TY - JOUR T1 - Evidence for a Ternary Complex Containing Albumin, Copper, and Penicillamine JF - Molecular Pharmacology JO - Mol Pharmacol SP - 249 LP - 255 VL - 8 IS - 2 AU - YUKIO SUGIURA AU - HISASHI TANAKA Y1 - 1972/03/01 UR - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/8/2/249.abstract N2 - The interaction between penicillamine and albumin-bound copper has been investigated. The presence of a ternary complex involving albumin, copper and penicillamine as an intermediate step in the course of the removal of copper has been demonstrated by gel filtration technique with [3H]penicillamine and 64Cu. Copper is presumed to exist in the complex in both the cupric and cuprous states. These findings suggest a mechanism for the migration of copper from the albumin—copper(II) complex to penicillamine, and explain the unique reductive chelating action of penicillamine in the treatment of Wilson's disease. ER -