CHED 1326 |
| Clinical chelation therapy of mercury poisoning generally uses dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid (DMPS), and when necessary, cysteine (cys) and N-acetylcysteine for hemodialysis. The present study was undertaken to better understand the thermodynamic parameters associated with the chelation of Hg2+ by these compounds, and some common amino acids and their derivatives. Their Hg2+ binding affinities and associated thermodynamic parameters were evaluated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The results show that these interactions are thermodynamically favored and are both enthalpically and entropically driven. Although the binding affinity of cys for mercury (K > 109 M-1) far exceeds that shown by DMSA, DMPA, other amino acids and derivatives, its known catabolism in the gastrointestinal tract and blood plasma currently limits its application in chelation therapy. However, derivatives of cys or its enantiomer might be promising in improving its application in the chelation therapy of mercury and heavy metals. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Medicinal Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |