Structural analysis and fatty acid-binding properties of two Croatian variants of human serum albumin.

Background: The aim of the present work was to characterize the molecular defects of a slow-migrating (albumin Zagreb) and a fast-migrating (albumin Krapina) genetic variant of human serum albumin detected in heterozygous persons living in Croatia and to elucidate the fatty acid-binding properties of the two alloalbumins.

Methods: Purification and structural identification of the variants were performed by conventional protein chemistry methods, whereas types and amounts of albumin-bound, endogenous fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography.

Results: Protein sequencing established that albumin Zagreb is a proalbumin variant (-1Arg-->Gln), and that albumin Krapina is due to a mutation within the mature polypeptide chain (573Lys-->Glu). The gas chromatographic results showed that the fatty acid-binding properties of the proalbumin variant are normal, while the amino acid substitution in position 573 resulted in a general decrease of fatty acid binding.

Conclusions: The structural defects of the first alloalbumins, detected by routine clinical electrophoresis among the Croatian population, were characterized. Albumin Zagreb is caused by a hot-spot mutation occurring in a CpG sequence in the albumin gene. It is commonly assumed that bisalbuminaemia has no direct clinical relevance. However, the present study suggests that naturally occurring mutations can affect the ligand-binding properties of human serum albumin.