HNEalbumin

HNE-albumin, also known as N-(carboxymethyl)hippuryl-lysine-albumin or homocysteic acid C-terminal corresonding mercaptal of bovine serum albumin, is a protein that has been covalently bound to a homocysteic acid adduct of hippuryl-lysine.

This protein derivative is formed when homocysteic acid reacts with hippuryl-lysine, a non-enzyme-catalyzed post-translational modification process. The result of this reaction is the formation of a covalent link between the homocysteic acid and the hippuryl-lysine residue on bovine serum albumin.

HNE-albumin has been used extensively as a model protein in research studies involving lipoxidative-mediated protein modification. Lipid peroxidation, a process by which reactive lipid aldehyde intermediates can covalently bind to proteins, is a common mechanism of protein oxidation.

Previous studies have shown that protein-bound homocysteic acid (HNE) levels increase in various conditions, including atherosclerosis, sepsis, and oxidative stress. The levels of these protein-bound modifications often positively correlate with disease severity and oxidative stress levels, indicating a link between HNE-albumin formation and oxidative damage.

The formation of HNE-albumin has been measured in various conditions and diseases to assess oxidative stress levels and tissue damage. Researchers often investigate the role of HNE-albumin in various disease contexts, such as cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders. In these studies, HNE-albumin has emerged as a potential biomarker for oxidative stress.