Study of factors affecting binding of zinc with albumin at physiological zinc concentrations

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Agte, V.V. | Nagmote, R.V.

Affiliations: Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune-411004, India

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. V.V. Agte, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G.Agarkar Road, Pune-411004, India. Tel.: +91 020 25653680; Fax: +91 020 25651542; E-mail: vaishaliagte@hotmail.com

Abstract: Albumin has very high affinity for many organic and inorganic compounds that may influence albumin bound Zn (ABZn). To get insight of these molecular interactions, the effect of riboflavin, nicotinic acid, thiamine, folic acid, pyruvic acid and glucose on ABZn were studied. The ABZn was separated from the unbound zinc using equilibrium dialysis and estimated using atomic absorption spectrometer. At therapeutic zinc concentrations, folic acid and thiamine significantly enhanced the ABZn (p < 0.010), while nicotinic acid inhibited zinc binding to albumin. Folic acid was found to enhance the ABZn also at lower zinc concentrations representing physiological levels of plasma zinc (138–150 micromoles) (p < 0.05).

Keywords: albumin bound zinc, folic acid, nicotinic acid, dialysis

Journal: BioFactors, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 139-145, 2004