TY - JOUR T1 - Binding of bupivacaine to human serum proteins, isolated albumin and isolated alpha-1-acid glycoprotein. Differences between the two enantiomers are partly due to cooperativity. JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 109 LP - 115 VL - 276 IS - 1 AU - J X Mazoit AU - L S Cao AU - K Samii Y1 - 1996/01/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/276/1/109.abstract N2 - Binding parameters of R(+)- and S(-)-bupivacaine were determined for human serum proteins, human alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) and human serum albumin (HSA), using ultrafiltration. Binding parameters were estimated according to the Scatchard model of the law of mass action using nonlinear regression. A sigmoid (cooperativity) term was added when needed. Both enantiomers exhibited a two site binding profile for human serum and for a solution containing AAG and HSA at physiological concentrations. At concentrations lower than 40 microM (concentrations encountered in clinical situations), the low capacity, high affinity apparent site was predominant and S(-)-bupivacaine exhibited a higher free fraction than R(+)-bupivacaine. At concentrations higher than 60 microM, the opposite situation was observed and the S(-) enantiomer showed much higher binding to AAG than the R(+) enantiomer. Two cooperativity phenomena occurred. Negative cooperativity was observed when AAG and HSA were combined in the same solution. S(-) and R(+) enantiomers exhibited different behavior toward purified AAG and HSA due in part to complex allosteric cooperativity (positive or negative depending on the ligand/protein ratio). In conclusion, we observed stereoselective binding of bupivacaine to AAG and HSA. Moreover, cooperativity occurred, and the behavior of the two enantiomers showed marked differences in this respect. ER -