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Showing papers on "Serum albumin published in 1984"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Observations show that nonenzymatic glycosylation induces a conformational change in human serum albumin, and differences in affinity suggest that lysine 525 plays a key role in the binding of physiologically important ligands to albumin.

404 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Its synthesis by normal mesenchymal cells and by malignant or transformed cells of both ectodermal and endodermal origin suggests a general role in cell function that is independent of transformation.

246 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Radiolysis of bovine serum albumin under aerobic and anaerobic conditions was studied by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the radiation-induced broadening of the serumalbumin peak is interpreted as being a result of intramolecular disulfide exchange.
Abstract: Radiolysis of bovine serum albumin under aerobic and anaerobic conditions was studied by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After Coomassie Blue or Fast Green staining quantitative evaluations give information about the degradation processes of the protein. Under nitrogen the main reaction is the aggregation caused by covalent cross-links, which includes only a small portion of intermolecular S-S bridges. Under air the radiolysis leads to peptide chain scission, which is not a random process, but yields specific protein fragments. A mechanism for this fragmentation reaction is suggested. The radiation-induced broadening of the serum albumin peak is interpreted as being a result of intramolecular disulfide exchange. In contrast to lactate dehydrogenase the degradation of serum albumin is enhanced by oxygen, probably because of its low tryptophan content.

232 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The HBsAg particles obtained may constitute a particularly efficient vaccine because the pHSA receptor is most abundantly present on the virion and because, in hepatitis B infection, the appearance of anti-pHSA receptor antibodies seems to be a highly reliable criterion for viral clearance.
Abstract: A recombinant plasmid (pSVS dhfr) encoding the pre-S region and the S gene of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) and murine dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) cDNA has been used for the transfection of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) DHFR- cells. Selection of clones resistant to methotrexate has permitted amplification of HBV sequences and an increase in production of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). HBV-specific transcripts have been characterized. The HBsAg 22-nm particles contain a receptor for polymerized human serum albumin (pHSA) and elicit in animals the synthesis of antireceptor antibodies. This property is ascribed to a 34,000-dalton polypeptide in the particles, which is most likely encoded by the S gene and part of the pre-S region. Especially because the pHSA receptor is most abundantly present on the virion and because, in hepatitis B infection, the appearance of anti-pHSA receptor antibodies seems to be a highly reliable criterion for viral clearance, the HBsAg particles obtained may constitute a particularly efficient vaccine.

219 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Fucosylated serum albumin was shown to be the most efficient neoglycoprotein carrier, and to have a cytotoxicity close to that of anti L1210 cell IgM monoclonal antibody carrying methotrexate.

216 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of the spectra suggests that both Ni (II) and Cu(II) have one specific binding site at the NH2-terminal tripeptide segment (Asp-Ala-His...) involving the Asp alpha-NH2, His N(1) imidazole, two deprotonated peptide nitrogens (Ala NH and His NH), and the AsP COO- group.
Abstract: As a basis for understanding the role of albumin in the transport of metal ions, detailed investigations have been carried out to elucidate the structure of Ni(II)- and Cu(II)-binding site of the peptide residue corresponding to the NH2-terminal peptide fragment 1-24 of human serum albumin by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. These studies have been conducted in aqueous medium at different pH values and at different ligand/metal ratios. The results show the following: (i) Diamagnetic Ni(II) complex and paramagnetic Cu(II) complex are in slow exchange NMR time scale. (ii) Titration results of Ni(II)-bound form of peptide 1-24 show the presence of a 1:1 complex in the wide pH range (6.0-11.0), and the same stoichiometry is proposed for Cu(II) as well. (iii) Analysis of the spectra suggests that both Ni(II) and Cu(II) have one specific binding site at the NH2-terminal tripeptide segment (Asp-Ala-His...) involving the Asp alpha-NH2, His N(1) imidazole, two deprotonated peptide nitrogens (Ala NH and His NH), and the Asp COO- group. (iv) Complexation of Ni(II) and Cu(II) causes conformational change near the metal-binding site of the polypeptide chain, but there is no other binding group involved besides those in the first three residues.

193 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that the low adhesiveness of BHK cells and leucocytes on plain polystyrene in sera-containing media is due both to the low binding of fibronectin and to the binding of serum albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin.
Abstract: Binding curves for the adsorption of plasma fibronectin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin and bovine serum albumin to plain and to hydroxylated polystyrene surfaces were measured. These curves were correlated with the adhesion of BHK cells and leucocytes to these adsorbed protein surfaces in protein-free culture media. Hydroxylated polystyrene adsorbed less of alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin and albumin than the plain polystyrene. On the other hand the hydroxylated surfaces bound more fibronectin than the plain polystyrene surfaces. Hydroxylated polystyrene surfaces were also more adhesive for both BHK cells and leucocytes than plain polystyrene: a result confirming earlier work. The competition of fibronectin for adsorption to plain polystyrene with alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin and ceruloplasmin was measured and correlated with effects on cell adhesion. The results suggest that the low adhesiveness of BHK cells and leucocytes on plain polystyrene in sera-containing media is due both to the low binding of fibronectin and to the binding of serum albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin. The relative unimportance of fibronectin in adhesion to these surfaces is shown by the finding that cell attachment will not occur to polystyrene surfaces that have bound high levels of the antiadhesive proteins in the presence of fibronectin, even though attachment will occur in the absence of fibronectin provided that the antiadhesive proteins are lacking.

151 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An unexpected result of this study is the total inability of the rat albumin flanking sequences to direct expression in albumin‐producing mouse hepatoma cells.
Abstract: We have constructed a transient expression vector containing 400 bp of rat albumin gene immediate 5'-flanking sequences inserted 5' to the bacterial enzyme chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) We have transfected various clones of rat hepatoma cells representing different states of expression of the liver phenotype with this vector (pALB-cat) and also with two control vectors containing viral promoters (pSVE-cat and pRSV-cat), and measured activity of the bacterial enzyme CAT in cellular extracts 48 h later The albumin flanking sequences are able to direct highly efficient CAT expression, compared with the control vectors, only in cells which express their own albumin gene: the albumin-negative hepatoma cells are at least 100 times less efficient in expressing CAT after transfection with the pALB-cat plasmid than are the albumin-positive ones An unexpected result of our study is the total inability of the rat albumin flanking sequences to direct expression in albumin-producing mouse hepatoma cells

149 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results suggest that the conversion of PGD2 to this product is catalyzed by the enzymatic action of a plasma protein, probably serum albumin.
Abstract: Incubation of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) with human plasma yielded a product that has been identified as 9-deoxy-9,10-didehydro-12,13-didehydro-13,14-dihydro-PGD2 (9-deoxy-delta 9, delta 12-13,14-dihydro-PGD2). The identification was based on mass spectrometry, UV spectrometry, mobilities and retention time on TLC and HPLC, and NMR. The conversion of PGD2 to this product was dependent on the incubation time and the amount of plasma added to a reaction mixture and was abolished by prior boiling. The conversion rate of PGD2 to this metabolite was 0.03 nmol/min per mg of protein of whole plasma at pH 8.0 at 37 degrees C. Similar conversion was also found by incubating PGD2 with human serum albumin added at the concentration found in plasma. These results suggest that the conversion of PGD2 to this product is catalyzed by the enzymatic action of a plasma protein, probably serum albumin. The biological activities of this compound were examined in several systems. It showed negligible activity in inhibition of human platelet aggregation and relaxation of rabbit stomach strip. On the other hand, it exhibited a three times stronger inhibitory activity (IC50, 1.8 microM) than PGD2 (IC50, 5 microM) on the growth of L-1210 cultured cells.

148 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Reference ranges for albumin bound and alpha 2-macroglobulin bound zinc concentrations have been determined in a study of sera obtained from 134 healthy adults, providing a baseline for further investigations into the effects of zinc deficiency on the serum transport of the metal.
Abstract: Reference ranges for albumin bound and alpha 2-macroglobulin bound zinc concentrations have been determined in a study of sera obtained from 134 healthy adults. The concentrations of zinc bound to alpha 2-macroglobulin were remarkably constant with a mean (+/-SD) of 2.4 +/- 0.6 mumol/l; the variations in total serum zinc concentrations were almost entirely accounted for by variations in the zinc associated with albumin. There were no sex related differences in the transport of zinc in serum; neither was this sensitive to the use of oral contraceptives. These data provide a baseline for further investigations into the effects of zinc deficiency on the serum transport of the metal.

136 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: It is suggested that much of the activity of these surface-active agents derives from their ability to form adsorptive surfaces similar to those of a mycobacterial glycolipid, quartz, and monosodium urate.
Abstract: We tested the ability of 17 surface-active agents to enhance antibody formation and inflammation. The surfactants were all block copolymers of hydrophilic polyoxyethylene (POE) and hydrophobic polyoxypropylene (POP), which differed in m.w. and mode of linkage of POP to POE. Mice were injected in each rear footpad with 1.25 mg of each surfactant with 25 micrograms of bovine serum albumin in an oil-in-water emulsion. Each agent produced a distinct pattern of immune response and inflammation. Preparations that are large and insoluble with the POE chains flanking the POP chains were very effective adjuvants for increasing antibody formation. They also activated complement and induced the release of chemotactic factors from serum. Increasing the percent of POE decreased adjuvant activity and inflammation. Decreasing the m.w. of the molecules while maintaining the proportions of POP and POE decreased the adjuvant activity and increased inflammation. Preparations synthesized in the reverse order, with the POP flanking POE, tended to induce granulomas instead of antibody. These data demonstrate that block copolymer surfactants have a spectrum of biologic activities that depend on the size and arrangement of their constituent parts. We suggest that much of the activity of these agents derives from their ability to form adsorptive surfaces similar to those of a mycobacterial glycolipid, quartz, and monosodium urate.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility of the FIA for measuring UAE in normal subjects are reported, which are more sensitive than radial immunodiffusion methods and has been shown to accurately measure human albumin and immunoglobulin levels in saliva.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Changes in protein concentrations may have important pharmacological implications in pregnancy and near term.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Differences in the adsorption behaviour for the hydrogel surface, indicate the importance of the hydrophilicity, surface regularity and the chemical composition of the contact lens surfaces as the controlling parameters in the protein adsorbed protein phenomena.

Patent
30 Mar 1984
TL;DR: In this article, an inexpensive safe vaccine for hepatitis infection is provided for an inexpensive, inexpensive, and easy to use vaccine, which is based on immunogenic polymerized human albumin free of other hepatitis related immunogens.
Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for an inexpensive safe vaccine for hepatitis infection. Immunogenic polymerized human albumin free of other hepatitis related immunogens is employed in a physiologically acceptable carrier as a vaccine for protection against hepatitis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a tracer-kinetic model is used to analyze in vivo initial extraction data on BBB transport of protein-bound steroid hormones (dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, estradiol, and corticosterone), thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine), and lipophilic amine drugs (propranolol).
Abstract: Previous studies have shown that the fraction of hormone or drug that is plasma protein bound is readily available for transport through the brain endothelial wall, i.e., the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To test whether these observations are reconcilable with the free-hormone hypothesis, a tracer-kinetic model is used in the present investigations to analyze in vivo initial extraction data on BBB transport of protein-bound steroid hormones (dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, estradiol, and corticosterone), thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine), and lipophilic amine drugs (propranolol). The plasma proteins used are bovine albumin and human orosomucoid. Transport data was fit to a modification of the Kety-Renkin-Crone equation of capillary physiology; the modified equation incorporates the principles of both capillary physiology and plasma protein-ligand mass action binding relationships. In most cases, the experimental data is best fit to the model equation when the apparent in vivo dissociation constant, KDa, of the ligand protein binding reaction increases to values that are 5- to 50-fold greater than the in vitro dissociation constant, KD. This result indicates that the rate of ligand dissociation from the plasma protein is accelerated in the capillary bed relative to the in vitro situation. It is hypothesized that the major factor leading to the rapid transport in vivo of protein-bound ligands into tissues such as brain is an endothelial-induced decrease in the affinity of the plasma protein for the ligand. Under these conditions, the amount of plasma ligand available for tissue clearance in vivo parallels the protein-bound fraction, not the free hormone.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Interaction of lipids and proteins with mucus glycoprotein contributes significantly to the viscosity of gastric mucus, and this contribution is proportional to albumin concentrationup to 10%, and to IgA concentration up to 5%.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings indicate that 'closure' is unrelated to changes in intestinal proteolytic activity and smaller molecules like FITC were transmitted across the intestinal barriers independent of closure.
Abstract: The intestinal transmission of two macromolecular markers, of similar molecular weight but different susceptibility to proteolytic digestion, was investigated in the neonatal pig. Piglets of varying age (0 h-7 days old) were given a mixture of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fluorescein-isothiocyanate labelled dextran 70,000 (FITC-D 70) by stomach tube, and the serum concentrations were determined 2 h after feeding. A high correlation between the patterns of transmission were obtained for the two marker substances (r=0.91, n=39). Furthermore, a rapid decrease in the transmission of the markers was observed during the first day of life in suckled piglets, and intestinal macromolecular closure was well developed in the piglets after 18-36 h of life. These findings indicate that 'closure' is unrelated to changes in intestinal proteolytic activity. After closure, only small amounts of the markers were transmitted to the serum. During the first day of life, great individual differences in the transmission were found between piglets. As shown by feeding different-sized FITC-D (MW = 3,000-70,000 dalton) and unconjugated FITC (MW = 389 dalton), molecules having a molecular weight greater than 3,000 daltons were excluded upon macromolecular closure. On the other hand, smaller molecules like FITC were transmitted across the intestinal barriers independent of closure.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicate that serum albumin may act synergistically with other factors in the serum, such as transferrin, to limit iron supply and in this way restrict the growth of invading microorganisms.
Abstract: The effect of serum and serum proteins on enterobactin- and aerobactin-mediated utilization of transferrin iron has been investigated. Serum was found to impede transfer of iron from iron transferrin to enterobactin and from [55Fe]ferric enterobactin to cells of Escherichia coli BN3040 Na 1R iuc . In contrast, serum had essentially no effect on the rate of these reactions mediated by aerobactin. Three purified serum proteins, human serum albumin, bovine serum albumin, and human immunoglobulin, were comparable to human serum in their selective ability to interfere with the transfer of 55Fe from [55Fe]ferric enterobactin to E. coli BN3040 Na 1R iuc . The inhibitory effect of human serum albumin on the enterobactin-mediated transfer of iron from [55Fe]transferrin was enhanced by preincubation of the protein with the siderophore. Pretreatment of the bacterial cells with human serum albumin did not affect the rate of utilization of siderophore iron. A linear, reciprocal relationship was found to hold for human albumin concentration vs. the first-order rate constant ( kobsd ) for the velocity of iron transfer from iron transferrin to enterobactin. Binding of serum albumin to enterobactin increased the intensity of the near-ultraviolet absorption band of the siderophore and shifted it to longer wavelengths. The stoichiometry of binding to human and bovine serum albumins was established as 1:1, and the binding constant for both enterobactin and ferric enterobactin was estimated to be in the range 1 X 10(4)-1.2 X 10(5) M-1. These results indicate that serum albumin may act synergistically with other factors in the serum, such as transferrin, to limit iron supply and in this way restrict the growth of invading microorganisms.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The distribution of formaldehyde-denatured albumin in rat liver cells after intravenous injection of tracer doses of the protein indicates that the scavenger receptor in liver is mainly located on the endothelial cells.
Abstract: Denatured or modified proteins (including albumin and low-density lipoprotein) are catabolized in vitro via scavenger receptors. We have studied the distribution of formaldehyde-denatured albumin in rat liver cells after intravenous injection of tracer doses of the protein. At 12 min after injection, most of the formaldehyde-denatured albumin (about 70% of the injected dose) was recovered in liver endothelial cells. Furthermore, isolated liver endothelial cells in suspension and in surface culture took up formaldehyde-denatured albumin by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Our data indicate that the scavenger receptor in liver is mainly located on the endothelial cells. Implications for the catabolism of low-density lipoproteins are discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that free fatty acids may affect the intracellular activity of cytidylyltransferase by promoting the translocation of inactive cytosolic forms to microsomes as well as by stimulating microsomal bound activity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The direct competitive protein-binding assay overestimated the true 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentration by about 20%, but this percentage was constant from 5 to 600 micrograms/L.
Abstract: We describe direct, nonchromatographic assays for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in which we use either rat vitamin D-binding protein or rabbit antibodies to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-3-hemisuccinate-bovine serum albumin as binding protein. Nonspecific interferences in serum could be eliminated by an appropriate extraction method or in obtaining data for the calibration curve, by using vitamin D-free human serum. The latter is prepared by affinity chromatography with use of immobilized antibodies against human vitamin D-binding protein. Values obtained by the direct assays and those obtained by two different chromatographic methods correlated well (r greater than 0.95). The direct competitive protein-binding assay overestimated the true 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentration by about 20%, but this percentage was constant from 5 to 600 micrograms/L. Overestimation by the direct radioimmunoassay was less than 10%. These two direct assays for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 allow reliable, rapid, and simple screening for vitamin D deficiency or excess.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence is presented for the existence of specific receptors for alpha- Fetoprotein on the surface of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and the binding of alpha-fetoprotein to these cells displayed a biphasic saturation curve.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: SQ 22536, an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, and NO164, a PGD2 antagonist, reversed the inhibition by dazoxiben in human platelet-rich plasma, stressing the importance of aPGD2 mediated rise of cyclic AMP for the effectiveness of a thromboxane synthase inhibitor.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that mammalian biliprotein is formed by acyl migration of bilirubin from a bilirUBin-glucuronic acid ester to a nucleophilic site on albumin and probably nonenzymic hydrolysis.
Abstract: In hepatobiliary disease bilirubin becomes bound covalently to serum albumin, producing a nondissociable bile pigment-protein complex (biliprotein). To elucidate the mechanism of biliprotein formation we studied the bile pigment composition of blood from animals with experimental cholestasis and carried out comparative studies on the rate of biliprotein formation in vivo and in vitro during incubation of bilirubin glucuronides with albumin. Bile duct ligation in the rat and guinea pig led to rapid accumulation in the circulation of bilirubin, heterogeneous bilirubin esters of glucuronic acid, and a biliprotein that migrated along with albumin on high performance liquid chromatography. When the obstruction was removed, biliprotein remained longer in the circulation than did the other bile pigment species. Biliprotein and heterogeneous bilirubin esters of glucuronic acid were not formed in bile duct-ligated homozygous Gunn rats but they were formed when bilirubin glucuronides were incubated with Sprague-Dawley rat serum or human serum albumin at 37 degrees C in vitro. Bilirubin glucuronide rearrangement in vitro was accompanied by nonenzymic hydrolysis. We conclude that the formation of biliprotein in vivo is probably nonenzymic and suggest that mammalian biliprotein is formed by acyl migration of bilirubin from a bilirubin-glucuronic acid ester to a nucleophilic site on albumin.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Observations suggest that the negative charge sites present in nonglomerular capillary walls have functions similar to equivalent Sites present in the glomersular capillaries, which could contribute to the low permeability of the microvasculature to negatively charged macromolecules such as albumin.
Abstract: This study investigated whether charge sites in the walls of the microvasculature may play a role in maintaining the impermeability of the nonrenal capillaries to albumin. All experiments were performed in nephrectomized rats, studied in the awake state. The intravenous injection of protamine sulfate (4 mg/100 g body wt dissolved in 0.9% saline) was followed by a mean increase of 29.1% in hematocrit and a decrease of 28.4% in plasma albumin concentration over a 10-min period, indicating a significant 50-60% loss of albumin from the vascular space; a finding confirmed by studies using exogenous 125I-labeled albumin. Changes persisted for the remaining 80 min of observation, and could be reproduced by the injection of two other polycations, hexadimethrine and poly-l-lysine. These effects were not prevented by the antihistamine diphenhydramine hydrochloride. In contrast to 125I-labeled albumin, 14C-labeled neutral dextran of comparable size was not confined to the vascular space; its apparent volume of distribution progressively increased during the 90 min of observation. Intravenous injection of protamine sulfate was followed by a significantly smaller loss of 14C-dextran (36.5%) than albumin (59.1%) from the vascular space (P less than 0.01). Protamine sulfate could not be demonstrated to result in any changes in the physicochemical characteristics of albumin. These observations suggest that the negative charge sites present in nonglomerular capillary walls have functions similar to equivalent sites present in the glomerular capillaries. Thus, charge sites could contribute to the low permeability of the microvasculature to negatively charged macromolecules such as albumin. This may be an important mechanism for retaining albumin in the vascular space and preventing edema formation in health.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1984-Analyst
TL;DR: Human serum albumin has been labelled with a terbium complex by means of a reagent prepared from the bis-cyclic anhydride of diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid and p-aminosalicylic acid, which combines high fluorescent intensity with stability at high dilution.
Abstract: Human serum albumin has been labelled with a terbium complex by means of a reagent prepared from the bis-cyclic anhydride of diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid and p-aminosalicylic acid. This reagent combines high fluorescent intensity with stability at high dilution (10–9M). The fluorescent conjugate so produced has been used in a simple fluoroimmunoassay, using human serum albumin as a model analyte.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Assessment of the role of thiols and the cathepsins involved in the degradation of serum albumin in mouse liver and kidney lysosomes suggested that formaldehyde-denatured albumin was degraded primarily by the thiol proteinases, but that native albumin or albumins denatured by disulphide-bond reduction or by treatment with 8 M-urea were attacked byCathepsin D.
Abstract: Attempts were made to assess the role of thiols and to determine the cathepsins involved in the degradation of serum albumin in mouse liver and kidney lysosomes. Unlike cysteine or beta-mercaptoethanol, reduced glutathione (GSH) did not stimulate the degradation of formaldehyde-treated albumin in liver lysosomes, suggesting that the tripeptide did not penetrate the membrane. However, GSH was a much more effective stimulant of proteolysis in kidney lysosomes than was cysteine at low concentrations, and the effect was saturable at 1-2 mM concentrations. Thiols did not stimulate proteolysis in lysosomes when the disulphide bonds of albumin were reduced and alkylated, suggesting that the stimulatory effects were solely due to disulphide-bond reduction in protein substrates. Results obtained with thiols and iodoacetamide suggested that albumins denatured by disulphide-bond reduction and alkylation, disulphide-bond reduction without alkylation, or by treatment with 8 M-urea, were all degraded primarily by cathepsin D in lysosomes, but formaldehyde-denatured albumin was attacked by thiol proteinases. These findings correlated well with studies on the degradation of these proteins by rat liver lysosome (tritosome) extracts. Studies with the proteinase inhibitors leupeptin and pepstatin and the stimulatory effects of thiols in these extracts suggested that formaldehyde-denatured albumin was degraded primarily by the thiol proteinases, but that native albumin or albumins denatured by disulphide-bond reduction or by treatment with 8 M-urea were attacked by cathepsin D. Denaturation of serum albumin by any of the methods used caused a shift in the pH optimum of albumin catabolism by tritosome extracts or by purified cathepsin D from approx. 3-4 to 5-6. These results were discussed in terms of a possible mechanism for the catabolic aspect of serum albumin turnover.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings point out some of the complex pathophysiologic changes associated with obesity which may in turn influence drug disposition and hence drug therapy in the obese patient.
Abstract: Serum protein and lipid concentrations as well as the serum protein binding of propranolol, diazepam and phenytoin were measured in normal weight and obese volunteers. Concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) in the obese subjects were double that of the lean controls. Conversely, concentrations of high density lipoproteins (HDL) were decreased in the obese group. The serum binding of propranolol was increased in the obese subjects and correlated with serum AAG concentrations. Diazepam binding was slightly decreased in the obese as a result of lower serum albumin concentrations and elevated free fatty acids. The binding of phenytoin was comparable in all of the volunteers. These findings point out some of the complex pathophysiologic changes associated with obesity which may in turn influence drug disposition and hence drug therapy in the obese patient.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An affinity-chromatographic procedure for determination of glycated albumin (GA) and glycated total serum protein (GSP) and their measurement may provide a short-term index of glycemic control.
Abstract: We have evaluated an affinity-chromatographic procedure for determination of glycated albumin (GA) and glycated total serum protein (GSP). Recovery of these analytes was inversely related to free glucose concentration, thus necessitating removal of free glucose. For this we used molecular-exclusion chromatography on G-25 Sephadex, or dialysis, the latter procedure resulting in significantly (p less than 0.05) lower concentrations of GSP and GA. Total protein concentration and percent glycation are also inversely related, and so protein concentrations must be standardized before the assay. Within- and between-run CVs for both GSP and GA were less than 6.5 and 18%, respectively, the determination of GA being generally the more precise of the two. Labile glycated fractions, lipemia, icterus, hemolysis, and type of anticoagulant did not affect the results, but assay temperature did. Diabetic subjects showed substantially higher concentrations of GA and GSP than did normal subjects. Because of the life span of these analytes in circulation, their measurement may provide a short-term index of glycemic control.