Alterations in the ultraviolet absorption spectra of steroids upon binding to serum proteins.

Difference spectra of progesterone-binding globulin (PBG) complexes with progesterone and testosterone were measured. The contributions of steroid and protein to the difference spectra were resolved by use of 5alpha-pregane-3,20-dione and dihydrotestosterone to compensate for the perturbation of PBG. The absorption spectra of seven bound steroids all showed increased extinction coefficients, sharpened absorption bands, a small blue shift, and an increased area implying an enhanced transition moment. This is in contrast to the steroid complexes with the low affinity binders, human serum albumin, and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, which exhibit decreased extinction coefficients and reduced transition moments.