title: Characterization of mercury-containing protein in human plasma.
abstract: Characterization of mercury binding protein in the human body is very important for understanding the metabolism and the mechanism of toxication of ingested mercuric compounds. In this study, mercury-containing protein in human plasma was separated by on-line heart-cutting two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography (2D-HPLC). This 2D separation system used size exclusion liquid chromatography (SEC) followed by weak anion exchange liquid chromatography (WAX) and the two LC parts were coupled by a six-port valve equipped with a storage loop and controled by the computer. The WAX effluent was determined by both UV detection and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to locate the mercury-containing protein. A unique mercury-containing protein fraction was obtained by 2D-HPLC separation and subsequently identified by HPLC coupled with linear ion trap-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (HPLC-LTQ-FT). The database search confirmed that the mercury-containing protein in the human plasma is human serum albumin (HSA). The stoichiometry and thermodyamics interaction of inorganic mercury (Hg(2+)) with HSA was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and two binding types were observed. Mercury-containing protein in human plasma was separated and identified in the present study and it is important for understanding the metabolism of mercury in the human body.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhaojun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xingchen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guibin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D002151:Calorimetry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D008628:Mercury