All-trans-retinoic acid and retinol binding to the FA1 site of human serum albumin competitively inhibits heme-Fe(III) association.

Retinoids are a class of chemicals derived from vitamin A metabolism, playing important and diverse functions. Vitamin A, also named all-trans-retinol (all-trans-ROL), is coverted into two classes of biologically active retinoids, i.e. 11-cis-retinoids and acidic retinoids. Among acidic retinoids, all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA) and 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) represent the main metabolic products. Specific and aspecific proteins solubilize, protect, and detoxify retinoids in the extracellular environment. The retinoid binding protein 4 (RBP4), the epididymal retinoid-binding protein (ERBP), and the interphotoreceptor matrix retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) play a central role in ROL transport, whereas lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (also named β-trace) and human serum albumin (HSA) transport preferentially all-trans-RA. Here, the modulatory effect of all-trans-RA and all-trans-ROL on ferric heme (heme-Fe(III)) binding to HSA is reported. All-trans-RA and all-trans-ROL binding to the FA1 site of HSA competitively inhibit heme-Fe(III) association. Docking simulations and local structural comparison of HSA with all-trans-RA- and all-trans-ROL-binding proteins support functional data indicating the preferential binding of all-trans-RA and all-trans-ROL to the FA1 site of HSA. Present results may be relevant in vivo, in fact HSA could act as a secondary carrier of retinoids in human diseases associated with reduced levels of RBP4 and IRBP.