Identification of the serum binding proteins for iron, zinc, cadmium, nickel, and calcium.

The binding of five biologically important metals to serum proteins has been studied. After suitable radioactive isotopes were added to serum proteins separated and precipitated by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis, the sample plates were exposed to roentgenogram film. 59Fe bound to transferrin alone; 65Zn bound mostly to albumin, but also to another 12 proteins; 109Cd was mostly associated with alpha 2-macroglobulin, but was also present on albumin, immunoglobulins G and A, and prealbumin; 63Ni, added in high concentration, was associated with an alpha 2-mobility protein and albumin; and, finally, 45Ca was mostly bound to albumin, but seven other binding proteins were also identified, with transferrin predominant. The results are not quantitative, but the technique is simple and specific, and the information gained can direct further studies on isolated proteins.