Cochran M, Cochran M, Coates J H, Kurucsev T
Life Sci. 1987 Jun 15;40(24):2337-41. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(87)90507-8.
Difference UV spectrophotometry is used to determine the conditional binding constants for aluminum to human transferrin in the presence of HCO3- of initial concentration 18 mM according to a two site model. The values obtained at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4 are: K1 = 3.0 (+/- 0.8) X 10(15) M-2, K2 = 2.9 (+/- 0.7) X 10(15) M-2 for the reactions: Tr + Al3+ + HCO3- = Tr-Al-HCO3 and Tr-Al-HCO3 + Al3+ + HCO3- = Tr-Al2-(HCO3)2 respectively. Possible consequences arising for the transport of aluminum in human serum are discussed.