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Showing papers on "Human serum albumin published in 1993"


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1993-Nature
TL;DR: In this paper, the unit cell constant for the b axis of the recombinant crystal form should have been 88.3 A instead of 38.5 A, and a statement in Fig. 4 should read that Lys 199 and His 242 are located at the 'top' of Fig.
Abstract: WE failed to recognize the following typographical error in the proofs of this research article. In Table 1, page 211, the unit cell constant for the b axis of the recombinant crystal form should have been 88.3 A instead of 38.3 A. A statement in Fig. 4 should read that Lys 199 and His 242 are located at the 'top1 of Fig.

1,272 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The immunosensor did not respond to bovine serum albumin, only to HSA, implying that the specificity for HSA was high, and the relationship between the frequency change and adsorption per unit area of piezoelectrically active quartz crystal was investigated.
Abstract: We have developed a piezoelectric immunosensor for the detection of microalbumin. Human serum albumin (HSA) in the range 0.1-100 micrograms mL-1 could be detected using a flow cell; the immunosensor is sensitive enough to monitor levels of albuminuria. The immunosensor did not respond to bovine serum albumin, only to HSA, implying that the specificity for HSA was high. We investigated the relationship between the frequency change (delta F) and adsorption per unit area of piezoelectrically active quartz crystal (delta M). delta M was estimated with radioisotope-labeled anti-HSA or HSA. When anti-HSA was adsorbed onto the surface of the crystal or HSA was bound to anti-HSA supported by the crystal, values of magnitude of delta F/delta M were larger than the value predicted from theory (Sauerbrey's equation). Furthermore, magnitude of delta F/delta M for HSA was larger than that for anti-HSA.

218 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Comparison of binding strengths was possible only through the calculation of an intrinsic stoichiometric binding constant and it was suggested that while both histidyl and carboxyl groups appear to be involved in copper binding, Histidyl residues alone were sufficient for zinc binding.

216 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The role of oxidation of glucose attached to HSA in the production of reactive oxidants and subsequent molecular damage is examined to discuss which is the more likely mechanism of glucose oxidation under the near-physiological conditions used to study the effects of protein exposure to glucose in vitro.
Abstract: Modification of human serum albumin (HSA) with formaldehyde resulted in a loss of 75% of available lysine residues, but there was no change in histidine content or susceptibility to free-radical-mediated fragmentation. The modified HSA appeared resistant to glycation and glucose-mediated fragmentation. Native HSA inhibited oxidant production by free glucose, as assessed by the hydroxylation of benzoic acid, but modified HSA had little effect. Thus the oxidation of free glucose appeared to be inhibited by glycatable protein, but not by unglycatable protein. Also, a close proximity of glucose to protein (decreased in the case of modified HSA) would seem to be a prerequisite for glucose-mediated protein fragmentation. This latter observation, in particular, led us to examine the role of oxidation of glucose attached to HSA in the production of reactive oxidants and subsequent molecular damage. Glycated HSA, washed free of unbound glucose, became fragmented and generated oxidants capable of hydroxylating benzoic acid and oxidizing cholesteryl linoleate-HSA complexes. Significant levels of benzoate hydroxylation and HSA fragmentation occurred with HSA (10 mg/ml) containing 3.3 mol of glucose bound/mol of HSA. This is equivalent to incubation of 10 mg/ml native HSA with 0.66 mM glucose, conditions which lead to little fragmentation or oxidant formation. The oxidative activity of glycated HSA was dependent on transition-metal concentration. The level of protein-bound glucose appeared to decrease during the oxidant production and protein fragmentation. Thus glucose can oxidize and generate reactive oxidants, whether in solution or attached to protein. We discuss which is the more likely mechanism of glucose oxidation under the near-physiological conditions used to study the effects of protein exposure to glucose in vitro.

194 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Human serum albumin nanospheres of about 100 nm diameter were prepared using a pH-coacervation method whereby acetone was added to an HSA solution (pH 9.0) and cross-linked by glutaraldehyde.
Abstract: Human serum albumin (HSA) nanospheres of about 100 nm diameter were prepared using a pH-coacervation method whereby acetone was added to an HSA solution (pH 9.0). The particles obtained were cross-linked by glutaraldehyde. Increasing the pH of the HSA solution resulted in a gradual rise in the particle size of the resultant nanospheres. A higher cross-linking efficiency was obtained with increased glutaraldehyde concentration and cross-linking time. No significant differences in surface properties, as determined by zeta potential measurements, were recorded between particles prepared from HSA solutions with different pH. The nanospheres were quite stable over 4 days in both phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution (pH 7.4) and rat serum, but degraded rapidly over 6 hours when incubated in PBS solution containing trypsin.

147 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The high concordance between observation and theory favors the Donnan theory and implies that the electrodes are as accurate in a solution with albumin as in a protein-free solution.
Abstract: The ionic activities and total molalities of sodium, potassium, calcium, lithium, and chloride in a solution of human serum albumin were measured at different values of pH between 4 and 9. The same quantities were measured simultaneously in a protein-free electrolyte solution in membrane equilibrium with the albumin solution. Taking the residual liquid-junction potential and bias from unselectivity of the electrodes into account, we determined the own, bound, and net charges of albumin. Chloride was amply bound at low pH, and calcium at high pH. The varying charge of ions bound to albumin opposed the effect of acid or base on the net charge. All ions were distributed across the membrane according to the same electric potential difference, which equalled the Donnan potential. The high concordance between observation and theory favors the Donnan theory and furthermore implies that the electrodes are as accurate in a solution with albumin as in a protein-free solution.

139 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: General guidelines were developed for the separation of D- and L-tryptophan on immobilized HSA under optimized conditions the enantiomers were separated in less than 2 min with baseline resolution.

117 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The amino-acid sequence and three-dimensional structure of equine serum albumin have been determined and two binding sites for 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid identical with those previously reported for human serumalbumin which are located within subdomains in IIA and IIIA are discussed.
Abstract: The amino-acid sequence and three-dimensional structure of equine serum albumin have been determined. The amino-acid sequence was deduced from cDNA isolated from equine liver. Comparisons of the primary structure of equine serum albumin with human serum albumin and bovine serum albumin reveal 76.1% and 73.9% sequence identity, respectively. The three-dimensional structure was determined crystallographically by the molecular-replacement method using molecular coordinates from the previously determined structure of human serum albumin, to a resolution of 0.27 nm. In accordance with the primary structure, the three-dimensional structures are highly conserved. There is a root-mean-square difference between alpha-carbons of the two structures of 0.201 nm. The association constants (Ka) for the binding of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid were determined by ultrafiltration methods for equine and human serum albumins to be approximately 10(4) M-1 and 10(5) M-1, respectively. Crystallographic studies of equine serum albumin reveal two binding sites for 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid identical with those previously reported for human serum albumin which are located within subdomains in IIA and IIIA. Details and comparisons of the binding chemistry are discussed.

112 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results show unambiguously that the glucuronic acid moiety of acyl glucuronides can be retained within the structure when these reactive metabolites bind covalently to proteins, and suggest that acyl migration followed by Schiff base (imine) formation is a credible mechanism for the generation of covalent adducts in vivo.
Abstract: Acyl glucuronide metabolites of bilirubin and many drugs can react with serum albumin in vivo to form covalent adducts. Such adducts may be responsible for some toxic effects of carboxylic nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. The mechanism of formation of the adducts and their chemical structures are unknown. In this paper we describe the use of tandem mass spectrometry to locate binding sites and elucidate the binding mechanism involved in the formation of covalent adducts from tolmetin glucuronide and albumin in vitro. Human serum albumin and excess tolmetin glucuronide were coincubated in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride to trap imine intermediates. The total protein product was reduced, carboxymethylated, and digested with trypsin. Six tolmetin-containing peptides (indicated by absorbance at 313 nm) were isolated by high-pressure liquid chromatography and analyzed by liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry and collision-induced dissociation, using a four-sector tandem mass spectrometer. All six peptides contained tolmetin linked covalently via a glucuronic acid to protein lysine groups. Major attachment sites on the protein were Lys-195, -199, and -525; minor sites were identified as Lys-137, -351, and -541. Our results show unambiguously that the glucuronic acid moiety of acyl glucuronides can be retained within the structure when these reactive metabolites bind covalently to proteins, and they suggest that acyl migration followed by Schiff base (imine) formation is a credible mechanism for the generation of covalent adducts in vivo.

112 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: The protein binding ofTaxol was found to dramatically decrease the red blood cell uptake of taxol, indicating nonspecific hydrophobic binding.
Abstract: The binding of taxol to human plasma and to individual plasma proteins was studied by equilibrium dialysis. Taxol was found to bind extensively (about 95%) without a significant difference between healthy volunteers and cancer patients. At clinically relevant concentrations (0.1-6 microM), the binding was found to be concentration independent, indicating nonspecific hydrophobic binding. Human serum albumin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein were found to contribute about equally to the binding, with a minor contribution from lipoproteins. None of the drugs commonly coadministered with taxol (dexamethasone, diphenhydramine, ranitidine, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin) altered the binding of taxol significantly. The protein binding of taxol was found to dramatically decrease the red blood cell uptake of taxol.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Noncovalent and covalent methods of labeling protein with near-infrared polymethine cyanine dyes were compared for use in analyzing human serum albumin by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) withNearinfrared absorbance detection.
Abstract: Noncovalent and covalent methods of labeling protein with near-infrared polymethine cyanine dyes were compared for use in analyzing human serum albumin (HSA) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with near-infrared absorbance detection. While noncovalent labeling was faster than covalent labeling and took place in the physiological pH range, covalent labeling was more stable under conditions encountered in many of the widely used types of HPLC. Covalently labeled HSA protein peaks indicated uniform labeling of amino groups at both hydrophilic and hydrophobic binding sites, while noncovalent labeling showed a preference for hydrophobic binding sites.



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The adsorption/desorption behavior of serum albumin at the surface of the nanoparticles suggested a multilayer Adsorption model and a part of the serum albumIn molecules was irreversibly bound regardless of the incubation conditions, Consequently, the classical Langmuirian theories of equilibria could not be applied.
Abstract: Biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles of poly(lactic acid) (100% L-lactic units = PLA) were prepared by an emulsion, microfluidization, and solvent evaporation method using human serum albumin (HSA) as a surface agent. A radiolabeling technique was employed to quantify the serum albumin bound to the nanoparticles and to measure its desorption kinetics in various media at 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C (phosphate buffer pH 7.4, serum albumin 40 g/L in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 and fetal calf serum). The amount of serum albumin bound to the nanoparticles was found to be a linear function of 1/D (where D is the nanoparticle mean diameter) and was related to the total developed area of the nanoparticles. The adsorption/desorption behavior of serum albumin at the surface of the nanoparticles suggested a multilayer adsorption model. Moreover, a part of the serum albumin molecules was irreversibly bound regardless of the incubation conditions. Consequently, the classical Langmuirian theories of equilibria could not be applied.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The parameter, asialoglycoprotein receptor concentration, obtained from the kinetic analysis of technetium 99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid–galactosyl human serum albumin time‐activity data, is a sensitive measure of functioning hepatocyte mass in acute and chronic liver disease.

Patent
18 May 1993
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a combination of specified steps in which a culture supernatant obtained from a human serum albumin-producing host is subjected to ultra-filtration, heat treatment, acid treatment and another ultrafiltration followed by subsequent treatments with a cation exchanger, a hydrophobic chromatography carrier and an anion exchanger.
Abstract: Human serum albumin obtained by gene manipulation techniques can be purified by a combination of specified steps in which a culture supernatant obtained from a human serum albumin-producing host is subjected to ultrafiltration, heat treatment, acid treatment and another ultrafiltration, followed by subsequent treatments with a cation exchanger, a hydrophobic chromatography carrier and an anion exchanger, and by salting-out to thereby obtain a pure form of human serum albumin which contains substantially no proteinous and polysaccharide contaminants, which is formulated into a pharmaceutical preparation. The thus obtained human serum albumin can further be purified by treating recombinant human serum albumin with a hydrophobic chromatography carrier at pH of 2 to 5 and a salt concentration of 0.4 to 1 and exposing the carrier to a pH of 6 to 8 and a salt concentration of 0.01 to 0.3 M, or treating the culture supernatant with boric acid or a salt thereof at pH 8 to 11 for 1 to 10 hours and recovering the supernatant. This process makes it possible to effeciently purify recombinant human serum albumin and to provide substantially pure human serum albumin which does not contain producer host-related substances and other contaminants and is sufficiently free from coloration.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings indicate that the neutral to basic transition is important for the calcium-binding properties of albumin, which is a reversible, gradual conformational change of the protein at pH 6-9.
Abstract: We examined the suitability of nine organic buffers for studying calcium binding to albumin by equilibrium dialysis. Results obtained with defatted human serum albumin showed that 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) and 2-([tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl] amino)ethanesulfonic acid were superior. Scatchard analysis of the experimental data from an extensive study performed in HEPES at pH 7.4 and 20 degrees C revealed (putting n(i) = 1, i = 1-4) k1 = 367 L/mol, k2 = 314 L/mol, k3 = 291 L/mol, and k4 = 179 L/mol. The very weak binding was characterized as n5 = 10 and k5 = 40 L/mol. The results were also analyzed in terms of stoichiometric association constants. The constants K1 and K2 were calculated to be 1513 and 647 L/mol, respectively, whereas the other constants were considered undeterminable. pH studies showed that in the interval 6.8-7.4, binding was not influenced by changes in acidity. Increasing pH to above the physiological value resulted in increased binding. At pH 8.0, k1 was increased almost fourfold, whereas k2 and k3 were approximately doubled. These findings indicate that the neutral to basic transition is important for the calcium-binding properties of albumin. The transition is a reversible, gradual conformational change of the protein at pH 6-9.

Journal Article
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the more potent Aco-HSA also interferes with this fusion process but, additionally, this compound inhibits (i) the binding of soluble CD4 to HIV-infected cells, (ii) thebinding of HIV particles to MT-4 cells, and (iii) the Binding of anti-gp120 monoclonal antibody to the gp120 molecule.
Abstract: We prepared a series of modified proteins and peptides by derivatizing the positively charged epsilon-amino groups of the lysine amino acids through reaction with anhydrides of succinic acid (Suc) and aconitic acid (Aco). Human serum albumin (HSA) was modified by introduction of a single carboxylic group (Suc-HSA) or two carboxylic groups (Aco-HSA) per amine function, yielding strongly negatively charged compounds. The in vitro anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 IC50 of Suc-HSA was about 1 microgram/ml, and the most polyanionic modified albumin of the series (Aco-HSA) exhibited an IC50 as low as 0.02 microgram/ml. Similar derivatization of the plasma protein orosomucoid or the synthetic polypeptide polylysine did not produce compounds with significant anti-HIV-1 activity, indicating an HSA-specific effect. The mechanism of action of Suc-HSA was reported to be the inhibition of a post-binding virus-cell fusion event, probably due to interference with the gp41-mediated fusion process. In the present study we demonstrate that the more potent Aco-HSA also interferes with this fusion process but, additionally, this compound inhibits (i) the binding of soluble CD4 to HIV-infected cells, (ii) the binding of HIV particles to MT-4 cells, and (iii) the binding of anti-gp120 monoclonal antibody to the gp120 molecule. This indicates that Aco-HSA, apart from post-binding fusion, also inhibits virus-cell binding by shielding viral gp120. The simultaneous inhibition of binding and fusion may lead to a synergistic effect, explaining the extreme potency of Aco-HSA. The polyanionic HSAs are significantly less active against HIV-2 and do not interfere with the replication of feline immunodeficiency virus or 12 other DNA or RNA viruses, indicating a HIV-1-specific effect. In contrast, another polyanionic compound, the sulfated polysaccharide dextran sulfate, inhibits the replication of various viruses in a more nonspecific way, as a general polyanion. Dextran sulfate also exhibits strong anticoagulant activity, whereas Suc-HSA and Aco-HSA do not show this unwanted side effect.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that conjugation of Nap to HSA itself results in a selective delivery to endothelial cells and that the local proteolysis of the conjugate produces an active catabolite.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The serum protein binding of both oxycodone and morphine was independent of drug concentration in the therapeutic range (5–100 ng/ml), but was dependent on protein concentration, which increased with increasing concentrations of both albumin and A AG.
Abstract: Protein binding of oxycodone and morphine in human serum was determined in vitro using ultrafiltration. Binding studies were also performed using both purified human serum albumin and human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG). Albumin was found to be the major binding protein for both oxycodone and morphine. The serum protein binding of both oxycodone and morphine was independent of drug concentration in the therapeutic range (5-100 ng/ml), but was dependent on protein concentration. In addition, bound fractions of oxycodone and morphine increased with increasing concentrations of both albumin and AAG. At physiological pH and temperature, the mean (+/- SD) serum protein binding of oxycodone was 45.1% (+/- 0.4%) and that of morphine was 35.3% (+/- 0.2%) A decrease in temperature from 37 to 23 degrees C significantly increased the serum protein binding of oxycodone and morphine by 8-9% (p < 0.0001) and 7-10% (p < 0.0001), respectively, indicating the importance of maintaining the temperature at 37 degrees C during protein binding experiments. A reduction in pH from 7.75-8.85 to 7.4 significantly reduced serum protein binding of both oxycodone and morphine by 4-5% (p < 0.0001) and 4-7% (p < 0.0001), respectively. Serum samples, to which known concentrations of oxycodone had been added and which were stored at -20 degrees C, showing a gradual but significant decline (p < 0.0001) in serum protein binding of oxycodone from approximately 45 to 39% during the 4-week storage period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data presented here for human serum albumin demonstrate the utility of mass spectrometry in studying protein alterations and may be helpful in assessing the ability of proteins to act as antioxidants in biological systems which are subject to oxidant stress as in cases of inflammation and in the aging process.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a back titration method using trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) was used to determine free amino groups on lyophilized microcapsules.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Competition experiments with other ligands for the asialoglycoprotein receptor N‐acetylgalactosamine and asialofetuin showed that both lactosaminated human serum albumin and lac27‐HSA–ara‐AMP9 are subject to endocytosis by this receptor system.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The displacement of probes specific for HSA sites I and II, studied by spectrofluorimetry, suggests that all three preparations of ketoprofen are bound mainly to site I and secondarily to site II.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The magnitude and sign of the characteristic circular dichroism spectrum of bilirubin bound to human serum albumin are highly sensitive to the presence of trace amounts of dissolved chloroform.
Abstract: The magnitude and sign of the characteristic circular dichroism spectrum of bilirubin bound to human serum albumin are highly sensitive to the presence of trace amounts of dissolved chloroform. The presence of b-40 mM chloroform in an aqueous solution containing 0.25 mM bilirubin and 0.44 mM albumin is sufficient to cause complete inversion of the circular dichroism curve obtained without chloroform. Addition of chloroform to the albumin solution before or after the bilirubin has the same effect. The sign inversion is not due to a chemical reaction because it was reversed completely on removal of chloroform, regenerating curves characteristic of chloroform-free solutions

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Whether FBS can be replaced by human serum, human cord serum,human serum albumin or fetuin, the major protein component of FBS, is investigated and only fetuin was found to be effective.
Abstract: The addition of 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) to media used for mouse oocyte cryopreservation prevents hardening of the zona pellucida that otherwise can occur due to premature release of cortical granule contents (George et al., Hum. Reprod., 7, 401-412, 1992). Protection of human oocytes would ideally be achieved by using a human macromolecular source or a more defined bovine source than total FBS. Here we investigate whether FBS can be replaced by human serum, human cord serum, human serum albumin or fetuin, the major protein component of FBS. Only fetuin was found to be effective.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The in vitro degradation of biosynthetic ketoprofen glucuronide after incubation with human plasma, human serum albumin solutions at various concentrations, and in protein-free buffer is described.
Abstract: Many aryl alkanoic acids are cleared as ester glucuronide excreted in urine. While conjugation with glucuronic acid is generally considered as a detoxication process, this conjugate has been shown over the past decade to be a potentially reactive metabolite, undergoing hydrolysis, intramolecular rearrangement, and irreversible binding to proteins. This study describes the in vitro degradation of biosynthetic ketoprofen glucuronide after incubation with human plasma, human serum albumin solutions at various concentrations (290 and 580 microM), and in protein-free buffer, in physiological conditions (pH = 7.4, 37 degrees C). The protein concentrations chosen correspond to that found in synovial fluid and plasma, respectively. Albumin catalyzed the hydrolysis of the glucuronide, but the extent of the reaction was not dependent on the protein concentration. The irreversible binding of ketoprofen was investigated in identical conditions. Maximal ketoprofen-adduct concentrations were achieved after 3 and 10 hr incubation, and were 6.65, 3.2, and 2.6% of initial ketoprofen in plasma and albumin solutions at 580 and 290 microM, respectively. The difference in binding between plasma and albumin (580 microM) could not be totally attributed to the other major plasma proteins, because no irreversible binding was detected with fibrinogen and gamma globulins, and only 0.14% of ketoprofen was bound to alpha and beta globulins after 3 hr incubation. The covalent interaction with albumin was proportional to conjugate concentration over the range studied (from 5 to 30 micrograms/ml or 11.62 to 69.72 microM).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Uptake in liver and spleen was inhibited by preadministration of an excess of formaldehyde-treated albumin and with polyinosinic acid, indicating the involvement of the scavenger receptor, as anticipated for such polyanionic compounds.
Abstract: After intravenous injection of a low dose (25 µg/kg) in rats, the anti HIV-1 compound succinylated human serum albumin (Suc-HSA) is taken up mainly in the liver and spleen and is proteolytically degraded. Ten minutes after injection of 125I-Suc-HSA, 72 and 14% of the dose were found in the liver and spleen, respectively. With immunohistochemistry we demonstrated that in both organs, Suc-HSA was specifically endocytosed in endothelial cells. In the isolated perfused rat liver preparation, liver uptake was shown to be saturable, with a Km of 2.9 10−8M and a Vmax of 2.4 µg/inin/100 g body weight. The apparent Km and Vmaxin vivo were 2.2 10−7M and 10.3 µg/min/100 g, respectively. Uptake in liver and spleen was inhibited by preadministration of an excess of formaldehyde-treated albumin and with polyinosinic acid, indicating the involvement of the scavenger receptor, as anticipated for such polyanionic compounds. Suc-HSA is not absorbed intact from the colon and the ileum. After injecting (i.v.) rats with a high dose of Suc-HSA (10 mg/kg), the elimination t1/2 was 3 hr, and therefore, sustained plasma levels above the concentration needed for in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity can be achieved.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Despite an increase in sensitivity, compared with haemoglobin, it is unlikely that the sulphinamide adduct of MeIQx with human serum albumin can be used as a dosimeter for human aminoimidazoazaarene exposure.
Abstract: Incubation of mouse serum albumin with the food borne carcinogen [2-14C]-Amino-3,8,-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (14C-MeIQx) in the presence of mouse hepatic microsomes and an NADPH-regenerating system in vitro resulted in the formation of adducts of MeIQx with albumin, which increased proportionately with time for at least 120 min (approximately 1 pmol equivalents/mg of protein/min). We have previously shown in male Swiss Webster mice in vivo that 14C-MeIQx bound covalently to serum proteins and that the formation of adducts was dose dependent. 14C-MeIQx (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to male (MF1) mice which were killed 24 h later. Serum albumin was purified by affinity chromatography and covalent binding of 14C-MeIQx was assessed. Total covalent binding of MeIQx to albumin was 14.0 +/- 5.2 pmol per mg albumin, which was 5-fold greater than to haemoglobin. Following mild acid hydrolysis, 1.25 pmol MeIQx per mg albumin was liberated as free amine, as determined by gas chromatography negative ion mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This represents 9% of total MeIQx adducted to albumin in vivo (cf 1.3% adducted to haemoglobin). These results suggested that adducts of MeIQx with serum albumin should provide a significantly more sensitive dosimeter than those with haemoglobin. We therefore investigated this approach with serum protein samples from three volunteers. Human serum albumin and non-serum albumin protein fractions were separated by affinity chromatography, before being subjected to GC-MS analysis for hydrolysable adducts of MeIQx. The levels of MeIQx in control samples, and from the release of the putative sulphinamide adducts in hydrolysed samples were below the limits of detection of the GC-MS assay (29 +/- 2.6 amol MeIQx/mg albumin). Despite an increase of 2 orders of magnitude in sensitivity, compared with haemoglobin, it is unlikely that the sulphinamide adduct of MeIQx with human serum albumin can be used as a dosimeter for human aminoimidazoazaarene exposure.