Human serum albumin-bound synthetic hemes as an oxygen carrier: determination of equilibrium constants for heme binding to host albumin.

Human serum albumin (HSA) incorporating synthetic tetraphenylporphinatoiron(II) derivatives (FeP1 or FeP2) can bind and release oxygen reversibly under physiological conditions (in aqueous media, pH 7.4, 37 degrees C). The maximal binding ratio of FeP1/HSA was estimated to be eight, and the stepwise equilibrium constants for FeP1 binding to HSA (K1-K8) ranged from 1.2 x 10(6) to 1.3 x 10(4) M-1. The major binding sites of FeP1 are presumably identical to those of hemin, bilirubin and long-chain fatty acids. The O2-binding ability of the HSA-FeP can be regulated by changing the molecular structure of the incorporated hemes. The half-lifetime of the O2-coordinated FeP2 in HSA was significantly longer than that of HSA-FeP1.