Binding of phthalate plasticizers to human serum albumin in vitro: a multispectroscopic approach and molecular modeling

J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Feb 1;60(4):1135-45. doi: 10.1021/jf204380r. Epub 2012 Jan 19.

Abstract

As endocrine-disrupting chemicals, a few frequently used phthalate plasticizers were banned or restricted for use as additives in food in some countries. The interaction mechanisms between three phthalate plasticizers with human serum albumin (HSA) were studied by fluorescence (quenching, synchronous, and three-dimensional), UV-vis absorption, circular dichroism (CD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, in combination with molecular modeling under simulative physiological conditions, respectively. The results obtained from fluorescence quenching data revealed that the plasticizers-HSA interaction altered the conformational strcture of HSA. Meanwhile, the alterations of HSA secondary structure in the presence of phthalate plasticizers were investigated. The binding distances for the plasticizers-HSA system were provided by the efficiency of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Furthermore, the thermodynamic analysis implied that hydrophobic forces were the main interaction for the plasticizers-HSA system, which agreed well with the results from the molecular modeling study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Circular Dichroism
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phthalic Acids / metabolism*
  • Plasticizers / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Serum Albumin / chemistry
  • Serum Albumin / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Spectrum Analysis*
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Phthalic Acids
  • Plasticizers
  • Serum Albumin
  • phthalic acid