Binding of lithium and boron to human plasma proteins

The binding of lithium and boron, at normal physiological levels, to plasma proteins has been investigated by the techniques of precipitation with ethyl alcohol and gel chromatography. Assays of lithium and boron were made by thermal neutron activation and mass spectrometric assay of³He and⁴He. Results of alcohol precipitation experiments for plasma from two apparently healthy donors showed that 13 ± 4% and 16 ± 3% of the lithium in plasma is protein bound, but essentially no boron is bound under the conditions used. We believe that because of denaturation of proteins which occurs during alcohol precipitation, these percentages represent lithium and boron tightly bound to protein molecules. The results of the gelchromatography experiment, on the other hand, showed that lithium and boron are bound to a wide range of plasma proteins, from low (∼ 60,000 amu) to high (∼ 1,000,000 amu) molecular weights, and to very low- (∼ 6000 amu) molecular-weight ligands. Although a clear identification of the specific proteins which bind lithium and boron cannot be made at present, some possibilities can be suggested. Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this article to specify adequately the experimental procedure. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.