title: Structural analysis, fatty acid and thyroxine binding properties of Vancouver and Naskapi variants of human serum albumin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To purify and structurally identify two albumin variants found in the Canadian population of native Amerindian origin. To assess the ability of variant albumins to bind lauric acid and L-thyroxine.
  
  
  METHODS
  The structural characterization of the alloalbumins was performed by conventional protein chemistry methods and by mass spectrometric analysis. Lauric acid and L-thyroxine affinities to variant albumins were assessed by kinetic dialysis and equilibrium dialysis techniques, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sequence investigations proved the two variants to be albumin Naskapi [372Lys --> Glu] and albumin Vancouver [501Glu --> Lys], respectively. Among the carriers of albumin Naskapi, we found a rare case of homozygosity. Furthermore, this is the first reported case of the 501Glu-->Lys mutation in the native North American population. Scatchard plot analysis revealed that the association constants for lauric acid and L-thyroxine to the two variants were indistinguishable from the endogenous form of albumin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We show that albumin variants Vancouver and Naskapi have normal fatty acid and L-thyroxine binding capabilities. These findings support the assumption that bisalbuminemias associated with these albumin variants are benign conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry A Castellani, via Taramelli 3b, Università di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campagnoli
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kragh-Hansen
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Overgaard Pedersen
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amoresano
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cesati
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galliano
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minchiotti
mesh_terms: D001955:British Columbia; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D012525:Saskatchewan; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D012709:Serum Albumin; C096556:albumin Vancouver; D013974:Thyroxine; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human