Features and quantitative characteristics of the interaction of benzo[a]pyrene with fractions of the human blood plasma lipoproteins

Abstract

The paper considers the features and quantitative characteristics of the interaction of human blood plasma low (LDL), very low (VLDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL) with a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). Material and methods. The studies were performed using preparative ultracentrifugation of human plasma lipoprotein fractions and fluorescence spectroscopy. Results. The spectral characteristics of tryptophan fluorescence of VLDL, LDL and HDL fractions during titration with B[a]P solution are presented. The interaction of LP fractions with B[a]P was accompanied by quenching of tryptophanil fluorescence: the greatest decrease in fluorescence at saturating concentrations of B[a]P was noted for the HDL fraction — over 80 %; the effect of B[a]P was weaker for LDL (65-74 %) and for VLDL (50-60 %) of the initial level. Based on the results of the tryptophan fluorescence quenching curves and taking into account the molecular weights, quantitative characteristics of the interaction of the LP fractions with B[a]P were obtained: the association constants were of the order of (1.3 - 2.5) × 10-6 M, and the number of binding sites for B[a] P on LP particles ranged from 19 for HDL and up to 43 for VLDL. Conclusion. The quantitative characteristics of the interaction obtained for the complexes of LP with B[a]P allow us to consider the LP of blood plasma as real transport forms for B[a]P and other hydrophobic compounds into the cells of organs and tissues of the body.