Conformational changes of serum albumin induced by ascorbic acid

Abstract
Bovine serum albumin (BSA) inhibited the autooxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) at physiologic pH. The spontaneous oxidation rate of AA at 1 .times. 10-5 M was 0.87 .mu.mol .cntdot. l-1 min-1. In the presence of 1 .mu.M BSA, the rate is 15% of the spontaneous rate (0.13 .mu.mol .cntdot. l-1 .cntdot. min-1). The UV difference spectrum of the AA:BSA complex reveals a decrease in absorbance at 204 nm. AA probably binds to BSA and induces a conformational change in the BSA molecule.