Binding of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate to Serum Albumin

Abstract

Quantitative data on the binding of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to bovine serum albumin are presented, and the nature of the linkage is discussed. The observed value for the association constant in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer indicates that the steroid sulfate probably is present in blood largely in a bound condition. A method for analyzing plasma is described that involves reversal of the binding as the first step. Measurements of the human plasma level of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and closely related 17-ketosteroids in 6 normal subjects have yielded values higher than those previously reported.