Species Differences of Serum Albumins: I. Drug Binding Sites

Purpose. The purpose of this study was the classification and identification of drug binding sites on albumins from several species in order to understand species differences of both drug binding properties and drug interaction on protein binding. Methods. Binding properties and types of drug-drug interaction on the different albumins were examined using typical site I binding drugs, warfarin (WF) and phenylbutazone (PBZ), and site II binding drugs, ibuprofen (IP) and diazepam (DZ) on human albumin. Equilibrium dialysis was carried out for two drugs and the free concentrations of drugs were then treated using the methods of Kragh-Hansen (Mol. Pharmacol. 34. 160–171, (1988)). Results. Binding affinities of site I drugs to bovine, rabbit and rat albumins were reasonably similar to human albumin. However, interestingly, those to dog albumin were considerably smaller than human albumin. On the other hand, binding parameters of DZ to bovine, rabbit and rat albumins were apparently different from those of human albumin. These differences are best explained by microenvironmental changes in the binding sites resulting from change of size and/or hydrophobicity of the binding pocket, rather than a variation in amino acid residues. Conclusions. We will propose herein that mammalian serum albumins used in this study contain specific drug binding sites: Rabbit and rat albumins contain a drug binding site, corresponding to site I on human albumin, and dog albumin contains a specific drug binding site corresponding to site II on the human albumin molecule.     

Binding of tolbutamide to glycated human serum albumin

The presence of elevated levels of glucose in blood during diabetes can lead to the non-enzymatic glycation of serum proteins such as human serum albumin (HSA). This study examined the changes that occur in binding of the sulfonylurea drug tolbutamide to HSA as the level of glycation for this protein was increased. High-performance affinity chromatography was used in this work along with columns containing various preparations of in vitro glycated HSA. It was found in frontal analysis experiments that the binding of tolbutamide with all of the tested preparations of glycated HSA could be described by a two-site model involving both strong and weak affinity interactions. The association equilibrium constants (K(a)) for tolbutamide at its high affinity sites on glycated HSA were in the range of 0.8-1.2 x 10? M?1 and increased by 1.4-fold in going from normal HSA to mildly glycated HSA. It was found through competition studies that tolbutamide was binding at both Sudlow sites I and II on the glycated HSA, in agreement with previous studies. The K(a) for tolbutamide at Sudlow site II increased by 1.1- to 1.4-fold in going from normal HSA to glycated HSA. At Sudlow site I, the K(a) for tolbutamide increased by 1.2- to 1.3-fold in going from normal HSA to the glycated HSA samples. This information demonstrates the effects that glycation can have on drug interactions on HSA and should provide a better quantitative understanding of how the protein binding of tolbutamide in serum may be affected for individuals with diabetes.     

Elucidation of the human serum albumin (HSA) binding site for the Cu-PTSM and Cu-ATSM radiopharmaceuticals

The Cu-PTSM (pyruvaldehyde bis(N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazonato)copper(II)) and Cu-ATSM (diacetyl bis(N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazonato)copper(II)) radiopharmaceuticals exhibit strong, species-dependent binding to human serum albumin (HSA), while Cu-ETS (ethylglyoxal bis(thiosemicarbazonato)copper(II)) appears to only exhibit nonspecific binding to human and animal serum albumins. This study examines the structural basis for HSA binding of Cu-PTSM and Cu-ATSM via competition with drugs having known albumin binding sites. Warfarin, furosemide, ibuprofen, phenylbutazone, benzylpenicillin, and cephmandole were added to HSA solutions at drug:HSA mole ratios from 0 to 8:1, followed by quantification of radiopharmaceutical binding to HSA by ultrafiltration. Warfarin, a site IIA drug, progressively displaced both [(64)Cu]Cu-PTSM and [(64)Cu]Cu-ATSM from HSA. At 8:1 warfarin:HSA mole ratios, free [(64)Cu]Cu-PTSM and [(64)Cu]Cu-ATSM levels increased 300-500%. This was in contrast to solutions containing ibuprofen, a site IIIA drug; no increase in free [(64)Cu]Cu-PTSM or [(64)Cu]Cu-ATSM was observed except at high ibuprofen:HSA ratios, where secondary ibuprofen binding to the IIA site may cause modest radiopharmaceutical displacement. By contrast, and consistent with earlier findings suggesting Cu-ETS exhibits only nonspecific associations, [(64)Cu]Cu-ETS binding to HSA was unaffected by the addition of drugs that bind in either site. We conclude that the species-dependence of Cu-PTSM and Cu-ATSM albumin binding arises from interaction(s) with the IIA site of HSA.     

Interaction of benzodiazepine derivatives with bovine serum albumin-I Gel filtration studies.

The binding of eleven benzodiazepine derivatives to bovine serum albumin was determined by means of Sephadex gel filtration. The albumin binding of the substances was characterized by the percentage of drug bound, the binding constants k⁺, K₁, and m, the number of binding sites per albumin molecule, and the free binding energy. The binding of the benzodiazepines to bovine serum albumin (BSA) is discussed in respect to the binding of these drugs to human serum albumin (HSA). The following great differences in the binding behaviour of both albumins for the benzodiaze-pines have been found: (1) The affinities of the binding of most of the drugs to BSA are exceptionally smaller than those to HSA. (2) Two benzodiazepines, lorazepam and clonazepam, are bound to BSA in a higher extent than to HSA. (3) Most of the benzodiazepines have two or three binding sites on the BSA molecule, in contrast to the single binding site on the HSA molecule. The binding of the benzodiazepines to BSA is positively influenced by the pH-value of the solution in a similar way as found for HSA. The benzodiazepines are the first group of drugs known in which binding to both albumins differs so fundamentally. The reason for these large differences and their pharmacological significance are discussed.     

Stereoselective binding of chiral anti-diabetic drug nateglinide to plasma proteins

The binding of nateglinide (NA) enantiomers with human plasma (HP), human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated. The protein binding was studied over a drug concentration range of 5-100 μM at a protein concentration of 600 μM. Unbound drug concentrations were determined by direct chiral liquid chromatography using chiralcel OJ-RH column. At therapeutic drug concentrations, the protein binding of each enantiomer was >98%. The results showed that the binding of NA enantiomers was stereoselective, mutually competitive and non-linear. The binding characteristics were, however, opposite for the two most important plasma binding proteins. Opposite stereo-selectivity was observed between BSA and HSA while stereo-selectivity was identical between HSA and HP. Scatchard analysis was used to illustrate the different binding affinities of NA enantiomers to BSA, HSA and HP. The interaction between enantiomers observed in HP and serum albumins was confirmed as a competitive type interaction at the high affinity site. Scatchard analysis was used to illustrate the different binding affinities of NA enantiomers to BSA, HSA and HP.     

Binding of Sulfinpyrazone and its Metabolites in Human Serum and in Solutions of Human Serum Albumin

Abstract: The binding of sulfinpyrazone, its sulfone metabolite and its sulfide metabolite to serum protein was studied by equilibrium dialysis. At 20 μg/ml 99.1% of the parent compound was bound in serum, whereas 99.8% of the sulfide and 98.3% of the sulfone were bound at this concentration. The binding of the three compounds were studied in diluted serum and in solutions of human serum albumin (HSA). There was no evidence of binding to proteins other than albumin. The association constants to primary and secondary binding sites and the number of binding sites were calculated. For the sulfide a lower K₁-value in serum (0.76·10⁶ M^?1) than in the HSA solution (1.8·10⁶ M^?1) indicated the possible presence of a competitively bound substance in serum. In undiluted serum no displacing effect of the sulfide on sulfinpyrazone binding was found when both compounds were present in a concentration of 20 μg/ml, but in a HSA solution a pronounced sulfide induced displacement of the sulfinpyrazone from its primary binding site was shown. Acetylation of HSA depressed the binding of sulfinpyrazone but in undiluted serum there was no other effect on sulfinpyrazone binding by the addition of acetylsalicylic acid than could be explained by the displacing effect of salicylic acid. At concentrations at 20 μg/ml of sulfinpyrazone and above 50 μg/ml of the displacing agent significant displacement was demonstrated with phenylbutazone, tolbutamide and salicylic acid.     

Spectroscopic techniques in the study of protein binding. A fluorescence technique for the evaluation of the albumin binding and displacement of warfarin and warfarin-alcohol

1. The binding of racemic mixtures of warfarin and warfarin-alcohol to human serum albumin (HSA) is accompanied by an increase in the fluorescence quantum yield of these compounds. This property has been used to measure the characteristics of the binding of warfarin and warfarin-alcohol to HSA at 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Within the limits of the technique, no significant differences between the number of binding sites and strength of binding at the tight site at either temperature were observed. 2. The fluorescence of warfarin and warfarin-alcohol was used to label their binding site on HSA and to study the effects of other drugs on their binding. The results indicate that these two molecules are bound to the same site on HSA. 3. The validity of using changes in the fluorescence of warfarin as a measure of its displacement from HSA was investigated. Good correlations were observed between drug-induced decreases in the fluorescence of bound warfarin and displacement as measured by equilibrium dialysis. The displacement of warfarfin, as detected by fluorescence, correlates well with the increase in free warfarin resulting from addition of therapeutic drug concentrations to undiluted human serum. 4. The most potent displacing agents, by all the methods used, were iophenoxic acid, phenylbutazone and oxyphenylbutazone. The first of these is no longer used clinically, but the latter two are and have been reported to cause hypoprothrominaemia by displacing warfarin from HSA. The present study indicates that changes in the fluorescence of warfarin bound to HSA can be used to measure displacement of bound warfarin and to screen drugs that may cause clinically significant interactions by this mechanism.     

Characterizing a drug's primary binding site on albumin

Surface plasmon resonance-based biosensors can be used to directly measure the binding of small molecules to albumin. We studied 12 drugs with different molecular masses and affinities for albumin to illustrate the benefits of the technology. To examine both high- and low-affinity sites on the protein, each drug was assayed across a 10,000-fold concentration range. The affinity constants determined from the biosensor assay corresponded with affinities determined by other methods. We expanded the utility of the biosensor technology by developing protocols to characterize drug displacement from albumin. Finally, we also compared how a representative panel of drugs bound albumins from 14 species. The results illustrate how biosensors can provide detailed information about the identification and affinity of a drug's primary binding site on albumin.     

Modification of human serum albumin binding of methotrexate by folinic acid and certain drugs used in cancer chemotherapy

Summary The binding of methotrexate (MTX) and citrovorum factor (CF) to human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated. The affinity constant for MTX was 820 M^–1, with 2 binding sites, and for CF 2340 M^–1, with 1.5 binding sites. MTX and CF, which are used together in high dose therapy, compete for HSA binding. Competition for HSA binding between MTX and adriamycin, bleomycin and cyclophosphamide, drugs often used in association with MTX in cancer chemotherapy, was also demonstrated. The clinical importance of such competition depends on the drug/protein concentration ratio which is extremely variable.     

Characterization of the comparative drug binding to intra- (liver fatty acid binding protein) and extra- (human serum albumin) cellular proteins

Abstract

1.?This study compared the extent, affinity, and kinetics of drug binding to human serum albumin (HSA) and liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) using ultrafiltration and surface plasmon resonance (SPR).

2.?Binding of basic and neutral drugs to both HSA and LFABP was typically negligible. Binding of acidic drugs ranged from minor (f_u?>?0.8) to extensive (f_u?<?0.1). Of the compounds screened, the highest binding to both HSA and LFABP was observed for the acidic drugs torsemide and sulfinpyrazone, and for β-estradiol (a polar, neutral compound).

3.?The extent of binding of acidic drugs to HSA was up to 40% greater than binding to LFABP. SPR experiments demonstrated comparable kinetics and affinity for the binding of representative acidic drugs (naproxen, sulfinpyrazone, and torsemide) to HSA and LFABP.

4.?Simulations based on in vitro kinetic constants derived from SPR experiments and a rapid equilibrium model were undertaken to examine the impact of binding characteristics on compartmental drug distribution. Simulations provided mechanistic confirmation that equilibration of intracellular unbound drug with the extracellular unbound drug is attained rapidly in the absence of active transport mechanisms for drugs bound moderately or extensively to HSA and LFABP.     

Characterization of drug-protein binding process by employing equilibrium sampling through hollow-fiber supported liquid membrane and Bjerrum and Scatchard plots

The technique equilibrium sampling through membrane (ESTM) was extended to measuring the free drug concentration in solutions of drug and protein. Bjerrum and Scatchard plots were employed for characterizing individual drug binding to pure human blood proteins. Four drugs were investigated as a model system: fluvoxamine and ropivacaine which dominantly bind to alpha-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and R,S-ibuprofen and S-ketoprofen which highly bind to human serum albumin (HSA). The level of drug binding to AGP and HSA relied on drug and protein concentrations. Bjerrum and Scatchard plots revealed high affinity constants (K(a)) at low protein concentration. Both Bjerrum and Scatchard plots of fluvoxamine and ropivacaine binding to AGP showed one specific binding site (n(1)=1) with ropivacaine K(a) value close to 5 times higher than the K(a) of fluvoxamine at 22.9muM AGP concentration. Bjerrum plots of ketoprofen and ibuprofen gave total number of binding sites or bound molecules of 6-7, which did not depend on the drug or protein concentration. Scatchard plots of ketoprofen and ibuprofen exhibited two binding sites (n(1) and n(2)) at 0.15muM and 0.75muM HSA concentrations. On one hand, at 0.15muM HSA, ketoprofen and ibuprofen were bound to site I at n(1)=1.2 and n(1)=1.0, respectively. However, at 0.75muM HSA, ketoprofen and ibuprofen were bound to site I at n(1)=1.2 and n(1)=1.9, respectively. On the other hand, site II, at 0.15muM HSA, interacted with ketoprofen and ibuprofen at n(2)=5.6 and 6.7, respectively. However, at 0.75muM HSA, site II interacted with ketoprofen at n(2)=7.4 and ibuprofen at n(2)=6.2. It would be concluded that, upon mixing ketoprofen and ibuprofen in a HSA solution, a ketoprofen-ibuprofen interaction would most likely occur at site II in HSA.     

The effects of glycation on the binding of human serum albumin to warfarin and l-tryptophan

Diabetes leads to elevated levels of glucose in blood which, in turn, can lead to the non-enzymatic glycation of serum proteins such as human serum albumin (HSA). It has been suggested that this increase in glycation can alter the ability of HSA to bind to drugs and other small solutes. This study used high-performance affinity chromatography (HPAC) to see if there is any significant change related to glycation in the binding of HSA to warfarin and l-tryptophan, which are often used as probe compounds for Sudlow sites I and II of HSA in drug binding studies with this protein. It was found through frontal analysis studies that both of these compounds gave a good fit to a single-site binding model with glycated HSA under the conditions used in this study. There was no significant change in the association equilibrium constants or specific activities for warfarin with HSA at pH 7.4 and 37 °C under glycation conditions that were representative of those expected in pre-diabetes or diabetes, but a 4.7- to 5.8-fold increase in binding affinity for l-tryptophan with glycated HSA was observed. These results indicate that warfarin and l-tryptophan can be successively used as site-selective probes for glycated HSA; however, changes in the affinity of l-tryptophan may need to be considered in such an application. These results should be valuable in future competition studies using these compounds as probes to examine the interactions of other drugs and solutes with Sudlow sites I and II and to determine how changes in HSA glycation can affect the serum protein binding of various pharmaceutical agents during diabetes.     

Inhibition of drug binding to human serum albumin by cholecystographic agents

The binding of two cholecystographic agents to human serum albumin (HSA) was evaluated by means of two different complementary methodologies. In particular, the inhibition of drug HSA binding caused by iopanoic- and iophenoxic-acid was investigated by circular dichroism (CD) and resonant mirror (RM) optical biosensor techniques. The CD study allowed to obtain information both on the cholecystographic agent binding site and on the effect of the binding on the protein conformation. Iopanoic acid (IOP), a drug potentially useful for thyrotoxic disorders, resulted a direct competitor for ligands that selectively bind to site II, in agreement to literature data. No definite evidence was obtained for the highest affinity binding site of iophenoxic acid (IOPH), however, this diagnostic tool markedly affected the binding of ligands to the most characterized high affinity sites on HSA, namely sites I, II and III. Binding parameters were obtained by optical biosensor analysis: K(D) values were 3.6 x 10(-7) and 2.8 x 10(-8) M for IOP and IOPH, respectively.     

Allosteric modulation of drug binding to human serum albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA), the most prominent protein in plasma, is best known for its extraordinary ligand binding capacity. The three homologous domains of HSA (labeled I, II, and III), each in turn composed of two subdomains (named A and B), give rise to the three-dimensional structure of HSA. This flexible structural organization allows the protein structure to adapt to a variety of ligands. As conformational adaptability of HSA extends well beyond the immediate vicinity of the binding site(s), cooperativity and allosteric modulation arise among binding sites; this makes HSA similar to a multimeric protein. Although kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for ligand binding to HSA calculated by quantitative structure-activity relationship models are in excellent agreement with those obtained in vitro, cooperative and allosteric equilibria between different binding sites and competition between drugs or between drugs and endogenous ligands make difficult the interpretation of HSA binding properties in vivo. Binding of exogenous and endogenous ligands to HSA appears to be relevant in drug therapy and management. Here, the allosteric modulation of drug binding to HSA is briefly reviewed.     

Bumetanide binding to normal albumins and to albumin in renal failure

Binding of bumetanide, a loop diuretic, to partially purified albumins from renal failure patients (RF-HA), and healthy subjects (N-HA), human serum albumin (HSA) and defatted-HSA (D-HSA), was studied with equilibrium dialysis at a constant albumin concentration and various ligand concentrations. Binding parameters (n and K) were estimated from Scatchard plots and with a nonlinear two-binding site model computer program, assuming two classes of independent sites. The binding capacities (n₁K₁) decreased in the order N-HA>RF-HA>D-HSA>HSA. Computer estimates of K₁ for the partially purified albumin preparations were not markedly different. However, the graphical estimate of K₁ for N-HA was greater than that for RF-HA. When the degree of binding (r) was plotted as a function of the logarithm of the free bumetanide concentration, an asymptotic plateau was not observed, indicating that the protein binding sites were not saturated. Consequently, the calculated binding estimates may not adequately describe the binding of bumetanide.     

A re-evaluation of the HSA-piroxicam interaction

Piroxicam binding to HSA was studied using equilibrium dialysis and fluorescence methods. It was shown that this drug, like its analogs isoxicam and tenoxicam, binds to the apazone locus (site I area) and to a lesser extent to the diazepam site (site II). The piroxicam binding to HSA can be modulated by various specific ligands--apazone, warfarin, diazepam, ibuprofen--and these drug interactions have to be considered not only as potential displacement from the HSA binding sites but also in terms of induced allosteric effects.     

Effect of glycyrrhizic acid on protein binding of diltiazem,verapamil, and nifedipine

The effects of glycyrrhizic acid (GLZ) on protein binding of diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine were investigated. Protein binding studies (human serum, human serum albumin (HSA) and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AAG)) were conducted using the equilibrium dialysis method with and without addition of GLZ. The binding parameters, such as the number of moles of bound drug per mole of protein, the number of binding sites per protein molecule, and the association constant, were estimated using the Scatchard plot. The serum binding of nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem was displaced with addition of GLZ, and the decreases of Ks for serum were observed. GLZ decreased the association constants of three drugs for HSA and AAG, while the binding capacity remained similar with addition of GLZ. Although the characteristics of interaction were not clear, GLZ seemed to mainly affect HSA binding of nifedipine rather than AAG binding, while GLZ seemed to affect both AAG- and HSA-bindings of verapamil and diltiazem resulting in a serum binding displacement.     

19F NMR spectroscopic study on the binding of triflupromazine to bovine and human serum albumins

The 19F NMR spectrum of triflupromazine hydrochloride (TFZ) in a buffer solution (pH 6.8) showed a single sharp signal of the TFZ CF3 group at 13.5 ppm from the external trifluoroacetic acid. The addition of 1 mM HSA or BSA to the sample solution caused a split of the CF3 signal into two broadened signals shifted to slightly lower (0.2 ppm) and higher (0.7 ppm) fields, respectively, from the original position. Denaturation of the albumins by guanidine hydrochloride (3M) restored the two broadened signals to a slightly broadened single signal, indicating that TFZ has at least two binding sites on HSA and BSA, respectively. From the competitive binding 19F NMR experiments using Warfarin (Site-I ligand), l-tryptophan (Site-II ligand), NaCl, and oleate, the signal at high field was assigned to the TFZ bound to Site II. Comparison of the signal intensity revealed that the affinity of TFZ for Site II on HSA was considerably higher than that on BSA. The low-field signal could be identified as a weight-averaged signal between nonspecifically bound TFZ to HSA (BSA) and free TFZ in the water phase. In the presence of physiological concentrations of NaCl, major binding of TFZ to HSA and BSA was considered to be nonspecific. The present work indicates that 19F NMR is very useful for obtaining important detailed information regarding the binding of fluorinated drugs to serum albumins.