Identification and relative quantification of specific glycation sites in human serum albumin

Glycation (or non-enzymatic glycosylation) is a common non-enzymatic covalent modification of human proteins. Glucose, the highest concentrated monosaccharide in blood, can reversibly react with amino groups of proteins to form Schiff bases that can rearrange to form relatively stable Amadori products. These can be further oxidized to advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Here, we analyzed the glycation patterns of human serum albumin (HSA) in plasma samples obtained from five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, glycated peptides from a tryptic digest of plasma were enriched with m-aminophenylboronic acid (mAPBA) affinity chromatography. The glycated peptides were then further separated in the second dimension by RP-HPLC coupled on-line to an electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS). Altogether, 18 Amadori peptides, encompassing 40% of the HSA sequence, were identified. The majority of the peptides were detected and relatively quantified in all five samples with a high reproducibility among the replicas. Eleven Lys-residues were glycated at similar quantities in all samples, with glycation site Lys₅₄₉ (K_Am(Glc)QTALVELVK) being the most abundant. In conclusion, the established mAPBA/nanoRP-HPLC-ESI-MS/MS approach could reproducibly identify and quantify glycation sites in plasma samples, potentially useful in diagnosis and therapeutic control.     

Comparing the efficiencies of hydrazide labels in the study of protein carbonylation in human serum albumin

In this work, we establish a methodology for comparing the efficiencies of different hydrazide labels for detecting protein carbonyls. We have chosen acrolein-modified human serum albumin as a model. This system provides a convenient means of reproducibly generating carbonylated protein. Five hydrazide-based labels were tested. Three carry a biotin affinity tag, and the others are simple fatty acid hydrazides. For the biotin-based labels, the yield of the labeling reaction varies considerably, and the most commonly used label, biotin hydrazide, gives the lowest yield. The total tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) spectrum counts of modified peptides are similar for all of the biotin-based tags, indicating that factors beyond the labeling efficiency are important in determining the effectiveness of the label. In addition, there is a large variation in the number of spectra obtained for specific, modified peptides depending on the nature of the labeling group. This variation implies that the relative detectability of a particular modification site is highly dependent on the tagging reagent, and more importantly, titration schemes aimed at identifying the most reactive site based on its threshold concentration will be biased by the choice of tagging reagent. The fatty acid hydrazides are somewhat more effective than the biotin-based hydrazides in generating identifiable MS/MS spectra but offer no opportunity for enrichment. For the biotin-based tags, avidin affinity chromatography was used with the tryptic digests, and each tag led to similar enrichment levels.     

Identification of modification sites on human serum albumin and human hemoglobin adducts with houttuynin using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

Houttuynin, a β‐keto aldehyde compound, is the major active ingredient in herba houttuyniae injection. The injection was once used as an anti‐inflammatory drug associated with occasional serious hypersensitivity reactions in the clinic, which were proposed to be related to the formation of protein adducts. N^α‐Boc‐lysine, FEEM and IVTNTT were used as model amino acids or peptides containing one nucleophilic residue to investigate adduct types by liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/MSⁿ) and high‐resolution quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (Q‐TOF MS). These adducts were respectively characterized as Schiff bases formed by 1:1 reaction of houttuynin with lysine or N‐terminal residue and pyridinium adducts by 2:1 reaction. LC/MSⁿ analysis of trypsin digests of HSA/Hb incubations with houttuynin revealed that houttuynin‐modified HSA adducts were formed mainly at N‐terminal amino acid and lysine residues, specifically at Lys‐212, Lys‐414 and Lys‐525 for Schiff base adducts, and at Lys‐414 and Lys‐432 for pyridinium adducts, and houttuynin adducted more readily with N‐terminal valine of the α‐ and β‐chains in Hb and lysine amine (Lys‐62) of the β‐chain for Schiff base adducts. The results showed the direct modification of houttuynin to HSA/Hb in vitro, which was speculated to be responsible for the adverse reactions induced by houttuyniae injection. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of drug-binding sites on human serum albumin using affinity capillary electrophoresis and chemically modified proteins as buffer additives

A technique based on affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) and chemically modified proteins was used to screen the binding sites of various drugs on human serum albumin (HSA). This involved using HSA as a buffer additive, following the site-selective modification of this protein at two residues (tryptophan 214 or tyrosine 411) located in its major binding regions. The migration times of four compounds (warfarin, ibuprofen, suprofen and flurbiprofen) were measured in the presence of normal or modified HSA. These times were then compared and the mobility shifts observed with the modified proteins were used to identify the binding regions of each injected solute on HSA. Items considered in optimizing this assay included the concentration of protein placed into the running buffer, the reagents used to modify HSA, and the use of dextran as a secondary additive to adjust protein mobility. The results of this method showed good agreement with those of previous reports. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach are examined, as well as its possible extension to other solutes.     

Monolayers of human serum albumin

Summary The influence of different factors on the spreading of human serum albumin films is studied; factors such as the ionic strength of the spreading solution, nature and concentration of the alcohol used as spreading agent, initial spreading area of the subsolution to which the protein solution was applied and the method for the spreading (direct orTrurnit). The results obtained show that the ideal spreading solution is the buffer ph=5.1,=0.01, containing 0.5% amyl alcohol (v:v). TheTrurnit's method of spreading proteins showed significant advantage over the direct deposit of drops of the protein solutions.     

Hydration in protein folding: thermal unfolding/refolding of human serum albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is known to undergo both reversible and irreversible thermal unfolding and refolding, depending upon the experimental conditions (end temperature) at neutral pH. In this report we have used high precision densimetric and ultrasonic measurements to determine the apparent specific volume (phi v) and compressibility (phi k) of HSA at different unfolded and refolded states at two different end temperatures, 55 degrees C and 70 degrees C. The unfolded and refolded states were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), circular dichroism (CD), picosecond-resolved fluorescence decay, and anisotropy of the single-tryptophan residue in HSA (Trp214). Both the unfolded states were allowed to refold by cooling wherein the former and latter processes were found to be reversible and irreversible, respectively, in nature. The results obtained from the densimetric and ultrasonic measurements reveal that the apparent specific volume and compressibility of the protein in the reversible protein unfolding process is preserved upon restoration of HSA to ambient temperature. However, a significant change in phi v and phi k occurs in the process of irreversible protein refolding (from 70 to 20 degrees C). The experimental observation is rationalized in terms of the exposure of domain IIA to an aqueous environment, resulting in the swelling of the protein to a higher hydrodynamic diameter. Our studies attempt to explore the extent of hydration associated with the structural integrity of the popular protein HSA.     

Ultrafast photodynamics of drugs in nanocavities: cyclodextrins and human serum albumin protein

In this feature article, we discuss recent advances in studying ultrafast dynamic and structural aspects of host-guest interactions. Steady-state and time-resolved techniques exploring events from the femto- to nanosecond regime were used to examine the ultrafast photodynamics and subsequent events in selected nanostructures of the formed complexes. These consist of aromatic systems, biologically relevant molecules, and drugs trapped within cyclodextrins (CD) and human serum albumin (HSA) protein pockets. We examine the effects exerted by these chemical and biological cavitands on internal twisting motions, proton transfer and charge transfer, and cis-trans isomerization reactions that may occur in the confined molecular systems. In addition, the influence of a restricting environment on the interaction of guest molecules with biological water is considered. The dynamic details of the complexes (diffusion, early interactions, formation, stability, internal guest diffusion, and conformational changes) and the excited-state relaxation pathways, rate constants of the involved processes, and changes in the electronic distribution within encapsulated guests gave clues to elucidate their photobehavior and are relevant to the photostability and delivery of drugs when using nanocarriers.     

Binding of glycyrrhizin to human serum and human serum albumin

The binding of glycyrrhizin (GLZ) to human serum and human serum albumin (HSA) was examined by an ultrafiltration technique. Specific and nonspecific bindings were observed in both human serum and HSA. The association constants (K) for the specific bindings were very similar: 1.31 x 10(5) M-1 in human serum and 3.87 x 10(5) M-1 in HSA. The number of binding sites (n) and the linear binding coefficient (phi) in HSA were 1.95 and 3.09 x 10(3) M-1, respectively. When the human serum protein concentration was assumed to be 4.2% (equal to the measured serum albumin concentration), n in human serum was 3.09, which is similar to the n value in HSA, and phi in human serum was 0.71 x 10(3) M-1, which is reasonably close to that for HSA. The binding pattern of GLZ with human serum protein on Sephadex G-200 column chromatography showed that GLZ binds to only the albumin fraction. It was concluded that the GLZ-binding sites in human serum exist mainly on albumin and GLZ binds to specific and nonspecific binding sites at lower and higher concentrations than approximately 2 mM, respectively.     

Phase-resolved fluoroimmunoassay of human serum albumin

In the homogeneous immunoassay of human serum albumin described, a difference in fluorescence lifetime is used along with a small difference in fluorescence intensity to discriminate between the free and the antibody-bound labelled antigen. The immunoassay is based on the use of phase-resolved fluorescence measurements, in which sinusoidally-modulated excitation is combined with phase-sensitive detection to generate time-dependent signals which are integrated over a pi-interval to produce phase-resolved intensities. Texas Red was used as the fluorescent label. Negligible matrix effects were observed from serum, and a comparison of values determined by using the phase-resolved fluoroimmunoassay with values provided by the hospital from which the samples were obtained yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.996.     

Identification of the carboxymethyllysine residue in the advanced stage of glycated human serum albumin.

As an advanced stage of glycation, glycated human serum albumin (G-HSA; glucose content, 2 mol of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural equivalent/mol of HSA) was incubated at 37 degrees C up to 30 d in 0.2 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, with 100 microM Fe3+. G-HSA incubated for 30 d (G-HSA-30(Fe)) was subsequently hydrolyzed at 110 degrees C for 24 h in 6 N HCl. In the hydrolysate, N epsilon-carboxymethyllysine (CML) was identified by cochromatography with synthesized CML on an amino acid analyzer. pI of HSA (4.8) shifted to 4.5 in G-HSA. A more acidic fraction, pI 4.3, appeared in G-HSA-30(Fe). CML content (mol of CML/mol of HSA) of HSA and G-HSA was as follows; 0 in HSA, 0.2 in HSA-30(Fe), 0.4 in G-HSA and 1.5 in G-HSA-30(Fe) pI 4.3. The amino acid compositions also changed in lysine, arginine and tyrosine at the advanced stage of the reaction.     

Virus trap in human serum albumin nanotube

Infectious hepatitis B virus (HBV), namely Dane particles (DPs), consists of a core nucleocapsid including genome DNA covered with an envelope of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). We report the synthesis, structure, and HBV-trapping capability of multilayered protein nanotubes having an anti-HBsAg antibody (HBsAb) layer as an internal wall. The nanotubes were prepared using an alternating layer-by-layer assembly of human serum albumin (HSA) and oppositely charged poly-L-arginine (PLA) into a nanoporous polycarbonate (PC) membrane (pore size, 400 nm), followed by depositions of poly-L-glutamic acid (PLG) and HBsAb. Subsequent dissolution of the PC template yielded (PLA/HSA)(2)PLA/PLG/HBsAb nanotubes (AbNTs). The SEM measurements revealed the formation of uniform hollow cylinders with a 414 ± 16 nm outer diameter and 59 ± 4 nm wall thickness. In an aqueous medium, the swelled nanotubes captured noninfectious spherical small particles of HBsAg (SPs); the binding constant was 3.5 × 10(7) M(-1). Surprisingly, the amount of genome DNA in the HBV solution (HBsAg-positive plasma or DP-rich solution) decreased dramatically after incubation with the AbNTs (-3.9?log order), which implies that the infectious DPs were completely entrapped into the one-dimensional pore space of the AbNTs.     

Zinc-human serum albumin association: testimony of two binding sites

The zinc cation (Zn²⁺) binding to human serum albumin (HSA) was studied using a non-equilibrium approach in order to prove two HSA binding sites. The effect of the bulk solvent pH and column temperature T on this binding and the corresponding thermodynamic data were also investigated. It appeared that the association process can be divided into two pH value ranges due to a predominant Zn²⁺ interaction with either HSA site I or site II. It was also demonstrated that the Zn²⁺ affinity for the site II was weakly affected by modifying the mobile phase pH whereas for the site I, the affinity constant increased strongly with increasing the pH of the bulk solvent.     

Binding of brucine to human serum albumin

The feature of brucine binding to human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated via fluorescence and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. The results revealed that brucine caused the fluorescence quenching of HSA by the formation of brucine–HSA complex. The hydrophobic interaction plays a major role in stabilizing the complex; the binding site number n and apparent binding constant K_A, corresponding thermodynamic parameters the free energy change (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) at different temperatures were calculated. The distance r between donor (HSA) and acceptor (brucine) was obtained according to fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The effect of brucine on the conformation of HSA was analyzed using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy.     

1D radical motion in protein pocket: proton-coupled electron transfer in human serum albumin

Photoinduced, proton-coupled electron transfer (ET) between 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (ADQS) and an amino acid residue of tryptophan in human serum albumin (HSA) was observed using time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR). The ET reaction reduces the protein binding affinity of the ligand. TREPR chemically induced dynamic electron polarization (CIDEP) spectra establish that photoinduced ET takes place from the tryptophan residue (W214) to the excited triplet state of AQDS2- while bound in subdomain IIA, a protein cleft of HSA. The TREPR CIDEP signals also reveal that the anion radical of the ligand escapes toward the bulk water region by a one-dimensional translation diffusion process within the protein's pocket area. This pilot study of HSA demonstrates how TREPR CIDEP can provide significant means to investigate dynamic characteristics of protein-surface reactions.     

Temperature-dependent simultaneous ligand binding in human serum albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a soluble protein in our circulatory system, which is known to bind a variety of drugs and ligands. Since Sudlow's pioneering works on the ligand-binding sites, a major effort of the biophysical/biochemical research has been directed to characterize the structural, functional, and dynamical properties of this protein. Structural studies on HSA have revealed distinct temperature-induced folded states. Despite knowing about the ligand-binding properties and residues important for the binding, less is understood about the temperature-dependent molecular recognition of the protein. Here, we have prepared thermally induced unfolded states of the protein and characterized those by circular dichroism (CD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques. The change in the globular structure of the protein as a consequence of thermal unfolding has also been characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. We have used two fluorescent ligands (4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyryl) 4H-pyran) (DCM; hydrophobic; neutral) and Nile blue (NB; cationic) of different natures to characterize the ligand-binding properties of the protein in the native and thermally unfolded states. The possible binding sites of the ligands have been characterized by competitive binding with other drug molecules having definite binding sites in HSA. Picosecond-resolved F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies along with steady-state and polarization-gated spectroscopies on the ligands in the protein reveal the dynamics of the binding sites at various temperatures. From the FRET studies, an attempt has been made to characterize the simultaneous binding of the two ligands in various temperature-dependent folded states of HSA.     

7-Alkylaminocoumarin-4-acetic acids as fluorescent probe for studies of drug-binding sites on human serum albumin

7-Alkylaminocoumarin-4-acetic acids I-IX having alkylamino groups different in alkylchain lengths were synthesized as fluorescence probes for characterization of drug-binding sites on human serum albumin (HSA). The fluorescences of I-IX were quenched or enhanced in the presence of HSA with shifts of the emission maxima to shorter wavelength. The binding constants and the number of binding sites were determined by the spectral changes of the probes I-IX bound to HSA through analysis of Scatchard's and Job's plots. The primary binding sites of the tested probes were found to be site 2 (diazepam site) on HSA from the results of competitive displacement studies. The polarity of site 2 was estimated from the relationship between the emission maximum of the probe of IV and Z-values, and was found to be comparable to that of acetonitrile. Simple attempts to estimate the site 2 region from the molecular size of the probe of VIII obtained using the Corey-Pauling-Koltun molecular model suggest that the hydrophobic cleft at site 2 is about 21-25 A in depth. The distance between the lone tryptophan residue in HSA and probes bound to site 2 was estimated to be 15-17 A using F?rster's equation on the basis of fluorescence energy transfer. The present data suggest that I-IX are useful as fluorescence probes for the characterization of site 2 on HSA.