Interactions of human serum albumin with chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid

The interactions of chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid with human serum albumin (HSA) have been investigated by fluorescence and Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. Fluorescence results showed that one molecule of protein combined with one molecule of drugs at the molar ratio of drug to HSA ranging from 1 to 10, and their binding affinities (KA) are 4.37 x 10(4) M(-1) and 2.23 x 10(4) M(-1) for chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid, respectively. The primary binding site for chlorogenic acid is most likely located on IIA and that for ferulic acid in IIIA. The main mechanism of protein fluorescence quenching was static quenching process. Combining the curve-fitting results of infrared amide I and amide III bands, the alterations of protein secondary structure after drug complexation were estimated. With increasing the drug concentration, the protein alpha-helix structure decreased gradually and the reduction of protein alpha-helix structure reached about 7% and 5% for protein binding with chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid individually at the drug to protein molar ratio of 30. This indicated a partial unfolding of HSA in the presence of the two acids. From the fluorescence and FT-IR results, the binding mode was discussed.     

Flavonoid binding to human serum albumin

Dietary flavonoid may have beneficial effects in the prevention of chronic diseases. However, flavonoid bioavailability is often poor probably due to their interaction with plasma proteins. Here, the affinity of daidzein and daidzein metabolites as well as of genistein, naringenin, and quercetin for human serum albumin (HSA) has been assessed in the absence and presence of oleate. Values of the dissociation equilibrium constant (K) for binding of flavonoids and related metabolites to Sudlow’s site I range between 3.3 × 10⁻⁶ and 3.9 × 10⁻⁵ M, at pH 7.0 and 20.0 °C, indicating that these flavonoids are mainly bound to HSA in vivo. Values of K increase (i.e., the flavonoid affinity decreases) in the presence of saturating amounts of oleate by about two folds. Present data indicate a novel role of fatty acids as allosteric inhibitors of flavonoid bioavailability, and appear to be relevant in rationalizing the interference between dietary compounds, food supplements, and drugs.     

Resveratrol binding to human serum albumin

Resveratrol (Res), a polyphenolic compound found largely in the skin of red grape and wine, exhibits a wide range of pharmaceutical properties and plays a role in prevention of human cardiovascular diseases [Pendurthi et al., Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 19, 419-426 (1999)]. It shows a strong affinity towards protein binding and used as inhibitor for cyclooxygenase and ribonuclease reductase. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of resveratrol with human serum albumin (HSA) in aqueous solution at physiological conditions, using a constant protein concentration (0.3 mM) and various pigment contents (microM to mM). FTIR, UV-Visible, CD, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods were used to determine the resveratrol binding mode, the binding constant and the effects of pigment complexation on protein secondary structure. Structural analysis showed that resveratrol bind non-specifically (H-bonding) via polypeptide polar groups with overall binding constant of K(Res) = 2.56 x 10(5) M(-1). The protein secondary structure, analysed by CD spectroscopy, showed no major alterations at low resveratrol concentrations (0.125 mM), whereas at high pigment content (1 mM), major increase of alpha-helix from 57% (free HSA) to 62% and a decrease of beta-sheet from 10% (free HSA) to 7% occurred in the resveratrol-HSA complexes. The results indicate a partial stabilization of protein secondary structure at high resveratrol content.     

Unveiling the binding mode of perfluorooctanoic acid to human serum albumin

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a toxic compound that is absorbed and distributed throughout the body by noncovalent binding to serum proteins such as human serum albumin (hSA). Though the interaction between PFOA and hSA has been already assessed using various analytical techniques, a high resolution and detailed analysis of the binding mode is still lacking. We report here the crystal structure of hSA in complex with PFOA and a medium‐chain saturated fatty acid (FA). A total of eight distinct binding sites, four occupied by PFOAs and four by FAs, have been identified. In solution binding studies confirmed the 4:1 PFOA‐hSA stoichiometry and revealed the presence of one high and three low affinity binding sites. Competition experiments with known hSA‐binding drugs allowed locating the high affinity binding site in sub‐domain IIIA. The elucidation of the molecular basis of the interaction between PFOA and hSA might provide not only a better assessment of the absorption and elimination mechanisms of these compounds in vivo but also have implications for the development of novel molecular receptors for diagnostic and biotechnological applications.     

The binding of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate to human serum albumin

Most of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) in plasma is bound to protein, primarily albumin. Binding to protein is probably important in transporting PLP in the circulation and in regulating its metabolism. The binding of PLP to human serum albumin (HSA) was studied using absorption spectral analysis, equilibrium dialysis, and inhibition studies. The kinetics of the changes in the spectrum of PLP when mixed with an equimolar concentration of HSA at pH 7.4 followed a model for two-step consecutive binding with rate constants of 7.72 mM-1 min-1 and 0.088 min-1. The resulting PLP-HSA complex had absorption peaks at 338 and 414 nm and was reduced by potassium borohydride. The 414-nm peak is probably due to a protonated aldimine formed between PLP and HSA. The binding of PLP to bovine serum albumin (BSA) at equimolar concentrations at pH 7.4 occurred at about 10% the rate of its binding to HSA. The final PLP-BSA complex absorbed maximally at 334 nm and did not appear to be reduced with borohydride. Equilibrium dialysis of PLP and HSA indicated that there were more than one class of binding sites of HSA for PLP. There was one high affinity site with a dissociation constant of 8.7 microM and two or more other sites with dissociation constants of 90 microM or greater. PLP binding to HSA was inhibited by pyridoxal and 4-pyridoxic acid. It was not inhibited appreciably by inorganic phosphate or phosphorylated compounds. The binding of PLP to BSA was inhibited more than its binding to HSA by several compounds containing anionic groups. It is concluded that PLP binds differently to HSA than it does to BSA.     

Myristic acid binding to human serum albumin investigated by dialytic exchange rate

Dialysis rate determinations of several fatty acids in the absence of albumin revealed that the myristate anion, like that of laurate, in aqueous solution, pH 7.5, is present as a monomer anion when the concentration is below 25 microM. Palmitate and oleate solutions, on the other hand, show a tendency to aggregation even at concentrations below 0.5 microM. Multiple binding of myristate to human serum albumin in phosphate buffer, at pH 7.5, 37 degrees C, was investigated by exchange of 14C-labeled myristate across a dialysis membrane under conditions of binding equilibrium. A binding isotherm was established by least squares fitting of the stoichiometric binding constants in the stepwise binding equation to the experimental data. The best-fit solution was supplemented with 30 acceptable solutions within a probability limit of 0.95. A concept of one or two distinct high-affinity sites for binding of fatty acids could not be verified; the observations allow a variety of binding mechanisms ranging from cooperativity of the first two myristates to a model with four equal and independent sites.     

Kinetics of fatty acid binding ability of glycated human serum albumin

Kinetics of fatty acid binding ability of glycated human serum albumin (HSA) were investigated by fluorescent displacement technique with 1-anilino-8-naphtharene sulphonic acid (ANS method), and photometric detection of nonesterified-fatty-acid (NEFA method). Changing of binding affinities of glycated HSA toward oleic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, and caproic acid, were not observed by the ANS method. However, decreases of binding capacities after 55 days glycation were confirmed by the NEFA method in comparison to control HSA. The decrease in binding affinities was: oleic acid (84%), linoleic acid (84%), lauric acid (87%), and caproic acid (90%), respectively. The decreases were consistent with decrease of the intact lysine residues in glycated HSA. The present observation indicates that HSA promptly loses its binding ability to fatty acid as soon as the lysine residues at fatty acid binding sites are glycated.     

Stereoselective binding of human serum albumin

Stereoselectivity in binding can have a significant effect on the drug disposition such as first-pass metabolism, metabolic clearance, renal clearance, and protein and tissue binding. Human serum albumin (HSA) is able to stereoselectively bind a great number of various endogenous and exogenous compounds. Various experimental data suggested that the two major drug-binding cavities, namely, site I and site II, do not seem to be the stereoselective binding sites of HSA. Stereoselective binding of HSA under disease conditions such as renal and hepatic diseases was found to be enhanced. In addition, site-to-site displacement of a site II-specific drug by another site II-specific drug was found to be stereoselective, too. Endogenous compounds such as long-chain fatty acids and uremic toxins are likely to cause combined direct and cascade effects that contribute to the preferential binding of a particular drug enantiomer. Taking together the findings of other studies, it is highly possible that the stereoselective binding site exists at the interface of the subdomains.     

Stereoselective binding of etodolac to human serum albumin.

The protein binding of etodolac enantiomers was studied in vitro by equilibrium dialysis in human serum albumin (HSA) of various concentrations varying from 1 to 40 g/liter, by addition of each enantiomer at increasing concentrations. In the 1 g/liter solution, at the lowest drug levels, the (R)-form is more bound than its antipode, the contrary being observed at the highest drug levels. For higher albumin concentrations, S was bound in a larger extent than R. Using the displacement of specific markers of HSA sites I and II, studied by spectrofluorimetry, it was suggested that R and S are both bound to site I, while only S is strongly bound to site II.     

Data plotting of warfarin binding to human serum albumin

The binding of warfarin to human serum albumin was studied by equilibrium dialysis at pH 7.4 in a 67 mM sodium phosphate buffer at 37 degrees C. The equilibrium data were analysed using a computer program for curve fitting. The analysis was made fitting the data to equations for one, two and three classes of binding sites with one, two and three sites at the primary binding site (n(1)=1, 2 or 3). The data fitting was acceptable for two and three classes of binding sites but the best fit was obtained with the equation for two classes of binding sites, allowing us to define the binding by a model with two independent classes of binding sites on the serum albumin molecule.     

Chromatographic analysis of carbamazepine binding to human serum albumin

In this study, high-performance affinity chromatography was used to characterize the binding of carbamazepine to an immobilized human serum albumin (HSA) column. Frontal analysis was first used to determine the association equilibrium constant and binding capacity for carbamazepine on this column at various temperatures. The non-specific binding of carbamazepine within the column was also considered. The results indicated that carbamazepine had a single binding site on HSA with an association equilibrium constant of 5.3 x 10(3)M(-1) at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. This was confirmed through zonal elution self-competition studies. The value of DeltaG for this reaction was -5.35 kcal/mol at 37 degrees C, with an associated change in enthalpy (DeltaH) of -6.45 kcal/mol and a change in entropy (DeltaS) of -3.56 cal/molK. The location of this binding region was examined by competitive zonal elution experiments using probe compounds with known sites on HSA. It was found that carbamazepine had direct competition with l-tryptophan, a probe for the indole-benzodiazepine site of HSA, but allosteric interactions with probes for the warfarin, tamoxifen and digitoxin sites. Changes in the pH, ionic strength, and organic modifier content of the mobile phase were used to identify the predominant forces in the carbamazepine-HSA interaction.     

Study of heterocycle rings binding to human serum albumin

Doxorubicin continues to be one of the most widely used anticancer agents in the clinic despite its dose-limiting side-effects. Many of doxorubicin's dose-limiting toxicities occur due to its generation of toxic oxygen species, resulting in oxidative stress. Some clinical observations have suggested that doxorubicin may have greater toxicity in older patients. The studies presented here compare basal and doxorubicin-induced antioxidant enzyme activities in brain, heart, kidney and liver tissues of Fisher 344 rats of different ages to determine whether differences in these enzymes can account for the age-dependent differences observed in doxorubicin-induced toxicity. Three groups of animals were tested, young animals (2-months-old), adult animals (10-months-old) and old animals (18-months-old). The results of these studies show that in general young and adult animals have similar levels of antioxidant enzyme activity while the older animals have less. Only in the young animals is antioxidant enzyme activity significantly increased following doxorubicin treatment suggesting that enzyme induction occurs only in the young group of animals. Lipid peroxidation is shown to have the greatest increase in the old animals following doxorubicin treatment while the young animals have the smallest increase. The results from these studies suggest that there is an increase in doxorubicin-induced oxidative damage with age and that these differences may be due to basal and drug-induced differences in tissue antioxidant enzyme activities.     

Stereoselective binding of carbenicillin epimers to human serum albumin

Binding of carbenicillin (CBPC) epimers to human serum albumin (HSA) was found to be stereoselective. Epimer-epimer interaction was also observed in the binding to HSA. There were at least three binding sites on HSA for CBPC epimers, one of which (stereoselective site) was more in favor of S-CBPC than R-CBPC. At the stereoselective site, the binding constant of S-CBPC was approximately 4-fold greater than that of R-CBPC. The affinities to other binding sites (non-stereoselective sites) were similar between the epimers, and the affinity of S-CBPC of the non-stereoselective sites was much smaller than that for the stereoselective site. R-CBPC and S-CBPC appeared to displace each other at all the binding sites, i.e., the binding of the epimers was competitive at the non-stereoselective sites as well as at the stereoselective site. By using site marker ligands, it was revealed that CBPC epimers may bind to Site I (warfarin binding site), but not to Site II (diazepam binding site). A binding model with an assumption of competitive interactions at all the binding sites simulated the binding characteristics of CBPC epimers fairly well. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Reversible binding of ethacrynic acid to human serum albumin: Difference circular dichroism study

The reversible binding of ethacrynic acid was characterized by a difference circular dichroism method. A 2/1 stoichiometry was determined for the [drug]/[HSA] (human serum albumin) complex. The reversible binding of ethacrynic acid to HSA determines direct competition with ligands that selectivity bind to site II and to the fatty acid site. Furthermore, indirect competition was shown for ligands for site I (anticooperative) and to site III (cooperative). Chirality 11:33–38, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The search for photosensitive agents specifically binding to human serum albumin

Binding of tetrasulfophenylporphyn with human serum albumin was studied by spectral methods. The presence on the protein of one centre of porphyrin binding with high affinity was shown.     

The extraordinary ligand binding properties of human serum albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA), the most prominent protein in plasma, binds different classes of ligands at multiple sites. HSA provides a depot for many compounds, affects pharmacokinetics of many drugs, holds some ligands in a strained orientation providing their metabolic modification, renders potential toxins harmless transporting them to disposal sites, accounts for most of the antioxidant capacity of human serum, and acts as a NO-carrier. The globular domain structural organization of monomeric HSA is at the root of its allosteric properties which are reminiscent of those of multimeric proteins. Here, structural, functional, biotechnological, and biomedical aspects of ligand binding to HSA are summarized.