Structurally specific binding of halogenated biphenyls to thyroxine transport protein.

Prealbumin is a major thyroxine binding protein in blood that has been well studied crystallographically and has also been proposed as a model for the thyroxine nuclear receptor in tissue. The high-affinity T4 binding site in prealbumin gave a linear plot on Scatchard analysis. The interactions of selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with prealbumin have been studied with use of computer graphics and predictions made regarding relative binding affinities for such structures. These modeling predictions were tested by using competitive binding experiments involving selected PCBs and hydroxylated derivatives as soluble structural probes. The results are in excellent agreement with the modeling predictions and demonstrated that these compounds can be highly effective (3-8 times better than thyroxine itself) competitive binding ligands for thyroxine specific binding sites in prealbumin. Laterally (3,3',5,5'-) substituted PCBs show the highest binding activity and further substitution on nonlateral (2,2',6,6'-) positions lowers binding activity. Lateral chlorine substitution was common to all PCBs studied that showed high binding affinities. The binding model may also suggest a preference for a linear and symmetrical molecular shape. These structural requirements for binding are substantially consistent with the structure-toxicity relationship for closely related compounds of environmental interest. These specific binding interactions are likely to modulate the distribution of certain PCBs and related compounds and alter hormone-protein interactions that are responsible for the maintenance of normal thyroid status. Since prealbumin is also a model for the putative thyroxine nuclear receptor in tissue, our hypothesis that high toxicity of certain halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons is at least in part due to their thyromimetic properties is further supported.