Stereoselective binding properties of naproxen glucuronide diastereomers to proteins

The stability of naproxen glucuronide (NAP-G) diastereomers was investigated in buffer, 0.3% and 3% human serum albumin (HSA) solutions, and human plasma. R-NAP-G was found to be les stable in phosphate buffer than its S-diastereomer, whereas incubation media containing protein in general increased the degradation rate of NAP-G but also caused a change of the stereoselective stability where the R-NAP-G was more stable than S-NAP-G. Reversible binding of NAP-Gs to HSA (0.3%) was investigated and compared with the corresponding properties of naproxen (NAP) enantiomers. NAP-G diastereomers exibited a considerable and stereoselective affinity to HSA, although less than that observed for the NAP enantiomers. In vitro irreversible binding of NAP-Gs to HSA, human and rat plasma proteins was also investigated. Irreversible binding was higher for R-NAP-G (50 mu M) than for S-NAP-G (50 mu M) in all incubation media. This stereoselective difference was observed with HSA containing medium as well as in rat and human plasma. Incubation with unconjugated NAP did not lead to irreversible binding. Preincubation of HSA with acetylsalicylic acid (similar to 11 mM) and glucuronic acid (50 mM) decreased the extent of irreversible binding suggesting involvement of lysine residues for covalent binding. Preincubation with S-NAP also decreased the irreversible binding yield. (C) 1995 Plenum Publishing Corporation