Spin-label studies of the sulfhydryl environment in bovine plasma albumin. 1. The N-F transition and acid expansion

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The environment of the sulfhydryl group in plasma albumin was previously characterized by employing spin-labels of varying chain lengths. The sulfhydryl is in a crevice approximately 10 .ANG. deep but this crevice was not identified further. The results of titrating albumin through the acidic conformational transitions while monitoring the ESR of the bound nitroxide is reported. With short spin-labels a general change is observed as the pH is lowered but the N-F transition is not discernible. With a spin label previously shown to project to the lip of the crevice a clear N-F transition as well as the subsequent acid expansion are observed. The sulfhydryl is probably in the crevice, formed by the domains of albumin, which opens during the N-F transition. Bound fatty acids do not seem to influence the integrity of the sulhydryl environment at neutral pH.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: