Does either the gastrointestinal peptide PYY or the neuropeptide NPY bind aluminium?

Peptide YY and neuropeptide Y are common peptides with a high degree of primary and tertiary structural homology. They are multifunctional and participate in a diverse array of distinct activities including regulation of gastrointestinal function and neural regulation of satiety. Recently both have been implicated in aluminium chemistry in vivo although their modus opperandi have not been determined. We have used molecular fluorescence, RP-HPLC, ESMS and equilibrium dialysis to identify if either peptide YY or neuropeptide Y will bind aluminium in vitro under near-physiological conditions. We were unable to demonstrate any direct interaction between either peptide and aluminium although we have speculated upon an in vivo mechanism whereby PYY, in particular, might form a stable complex with aluminium.