1. Structural Analysis of Human Serum Albumin in Complex with the Fibrate Drug Gemfibrozil
- Author
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Stefano Liberi, Sara Linciano, Giulia Moro, Luca De Toni, Laura Cendron, and Alessandro Angelini
- Subjects
endocrine system diseases ,Protein Conformation ,QH301-705.5 ,Hypercholesterolemia ,Serum albumin ,Serum Albumin, Human ,Crystallography, X-Ray ,Catalysis ,Lopid ,Inorganic Chemistry ,Settore BIO/10 - Biochimica ,Humans ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,Biology (General) ,Fibrate ,Molecular Biology ,QD1-999 ,Spectroscopy ,Hypertriglyceridemia ,Fibric acid ,Organic Chemistry ,General Medicine ,Computer Science Applications ,gemfibrozil ,fibric acid ,fibrate ,serum albumin ,Sudlow’s site ,hypolipidemic drug ,hyperlipidaemia ,hypertriglyceridemia ,hypercholesterolemia ,Chemistry ,Hyperlipidaemia ,Gemfibrozil ,Hypolipidemic drug ,Protein Binding - Abstract
Gemfibrozil (GEM) is an orally administered lipid-regulating fibrate derivative drug sold under the brand name Lopid®, among others. Since its approval in the early 80s, GEM has been largely applied to treat hypertriglyceridemia and other disorders of lipid metabolism. Though generally well tolerated, GEM can alter the distribution and the free, active concentration of some co-administered drugs, leading to adverse effects. Most of them appear to be related to the ability of GEM to bind with high affinity human serum albumin (HSA), the major drug-carrier protein in blood plasma. Here, we report the crystal structure of HSA in complex with GEM. Two binding sites have been identified, namely Sudlow’s binding sites I (FA7) and II (FA3–FA4). A comparison of the crystal structure of HSA in complex with GEM with those of other previously described HSA–drug complexes enabled us to appreciate the analogies and differences in their respective binding modes. The elucidation of the molecular interaction between GEM and HSA might offer the basis for the development of novel GEM derivatives that can be safely and synergistically co-administered with other drugs, enabling augmented therapeutic efficacies.
- Published
- 2022