A molecular mechanism for modulating plasma Zn speciation by fatty acids.

ABSTRACT: Albumin transports both fatty acids and zinc in plasma. Competitive binding studied by isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that physiologically relevant levels of fatty acids modulate the Zn-binding capacity of albumin, with far-reaching implications for biological zinc speciation. The molecular mechanism for this effect is likely due to a large conformational change elicited by fatty acid binding to a high-affinity interdomain site that disrupts at least one Zn site. Albumin may be a molecular device to "translate" certain aspects of the organismal energy state into global zinc signals.

SUBMITTER: Lu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3285120 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature