High-performance liquid chromatographic studies on non-mercapt α mercapt conversion of human serum albumin. II

Abstract High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of human serum albumin (HSA) on a GS-520 column with 0.03 M sodium phosphate buffer—0.15 M sodium sulphate (pH 6.87) showed three peaks, the principal component corresponding to human mercaptalbumin (HMA) and the secondary and tertiary components to nonmercaptalbumin (HNA). Using HPLC analysis, the nonmercapt → mercapt conversion of HSA during haemodialysis and the mercapt → nonmercapt conversion after haemodialysis in chronic renal failure were re-confirmed, indicating that HMA is a covalent carrier protein for sulphur-containing amino acids. Fractions of HMA in various liver diseases were significantly lower than those of healthy male adults.