Oestriol binding to plasma proteins

Simple diffusion experiments indicated that oestriol was retained by human pregnancy plasma more effectively than by albumin solutions of a corresponding concentration. Oestriol bound (Ka = 6 X 10(6) l/mol at 4 degrees C) to a glycoprotein which had been isolated from plasma by adsorption to Concanavalin A. The free energy of binding at 37 degrees C was -38 kJ/mol. Competition experiments indicated that the oestriol binding glycoprotein had properties expected of sex hormone binding globulin. The distribution of oestriol among the protein fractions of human pregnancy plasma--glycoprotein bound 7.8%, albumin bound 78.6%, unbound 13.6%--suggests that this glycoprotein plays little part in the transport of oestriol.