Premium
Binding of δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol and diazepam to human serum albumin
Author(s) -
Fanali Gabriella,
Cao Yu,
Ascenzi Paolo,
Trezza Viviana,
Rubino Tiziana,
Parolaro Daniela,
Fasano Mauro
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1002/iub.466
Subject(s) - human serum albumin , tetrahydrocannabinol , chemistry , δ9 tetrahydrocannabinol , heme , binding site , allosteric regulation , diazepam , plasma protein binding , drug , free fraction , pharmacology , biochemistry , receptor , cannabinoid , biology , enzyme
Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide. Cannabis users also appear to use other psychoactive drugs more frequently than noncannabis users. Here, Δ9‐ tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and diazepam binding to human serum albumin (HSA) and HSA‐heme is reported. THC binds to two different binding sites of HSA ( K d1 ≤ 10 −7 M and K d2 = 10 −3 M) without affecting diazepam binding ( K d = 1.2 × 10 −5 M). THC binding to the high‐affinity site accounts for the low free fraction of the drug in plasma. Moreover, THC increases the affinity of heme for HSA. Accordingly, the affinity of THC for HSA‐heme is higher than that for HSA. THC could bind to FA2 and FA7 sites, as substantiated by docking simulations; nevertheless, the observed allosteric effect(s) suggests that the primary binding site of THC is the FA2 cleft that positively modulates heme affinity. Possibly, the HSA conformational transition(s) induced by THC binding could account for drug delivery to the liver through receptor‐ mediated endocytosis. © 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 63(6): 446–451, 2011