoresis-frontal analysis for the study of low molecular weight drug-human serum albumin interactions

Capillary electrophoresis frontal analysis was applied to 12 low molecular weight compounds including 8 drug substances displaying a range of different properties with respect to binding affinity, binding location, structure, lipophilicity, charge at physiological pH, and electrophoretic mobility. It was found that capillary electrophoresis frontal analysis can be used as a general method to study and quantify drug-human serum albumin interactions. The binding parameters obtained were consistent with literature values. Dextran was in some cases added to the run buffer to improve separation of the drug and human serum albumin plateau peaks. Results indicate that mobility differences between free and complexed human serum albumin give rise to only minor errors. Capillary electrophoresis frontal analysis was also found applicable to the study of human serum albumin drug displacement reactions. Low sensitivity of the UV-detection system was found to be the major limitation of capillary electrophoresis frontal analysis. The method is simple, and minimal effort has to be put into method development, which makes it well suited for screening in early drug development.

Interaction of bovine (BSA) and human (HSA) serum albumins with ionic surfactants: spectroscopy and modelling

The binding of several different categories of small molecules to bovine (BSA) and human (HSA) serum albumins has been studied for many years through different spectroscopic techniques to elucidate details of the protein structure and binding mechanism. In this work we present the results of the study of the interactions of BSA and HSA with the anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cationic cethyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and zwitterionic N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonium-1-propanesulfonate (HPS) monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy of the intrinsic tryptophans at pH 5.0. Similarly to pH 7.0 and 9.0, at low concentrations, the interaction of BSA with these surfactants shows a quenching of fluorescence with Stern-Volmer quenching constants of (1.1+/-0.1)x10(4) M(-1), (3.2+/-0.1)x10(3) M(-1) and (2.1+/-0.1)x10(3) M(-1) for SDS, HPS and CTAC, respectively, which are associated to the 'effective' association constants to the protein. On the interaction of these surfactants with HSA, an opposite effect was observed as compared to BSA, i.e., an enhancement of fluorescence takes place. For both proteins, at low surfactant concentrations, a positive cooperativity was observed and the Hill plot model was used to estimate the number of surfactant binding sites, as well as the association constants of the surfactants to the proteins. It is worthy of notice that the binding constants for the surfactants at pH 5.0 are lower as compared to pH 7.0 and 9.0. This is probably due to fact that the protein at this acid pH is quite compact reducing the accessibility of the surfactants to the hydrophobic cavities in the binding sites. The interaction of myristic acid with both proteins shows a similar fluorescence behaviour, suggesting that the mechanism of the interaction is the same. Recently published crystallographic studies of HSA-myristate complex were used to perform a modelling study with the aim to explain the fluorescence results. The crystallographic structure reveals that a total of five myristic acid molecules are asymmetrically bound in the macromolecule. Three of these sites correspond to higher affinity ones and correlate with high association constants described in the literature. Our models for BSA and HSA with bound SDS suggest that the surfactant could be bound at the same sites as those reported in the crystal structure for the fatty acid. The differences in tryptophan vicinity upon surfactant binding are explored in the models in order to explain the observed spectroscopic changes. For BSA the quenching is due to a direct contact of a surfactant molecule with the indole of W131 residue. It is clear that the binding site in BSA which is very close, in contact with tryptophan W131, corresponds to a lower affinity site, explaining the lower binding constants obtained from fluorescence studies. In the case of HSA the enhancement of fluorescence is due to the removal of static quenching of W214 residue in the intact protein caused by nearby residues in the vicinity of this tryptophan.

Stereoselectivity and species difference in plasma protein binding of KE-298 and its metabolites

In vitro protein binding of KE-298 and its plasma metabolites, deacetyl-KE-298 (M-1) and S-methyl-KE-298 (M-2), was high in rat (>97%), dog (>89%) and human plasma (>99%), respectively. Human serum albumin (>93%) was the main protein involved in the binding to plasma proteins, while the binding to human serum globulins was low (16-33%). The binding of KE-298 and its metabolites in all species of plasma was stereoselective. The (+)-(S)-enantiomers of these compounds bound rat, dog and human plasma proteins to a greater extent than did the (-)-(R)-enantiomers, except that the case of KE-298 was opposite in rat plasma. The stereoselective plasma levels of these compounds in rats, dogs, or humans would likely be due to stereoselective differences in binding to plasma albumin. The protein binding of M-1 in adjuvant-induced arthritis rat plasma was >97%, and the stereoselectivity was similar to the case of normal rat plasma. KE-298 and its metabolites remarkably displaced [14C]warfarin, which bound on albumin in a solution of diluted rat serum albumin. Similarly, there was a displacement of [14C]warfarin in solutions of dog and human serum albumin, and concomitantly the displacement of [14C]diazepam. [3H]Digitoxin was not displaced by any of the enantiomers in each albumin solution. No stereoselectivity was found in displacement by enantiomers of the three compounds. These results suggest that stereoselective protein binding can be attributed to quantitative differences in binding to albumin rather than to the different binding sites.

Differential scanning calorimetry of albumin solders: interspecies differences and fatty acid binding effects on protein denaturation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Understanding albumin solder denaturation is important for laser tissue soldering. Human (HSA), bovine (BSA), porcine (PSA), and canine (CSA) albumin both fatty acid containing (FAC) and fatty acid free (FAF) were evaluated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

DSC was used to measure difference thermograms to determine the irreversible thermal denaturation profile for 50% albumin solutions. The denaturation transition's onset, end and peak temperatures, and enthalpy were measured.

RESULTS

All FAC species, except BSA, exhibited twin peaked endotherms. Single endotherms were observed for all FAF species and BSA-FAC. Onset and end temperatures were significantly [P < 0.001] lower for all FAF species (except BSA's end temperature). There was a 30% decrease in the denaturation enthalpy between FAF and FAC groups.

CONCLUSION

FAF albumin solders were found to denature at significantly lower temperatures, while also having a 30% reduction in enthalpy when compared with their FAC counterparts.

Spectroscopic studies on the interaction of bovine (BSA) and human (HSA) serum albumins with ionic surfactants

Bovine (BSA) and human (HSA) serum albumins are frequently used in biophysical and biochemical studies since they have a similar folding, a well known primary structure, and they have been associated with the binding of many different categories of small molecules. One important difference of BSA and HSA is the fact that bovine albumin has two tryptophan residues while human albumin has a unique tryptophan. In this work results are presented for the interaction of BSA and HSA with several ionic surfactants, namely, anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cationic cethyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and zwitterionic N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonium-1-propanesulfonate (HPS), as monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy of intrinsic tryptophans and circular dichroism spectroscopy. On the interaction of all three surfactants with BSA, at low concentrations, a quenching of fluorescence takes place and Stern-Volmer analysis allowed to estimate their 'effective' association constants to the protein: for SDS, CTAC and HPS at pH 7.0 these constants are, respectively, (1.4+/-0.1) x 10(5) M(-1), (8.9+/-0.1) x 10(3) M(-1) and (1.4+/-0.1) x 10(4) M(-1). A blue shift of maximum emission is observed from 345 to 330 nm upon surfactant binding. Analysis of fluorescence emission spectra allowed to separate three species in solution which were associated to native protein, a surfactant protein complex and partially denatured protein. The binding at low surfactant concentrations follows a Hill plot model displaying positive cooperativity and a number of surfactant binding sites very close to the number of cationic or anionic residues present in the protein. Circular dichroism data corroborated the partial loss of secondary structure upon surfactant addition showing the high stability of serum albumin. The interaction of the surfactants with HSA showed an enhancement of fluorescence at low concentrations, opposite to the effect on BSA, consistent with the existence of a unique buried tryptophan residue in this protein with considerable static quenching in the native state. The effects of surfactants at low concentrations were very similar to those of myristic acid suggesting a non specific binding through hydrophobic interaction modulated by eletrostatic interactions. The changes in the vicinity of the tryptophan residues are discussed based on the recently published crystallographic structure of HSA myristate complex (S. Curry et al., Nat. Struct. Biol. 5 (1998) 827).

Welding characteristics of different albumin species with and without fatty acids

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Albumin solders from different species have been used for laser tissue welding without a complete understanding of possible differences between them. The breaking strength of four different species of serum albumin (human, bovine, porcine, and canine), both fatty acid containing (FAC) and fatty acid free (FAF), was determined to evaluate the welding ability of each type of albumin. STUYDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute breaking strengths were determined on canine small bowel by using 50% albumin (FAF and FAC) from human, bovine (BSA), porcine, and canine species.

RESULTS

BSA-FAC and BSA-FAF had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) breaking strength than all other groups; furthermore, BSA-FAC was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than BSA-FAF. There was no significant difference in breaking strength when FAF albumin was compared with FAC albumin from humans, pigs, or dogs.

CONCLUSION

These experimental results show that species-specific and fatty acid-specific differences exist when these albumin solders are used for laser tissue welding. This finding suggests that modifications in albumin could be used to improve results through decreased thermal damage and increased weld strength.

Five recombinant fragments of human serum albumin-tools for the characterization of the warfarin binding site

Human serum albumin (HSA) interacts with a vast array of chemically diverse ligands at specific binding sites. To pinpoint the essential structural elements for the formation of the warfarin binding site on human serum albumin, a defined set of five recombinant proteins comprising combinations of domains and/or subdomains of the N-terminal part were prepared and characterized by biochemical standard procedures, tryptophanyl fluorescence, and circular dichroic measurements, indicating well-preserved secondary and tertiary structures. Affinity constants for binding to warfarin were estimated by fluorescence titration experiments and found to be highest for HSA-DOM I-II and HSA, followed by HSA-DOM IB-II, HSA-DOM II, and HSA-DOM I-IIA. In addition, ultraviolet difference spectroscopy and induced circular dichroism experiments were carried out to get an in depth understanding of the binding mechanism of warfarin to the fragments as stand-alone proteins. This systematic study indicates that the primary warfarin binding site is centered in subdomain IIA with indispensable structural contributions of subdomain IIB and domain I, while domain III is not involved in this binding site, underlining the great potential that lies in the use of combinations of recombinant fragments for the study and accurate localization of ligand binding sites on HSA.

Role of arg-410 and tyr-411 in human serum albumin for ligand binding and esterase-like activity

Recombinant wild-type human serum albumin (rHSA), the single-residue mutants R410A, Y411A, Y411S and Y411F and the double mutant R410A/Y411A were produced using a yeast expression system. The recombinant proteins were correctly folded, as they had the same stability towards guanidine hydrochloride and the same CD spectrum as HSA isolated from serum (native HSA). Thus the global structures of the recombinant proteins are probably very similar to that of native HSA. We investigated, by ultrafiltration and CD, the high-affinity binding of two representative site II ligands, namely ketoprofen and diazepam. According to the crystal structure of HSA, the residues Arg-410 and Tyr-411 protrude into the centre of site II (in subdomain 3A), and the binding results showed that the guanidino moiety of Arg-410, the phenolic oxygen and the aromatic ring of Tyr-411 are important for ketoprofen binding. The guanidino moiety probably interacts electrostatically with the carboxy group of ketoprofen, the phenolic oxygen could make a hydrogen-bond with the keto group of the ligand, and the aromatic ring may participate in a specific stacking interaction with one of or both of the aromatic rings of ketoprofen. By contrast, Arg-410 is not important for diazepam binding. The two parts of Tyr-411 interact favourably with diazepam, and probably do so in the same way as with ketoprofen. In addition to its unique ligand binding properties, HSA also possesses an esterase-like activity, and studies with p-nitrophenyl acetate as a substrate showed that, although Arg-410 is important, the enzymic activity of HSA is much more dependent on the presence of Tyr-411. A minor activity could be registered when serine, but not alanine or phenylalanine, was present at position 411.

Species differences of serum albumins: III. Analysis of structural characteristics and ligand binding properties during N-B transitions

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the structural transitions and changes in ligand binding properties of different albumins during the pH-dependent structural transition, often referred to as the N-B transition.

METHODS

Structural transitions were evaluated by means of spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry and chemical modification. In addition, ligand binding properties were investigated using typical site-specific bound drugs (warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen and diazepam).

RESULTS

Conformational changes, including N-B transition, clearly occurred in albumins from all species used in this study. The conformational stabilities of all the albumins were clearly lost in the weakly alkaline pH range. This was probably the result of the destruction of salt bridges between domain I and domain III in the albumin molecule. In addition, the profiles of the ANS-induced fluorescence were different and could be classified into two patterns, suggesting that hydrophobic pockets in the albumin molecules were different for the different species. The data suggest that the amino acid residues responsible for the transitions were some of the His residues located in domain I. Further, the ligand binding properties of the albumins were slightly different but statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall mechanisms of the N-B transition may be similar for all the albumins, but its impact is considerably different among the species in terms of both structural characteristics and ligand binding properties. Furthermore, the transitions appear to be multi-step transitions.

Species differences of serum albumins: II. Chemical and thermal stability

PURPOSE

The chemical and thermal stability of five species of mammalian serum albumins (human, bovine, dog, rabbit, and rat) were investigated, and conformational stabilities were compared to obtain structural information about the different albumins.

METHODS

The chemical stability was estimated by using guanidine hydrochloride (GdnCl), and monitored by fluorometry and circular dichroism (CD). Thermal stability was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

RESULTS

In human, bovine, and rat albumin, two transitions were observed when GdnCl-induced denaturation was monitored fluorometrically, indicating at least one stable intermediate, although, in dog and rabbit albumin, only one transition was observed. However, GdnCl denaturation, as monitored by the ellipticity, showed a two-state transition in all species used in this study. Since these proteins, showing two transitions, contained a conserved tryptophan residue within domain II, these structural changes might have occurred in domain II during intermediate formation. DSC measurements showed that human, bovine, and rat albumin exhibited single sharp endotherms and these were clearly consistent with a two-state transition, while the deconvolution analysis of broad thermograms observed for dog and rabbit albumin showed that the absorption peaks could be approximated by a two-component composition, and were consistent with independent transitions of two different cooperative blocks.

CONCLUSIONS

These experimental results demonstrate that species differences exist with respect to the conformational stability and the mechanism of the unfolding pathway for mammalian albumin.