Molecular Dynamics Study of the IIA Binding Site in Human Serum Albumin:  Influence of the Protonation State of Lys195 and Lys199

The IIA binding site of human serum albumin (HSA) preferentially binds hydrophobic organic anions of medium size (e.g., aspirin, benzylpenicillin, warfarin, etc.) and bilirubin. This binding ability is particularly important for the distribution, metabolism, and efficacy of drugs. In addition, HSA can also covalently link to different IIA substrates owing to the presence of a highly reactive residue, Lys199, which is strategically located in the IIA site. Herein, we present results of three restrained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the IIA binding site on the HSA protein. From these simulations, we have determined the influence that the ionization state of the key residue, Lys199, and the nearby Lys195 has on the structure and dynamics of the IIA binding site. When Lys199 is neutral the computed average distances for the most significant interresidue contacts are in good agreement with those estimated from the X-ray coordinates. The analysis of the solvent structure and dynamics indicates that the basic form of Lys199 is likely connected to the acid form of Lys195 through a network of H-bonding water molecules with a donor → acceptor character. The presence of these water bridges can be important for stabilizing the configuration of the IIA binding site and/or promoting a potential Lys195 → Lys199 proton-transfer process. These results suggest that both lysine residues located in the IIA binding site of HSA, Lys195 and Lys199, could play a combined and comparable chemical role. Our simulations also give insight into the binding of bilirubin to HSA.