N-lobe versus C-lobe complexation of bismuth by human transferrin

Biochem J. 1999 Jan 1;337 ( Pt 1)(Pt 1):105-11.

Abstract

Interactions of recombinant N-lobe of human serum transferrin (hTF/2N) with Bi3+, a metal ion widely used in medicine, have been investigated by both UV and NMR spectroscopy. The bicarbonate-independent stability constant for Bi3+ binding (K*) to hTF/2N was determined to be log K* 18.9+/-0.2 in 5 mM bicarbonate/10 mM Hepes buffer at 310 K, pH7.4. The presence of Fe3+ in the C-lobe of intact hTF perturbed Bi3+ binding to the N-lobe, whereas binding of Bi3+ to the C-lobe was unaffected by the presence of Fe3+ in the N-lobe. Reactions of Bi3+ (as bismuth nitrilotriacetate or ranitidine bismuth citrate) with hTF/2N in solutions containing 10 mM bicarbonate induced specific changes to high-field 1H-NMR peaks. The 1H co-ordination shifts induced by Bi3+ were similar to those induced by Fe3+ and Ga3+, suggesting that Bi3+ binding causes similar structural changes to those induced by hTF/2N. 13C-NMR data showed that carbonate binds to hTF/2N concomitantly with Bi3+.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding, Competitive
  • Bismuth / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Protein Conformation
  • Transferrin / chemistry*

Substances

  • Transferrin
  • Bismuth