Cancer-associated alteration in fatty acid binding to albumin studied by spin-label electron spin resonance.

Human serum albumin accumulates low molecular weight biomarkers related to cancer. This accumulation can lead to allosteric modification of albumin and change its ability to bind essential fatty acids. Using 16-doxyl-stearic acid spin probe, which is specific for albumin, the serum samples of 98 patients with a variety of cancer types and 86 cancer free individuals were analysed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy in order to evaluate cancer-induced modifications that occur to albumin.

Modification of transport function of plasma albumin during atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus.

Parameters characterizing the processes of association, transport, and dissociation of fatty acid molecules on the corresponding binding sites of plasma albumin in patients with atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance method. In these patients transport function of albumin differed from normal. It should be emphasized that these differences were specific for atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus, which is of considerable diagnostic value.