SummaryHuman serum albumin (HSA), the most prominent protein in plasma, binds different classes of ligands at multiple sites. HSA provides a depot for many compounds, affects pharmacokinetics of many drugs, holds some ligands in a strained orientation providing their metabolic modification, renders potential toxins harmless transporting them to disposal sites, accounts for most of the antioxidant capacity of human serum, and acts as a NO-carrier. The globular domain structural organization of monomeric HSA is at the root of its allosteric properties which are reminiscent of those of multimeric proteins. Here, structural, functional, biotechnological, and biomedical aspects of ligand binding to HSA are summarized. IUBMB Life, 57: 787 -796, 2005

The peculiar magnetic properties of lanthanide(III) ions may be exploited for the development of powerful NMR probes for biomedical applications. Gd III chelates are in current clinical use as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Other paramagnetic lanthanide(III) complexes endowed with shift reagent capabilities are used for the separation of NMR resonances of species present in the inner and outer cellular compartments and for the measurement of pH and temperature.

Contents 1. Introduction 3019 2. Challenges in the Field of Paramagnetic T 1 Agents 3021 2.1. Optimizing the Rotational Mobility 3021 2.2. Effect of τ M on the Attainable Relaxivity 3022 2.3. Increasing Relaxivity through the Increase of the Hydration of the Paramagnetic Metal Ion 3023 2.4. Nanosized Systems 3023 2.5. Mn 2+ -Complexes: An Alternative to Gd-Based Agents? 3024 2.6. Field-Dependence of Relaxivity 3024 2.7. Responsive Agents 3025 3. Challenges for T 2 Agents 3027 3.1. Iron Oxide Nanoparticles 3027 3.2. T 2 Agents: Alternatives to Iron Oxide Nanoparticles 3028 3.3. Magnetic Particle Imaging 3029 4. Challenges for CEST Agents 3029 4.1. Technical Issues 3029 4.2. Chemical Issues 3031 4.3. Biological Issues 3032 5. Challenges for Heteronuclear MR Imaging 3033 5.1. 19 F-Based Probes 3033 6. Challenges for Hyperpolarized Probes 3034 6.1. Brute Force 3034 6.2. Optical Pumping and Spin Exchange 3035 6.3. Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) 3035 6.4. para-Hydrogen Induced Polarization (PHIP) 3037 6.5. Use of Gd Contrast Agents with Hyperpolarized Substances 3038 6.6. Issues with Hyperpolarized Agents 3038 7. Concluding Remarks 3038 8. Acknowledgments 3039 9. References 3039

No abstract

No abstract