Genetic variants of human serum albumin in Italy: point mutants and a carboxyl-terminal variant

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Jul 5;91(14):6476-80. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.14.6476.

Abstract

Of the > 50 different genetic variants of human serum albumin (alloalbumins) that have been characterized by amino acid or DNA sequence analysis, almost half have been identified in Italy through a long-term electrophoretic survey of serum. Previously we have reported structural studies of 11 Italian alloalbumins with point mutations, 2 different carboxyl-terminal variants, and 1 case of analbuminemia in an Italian family. This article describes confirmation by DNA sequencing of mutations previously inferred from protein sequencing of 4 of the above alloalbumins; it also reports the mutations identified by protein and DNA sequence analysis of 4 other Italian alloalbumins not previously recorded: albumin Larino, His3-->Tyr; Tradate-2 (protein sequencing only), Lys225-->Gln; Caserta, Lys276-->Asn; and Bazzano, a carboxyl-terminal variant. The first 3 have point mutations that produce a single amino acid substitution, but a nucleotide deletion causes a frameshift and an altered and truncated carboxyl-terminal sequence in albumin Bazzano. In these 4 instances the expression of the alloalbumin is variable, ranging from 10% to 70% of the total albumiN, in contrast to the usual 50% each for the normal and mutant albumin. The distribution of point mutations in the albumin gene is nonrandom; most of the 47 reported point substitutions involve charged amino acid residues on the surface of the molecule that are not concerned with ligand-binding sites.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • DNA / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Point Mutation*
  • Serum Albumin / genetics*
  • Serum Albumin / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Serum Albumin
  • DNA

Associated data

  • GENBANK/S70799