Alprazolam induced conformational change in hemoglobin.

Author(s): Maitra S, Saha B, Santra CR, Mukherjee A, Goswami S, Chanda PK, Karmakar P

Affiliation(s): Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India.

Publication date & source: 2006-12-09, Int J Biol Macromol., [Epub ahead of print]

Publication type:

Alprazolam (ALP) is a widely prescribed sedative and antidepressant benzodiazepine group of drugs. The wide uses of this drug lead us to investigate its possible interaction with hemoglobin (Hb). Spectrophotometric and spectofluorimetric studies showed strong binding of ALP with Hb. Circular dichroic spectra showed that alpha-helical structure of Hb-subunits has been largely changed. On ALP treatment partial pressure of O(2) is increased in the blood indicating release of O(2) from erythrocytes. Further, the binding of ALP-induced conformational changes in Hb resulting in larger Hb particle size was demonstrated by dynamic light scattering experiment. Thus, the present study unambiguously raises question of danger of random usage of ALP, which binds with and changes the function of Hb.