Structure
The 3D structure of human serum albumin has been determined by X-ray crystallography to a resolution of 2.5 Å.
Albumin comprises three homologous domains that assemble to form a heart-shaped molecule. Each domain is a product of two subdomains that possess common structural motifs. The principal regions of ligand binding to human serum albumin are located in hydrophobic cavities in subdomains IIA and IIIA, which exhibit similar chemistry. Structurally, the serum albumins are similar, each domain containing five or six internal disulfide bonds, as shown schematically below:
+---+ +----+ +-----+ | | | | | | xxCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxCCxxCxxxxCxxxxxCCxxxCxxxxxxxxxCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxCCxxxxCxxxx | | | | | | +-----------------+ +------+ +---------------+ C = cysteine, x = any amino acidRead more about this topic: Albumin
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