Binding of selenoprotein P to heparin: Characterization with surface plasmon resonance

The binding of selenoprotein P to glycosaminoglycans using heparin as a model compound was studied by surface plasmon resonance. It was found that heparin contains two binding sites for selenoprotein P, a high-affinity, low-capacity site (K-d similar to 1 nM) and a low-affinity, high-capacity site (K-d similar to 140 nM). Binding at both sites is sensitive to pH and ionic strength, and the high-affinity site is abolished by histidine carbethoxylation with diethylpyrocarbonate. The pH and salt dependence of binding suggests electrostatic interactions with heparin. The concentrations of selenoprotein P in plasma (similar to 50 nM) are sufficiently high to facilitate binding of selenoprotein P to proteoglycans on the vascular endothelium, and this may contribute to the formation of a protective barrier against oxidants such as peroxynitrite or hydroperoxides.