Circular dichroism studies on the inhibiting effect of oleic acid on the binding of diazepam to human serum albumin

The effect of a free fatty acid (oleic acid) on the binding of a benzodiazepine derivative (diazepam) to human serum albumin (HSA)¹ has been studied using the technique of circular dichroism. Both qualitative and quantitative results suggest that oleic acid significantly affects the binding of diazepam, even at low molar ratios to albumin (below 1:1). It is suggested that the displacement of bound diazepam occurs primarily through an allosteric mechanism.