The binding of carprofen (CP) to human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine
serum albumin (BSA) was compared using equilibrium dialysis method. Th
e affinity of CP for the primary binding site was BSA>HSA. However, th
e number of primary binding sites (n(1)) was 1.94 on HSA, considerably
greater than that on BSA (0.79). The displacement of the binding of C
P to HSA and BSA was studied in the presence of phenylbutazone (PB, si
te I marker), ibuprofen OB, site II marker) or 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic ac
id (TIB, both site I and II marker). The binding of CP to HSA was alte
red by PB, IB and TIB, while the binding of CP to BSA was not changed
by PB, although it was reduced by IB and TIB. These results suggested
that, for the binding of CP, HSA has two major sites (site I and site
n), whereas BSA has a single primary site (site II). The binding chara
cteristics of 2-anthracenecarboxylic acid with HSA and BSA were found
quite similar to those of CP. Thus, it seemed that long, planar compou
nds with a carboxyl group at one end can bind to site I and site II on
HSA, but only to site II on BSA. The difference between HSA and BSA i
n the affinity of site I may be due to the difference in the basic and
hydrophobic amino acid residues.