Ionization of tyrosine residues in human serum albumin and in its complexes with bilirubin and laurate.

Spectrophotometric titration of human serum albumin indicates that ionization of the 18 tyrosine residues takes place between pH 9 and 12.7. A Hill plot indicates that protons dissociate co-operatively from tyrosine residues, in pure albumin between pH 11.0 and 11.4 with a Hill coefficient 1.7, and in the bilirubin-albumin complex between pH 11.2 and 11.7 with a Hill coefficient 1.6. With a stopped-flow technique it is shown that about seven of the tyrosines ionize fast, with rate constants well above 10(2) s-1, when pH is suddenly changed from near neutral to pH 11.76. Further residues ionize slowly, with rate constants around 10(2) s-1 or less. The N-form of albumin (pH 6) contains one more fast ionizing tyrosine than the B-form of albumin (pH 10). Binding of bilirubin or laurate to the albumin molecule (molar ratio 1:1) transforms one to three of the fast ionizing tyrosines to slowly ionizing.