Haemoglobin Camperdown beta104(G6) arginine leads to serine.

Routine investigation of ante natal patients revealed a subtle change in the electrophoretic pattern on cellulose acetate of the proposita. Further investigations by isoelectric focussing in polyacrylamide gel suggested the presence of two major haemoglobin components. Using a modified cellulose acetate technique globin chain separation revealed an abnormal beta-chain. Chain separation on a carboxymethyl-cellulose column provided a pure sample of the abnormal beta-chain. After amino-ethylation, tryptic digestion and peptide mapping, amino acid analysis of relevant peptides showed the abnormality in the beta-chain to be a substitution of arginine by serine at the 104 position. The presence of a positively charged residue at this position would appear to be necessary for the stabilization of the haemoglobin central cavity. The replacement by serine in this haemoglobin leads to slightly decreased stability but does not appear to affect the oxygen affinity.     

Haemoglobins of the shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni. III. Amino acid sequence of the beta-chain

The amino acid sequence of the beta-chain of the principal haemoglobin from the shark H. portusjacksoni has been determined. The chain has 141 residues, the same as that of mammalian alpha-chains and less than the 146 residues of mammalian beta-chains or the 148 residues of the alpha-chain from the tetrameric shark haemoglobin. The sequence was deduced from the sequences of peptides obtained by digestion of the globin or its cyanogen bromide fragments with trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin and papain. The difference in length of the beta-chain is most readily accounted for by the absence of the D helix. This small helical section is normally present in myoglobins and beta-globins but absent in alpha-chains. The deduction that it is absent from shark beta-chain is based on consideration of homology. The beta-chain shows the insertion of histidine beta2 and the deletions corresponding to residues A17 and AB1 relative to alpha-and myoglobin chains. The reactive thiol group in shark haemoglobin was shown by radioactive labelling to be residue 51 in the beta-chain, immediately preceding the E helix. The amino acid sequence of shark beta-chain shows 92 differences from human beta-chain, significantly more differences than shown by chicken or frog beta-chains, in line with its earlier time of divergence. If the tertiary structure of the shark beta-chain is the same as that of the horse then there are two changes in the alpha1beta2 contact site in oxyhaemoglobin and an additional one in deoxyhaemoglobin. When both alpha- and beta-chain contacts are considered there is a total of nine changes in residues involved in the alpha1beta2 contacts. There is no Bohr effect in shark haemoglobin, and of the residues normally involved in this effect the C-terminal histidine residue of the beta-chain is present, but the aspartyl (FG1) residue to which it is salt-linked is not, being replaced by a glutamyl residue.     

Amino acid sequence of the beta-chain of the tetrameric haemoglobin of the bivalve mollusc, Anadara trapezia

The amino acid sequence of the beta-chain of the principal haemoglobin from A. trapezia has been determined. The sequence was deduced from the sequences of tryptic peptides, which were fractionated using highperformance liquid chromatography and peptide mapping. Additional sequence data, particularly for the large tryptic peptides, was obtained from enzyme digests of both cyanogen bromide fragments and large citraconyltryptic peptides. The beta-chain has 151 residues which is longer than all the other sequenced haemoglobin chains except the alpha-chain of A. trapezia, which is 153 residues in length. The residues corresponding to those normally in the D helix are absent in this beta-chain. The additional residues are contributed by an extension of the N-terminal region, which was also found to be acetylated. Comparison of the beta-chain amino acid sequence with that of the alpha-chain of A. trapezia, the dimeric chain of A. trapezia, and the dimeric chain of A. broughtonii showed 53% identity in each case. In the E and F helices, the homology is particularly noticeable. There is 100% homology in the F helix of all four chains. The dimeric globin of A. trapezia also shows 100% homology with the beta-chain in the E helix, while the alpha-chain shows 75%. If the tertiary structure of the alpha- and beta-chains of A. trapezia haemoglobin is the same as that of horse haemoglobin, then there are many changes in the alpha 1 and beta 2 contact site residues.     

Antigenic structure of human haemoglobin. Localization of the antigenic sites of the beta-chain in three host species by synthetic overlapping peptides representing the entire chain.

A comprehensive synthetic approach is applied here to localize the continuous antigenic sites of the beta-chain of haemoglobin. The approach was based on the synthesis and purification of the following consecutive 15-residue peptides (each overlapping by five residues at both ends with the peptides preceding it and following it in the sequence): 1-15, 11-25 etc. Quantitative radiometric titrations of protein and peptide adsorbents were performed with 125I-labelled anti-haemoglobin antibodies from three different host species. The specificity of antibody binding to peptide adsorbents was confirmed by inhibition studies and by the binding specificity of antibodies isolated from peptide adsorbents. These studies established the full profile of antigenic beta-chain regions, which was found to be independent of the host species. Five major antigenic sites were localized, and their three-dimensional and structural characteristics are discussed in relation to the immune recognition of haemoglobin and other proteins.     

Primary sequence of the beta-chain of Badger haemoglobin.

Badger (Meles meles) haemoglobin was purified by paper electrophoresis and converted into globin. Chain separation was carried out on a CM-cellulose column in the presence of 8 M urea. The beta-chain was aminoethylated, purified by gel filtration and submitted to tryptic digestion. A fingerprint obtained with the enzymic digests showed 17 distinct ninhydrin-positive spots from which 20 pure peptides were isolated by further electrochromatographic separations. These peptides were sequenced using Dansyl-Edman and Ptc-Edman degradation techniques. The presence of amide residues was confirmed after aminopeptidase M hydrolysis. Taking human haemoglobin beta-chain as a model, the covalent structure could be completely resolved without the help of any further overlapping technique. The following substitutions were noted (badger/human, position): Ala/Pro5, Ser/Ala13, Tyr/Phe41, Asp/Glu43, Ser/Ala70, Glu/Asp73, Lys/Ala76, Asn/His77, Lys/Thr87, Lys/Arg104 and Gln/Pro125. A comparison with other haemoglobin beta-chains already sequenced shows a greater similarity with dog haemoglobin, the only example of beta-chain of known structure in the order of Carnivores.     

Studies on monotreme proteins. VI. Amino acid sequence of the beta-chain of haemoglobin from the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus.

The amino acid sequence of the 146 residues of the beta-chain of the major haemoglobin from the platypus has been determined. The soluble peptides derived from the chain by tryptic digestion were isolated by paper ionophoresis and chromatography. The amino acid sequences were determined by the dansyl-Edman procedure or by further digestion with other enzymes. The tryptic peptides were aligned by homology with other beta-globins. There were 14 changes in sequence compared with echidna beta-chain. The number of changes in sequence compared with human beta-chain is 34 which is less than the 39 changes between human and platypus alpha-chains. Generally there are more changes between beta-chains; there are only three other examples reported where there are more changes between alpha-chains than beta-chains, these are of echidna, rabbit and dog globins. By comparison with the 'contact sites' in horse haemoglobin there is one change in beta-haem contacts, three changes in beta1-alpha1 contacts and no changes in beta2-alpha1 contacts. The date of divergence of the monotremes from the other mammals was estimated at 132 +/- 33 million years, based on the number of amino acid differences between species and allowing for multiple mutations during the evolutionary period. This estimate differs widely from the estimate given by similar treatment of the alpha-chain sequences and the significance of this discrepancy to the validity of the method is discussed.     

Haemoglobin Rahere (beta Lys-Thr): A new high affinity haemoglobin associated with decreased 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate binding and relative polycythaemia.

A new haemoglobin with increased oxygen affinity, beta82 (EF6) lysine leads to threonine (Hb Rahere), was found during the investigation of a patient who was found to have a raised haemoglobin concentration after a routine blood count. The substitution affects one of the 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate binding sites, resulting in an increased affinity for oxygen, but both the haem-haem interaction and the alkaline Bohr effect are normal in the haemolysate. This variant had the same mobility as haemoglobin A on electrophoresis at alkaline pH but was detected by measuring the whole blood oxygen affinity; it could be separated from haemoglobin A, however, by electrophoresis in agar at acid pH. The raised haemoglobin concentration was mainly due to a reduction in plasma volume (a relative polycythaemia) and was associated with a persistently raised white blood count. This case emphasises the need to measure the oxygen affinity of haemoglobin in all patients with absolute or relative polycythaemia when some obvious cause is not evident.     

Building quantitative relationship between changed sequence and changed oxygen affinity in human hemoglobin beta-chain

244 point mutations have been recorded in human hemoglobin beta-chain, of which some change the oxygen affinity of human hemoglobin beta-chain. We use the amino-acid distribution probability to quantify these mutations, and use the cross-impact analysis with Bayes' law to determine the probability that changes the oxygen affinity of human hemoglobin beta-chain under mutations.     

Haemoglobin binding with haptoglobin. Localization of the haptoglobin-binding sites on the beta-chain of human haemoglobin by synthetic overlapping peptides encompassing the entire chain.

A synthetic approach was employed to identify the haptoglobin-binding sites on the beta-chain of human haemoglobin. This approach consists of the synthesis of a series of consecutive overlapping peptides that, together, systematically represent the entire protein chain. Fourteen synthetic peptides (beta 1-15, beta 11-25 etc.) were examined for their ability to bind human haptoglobin by quantitative solid-phase radiometric titrations of 125I-labelled haptoglobin. Of these 14 peptides only peptides beta 11-25 and beta 131-146 bound haptoglobin significantly; peptide beta 21-35 exhibited a small binding activity as a consequence of the overlap with peptide beta 11-25. On this basis and by examination of the three-dimensional structure of haemoglobin, it was concluded that the beta-chain of haemoglobin has two binding sites for haptoglobin that reside in, but do not necessarily encompass all of, the regions beta 11-25 and beta 131-146.     

Prediction and conformation by synthesis of two antigenic sites in human haemoglobin by extrapolation from the known antigenic structure of sperm-whale myoglobin.

The complete antigenic structure of sperm-whale myoglobin was previously determined in our laboratory. By structural analogy with myoglobin, two regions in human haemoglobin were predicted to comprise antigenic sites. One region was on the alpha-chain [alpha-(15-23)] and the other on the beta-chain [beta-(16-23)]. These two regions were synthesized, purified and characterized, and their immunochemistry was studied. Each peptide was able specifically to bind considerable amounts of haemoglobin antibodies. In a set of homologous proteins, barring any drastic conformational or electrostatic inductive effects exerted by the substitutions, and allowing for obstruction due to subunit interaction, the determination of the antigenic structure of one protein may serve as a useful starting model for the others.     

The effect of temperature on the ability of Tilapia mossambica Peters to enter deep water

The ability of adult Tilapia mossambica Peters to enter deep water was determined at 15, 22 and 30°C. At 30°C adults compensate to about 20m depth but at 15°C to only 7 m. Compensation is more rapid at high than at low temperatures. T. mossambica haemoglobin has a marked Root effect which is the same at 22 and 30°C. The oxygen affinity of the haemoglobin is higher at 15°C than at 30°C. There was no measurable difference in the rate of passive oxygen diffusion across the swimbladder wall in the temperature range 15–30°C. It is concluded that the ability to enter deeper water at higher temperatures is related to decreased oxygen affinity of the haemoglobin and higher rates of oxygen secretion and blood circulation.     

A new β-chain haemoglobin variant with increased oxygen affinity: Hb Roma [β115(g17)Ala → Val]

Background

Haemoglobin Roma [β115(G17)Ala → Val] is a new adult haemoglobin variant found in a patient presenting a mild hypochromia and microcytosis. We studied this previously uncharacterised variant in order to evaluate the effect on the structural and funcional properties of the Ala → Val substitution at the α1β1 interface.

Methods and results

The variant chain was identified by direct DNA sequencing of the β-globin gene, which revealed a GCC → GTC mutation in codon 115. This mutation was confirmed by mass spectrometric analysis of the tetramers and peptides. The oxygen-binding properties of the haemoglobin A/haemoglobin Roma mixture, in which the variant makes up 25% of the haemoglobins, showed a significant increase in oxygen affinity with respect to normal haemoglobin A, both in the absence and presence of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. The role of the βG17 position, situated at the α₁β₁ interface, has been examined using computational models of haemoglobin Roma and other known βG17 variants, in comparison with normal haemoglobin A.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the β115(G17)Ala → Val substitution at the α1β1 interface is responsible for increased oxygen affinity and mild destabilisation of the haemoglobin Roma.

General significance

An amino acid substitution at the G17 position of the α1β1 interface may result in stabilisation of the high affinity R-state of the haemoglobin molecule.     

Temperature acclimation and oxygen-binding properties of blood and multiple haemoglobins of rainbow trout.

Acclimation of rainbow trout to 5, 15 and 22 degrees C for periods exceeding 4 months had no significant effect on the oxygen affinity of whole blood or on the concentration of ATP, which is the main organic phosphate in red cells. Slight differences were, however, found in the oxygenation properties of the haemolysates, which correlate with changes in the relative concentration of the multiple haemoglobins. The oxygen-binding properties of the main haemoglobin components account for the observed differences in the haemolysates. The possible thermoacclimatory significance of changes in haemoglobin multiplicity and co-factor concentrations is discussed.     

Role of Penultimate Tyrosine in Haemoglobin β Subunit

The abnormalities of mutant haemoglobins Rainier and Bethesda hinge on the substitution of a vital tyrosine residue, which stabilizes the deoxy form of normal haemoglobin. Replacement of this tyrosine therefore results in high oxygen affinity and low co-operativity.     

The pathogenesis of radiation nephropathy in the dog

Canine kidneys were biopsied at 2-week intervals from 3 to 13 weeks after a single 15-Gy dose of intraoperatively delivered 6 MeV electrons to determine the pathogenesis and dose-limiting tissue for radiation nephropathy. The data suggest that the dose and time after irradiation determine the dose-limiting tissue. The early functional survival of canine kidneys appeared to be dependent on parenchymal cell killing. Histologic changes in epithelial cells were seen as early as 3 weeks after irradiation. The parenchyma decreased to 50% of the preirradiation volume by 9 weeks but repopulated to near normal by 11 weeks. A second wave of depopulation, possibly due to perivascular fibrosis, was evident at 13 weeks. Previous investigators have demonstrated progressively extensive changes in renal vessels after irradiation. In this study, permanent vascular damage was seen at 3 weeks; however, most early changes in vessel walls proved to be temporary and probably resulted from atrophic vasoconstriction following parenchymal depopulation. Vessel dimensions returned to near normal as the parenchyma repopulated; however, a "histohematic barrier" created by progressively increasing perivascular fibrosis may cause a reduction in oxygen and nutrient support of the parenchyma and permanent loss of renal function.     

Haemoglobin Hiroshima and the Mechanism of the Alkaline Bohr Effect

HAEMOGLOBIN Hiroshima is a variant with interesting physiological properties^1,2 discovered in a Japanese family. Its Bohr effect is halved, its oxygen affinity at physiological pH increased about three-fold and haem-haem interaction is somewhat reduced compared with normal haemoglobin. In 0.1 M NaCl solutions initially stripped of phosphate, 2,3-diphospho-glycerate (2,3-DPG) diminishes the oxygen affinity as in haemoglobin A (H. F. Bunn, unpublished results). The amino-acid substitution originally deduced for this abnormal haemoglobin was histidine 143 (H21)β ? aspartic acid¹. It was possible to conceive of a mechanism which accounted for its diminished Bohr effect³, but the normal response of its oxygen affinity to 2,3-DPG was inconsistent with the proposed role of histidine 143 in 2,3-DPG binding by haemoglobin A^4,5. An X-ray crystallographic study of deoxyhaemoglobin Hiroshima has now revealed that the replacement occurs not in position 143 but 146β. This was confirmed by chemical methods and the physiological properties of this haemoglobin are now satisfactorily accounted for. The results support the role of histidine 146β in the alkaline Bohr effect⁶.     

High-resolution X-ray study of deoxy recombinant human hemoglobins synthesized from beta-globins having mutated amino termini.

The crystal structures of three mutant hemoglobins reconstituted from recombinant beta chains and authentic human alpha chains have been determined in the deoxy state at 1.8-A resolution. The primary structures of the mutant hemoglobins differ at the beta-chain amino terminus. One mutant, beta Met, is characterized by the addition of a methionine at the amino terminus. The other two hemoglobins are characterized by substitution of Val 1 beta with either a methionine, beta V1M, or an alanine, beta V1A. All the mutation-induced structural perturbations are small intrasubunit changes that are localized to the immediate vicinity of the beta-chain amino terminus. In the beta Met and beta V1A mutants, the mobility of the beta-chain amino terminus increases and the electron density of an associated inorganic anion is decreased. In contrast, the beta-chain amino terminus of the beta V1M mutant becomes less mobile, and the inorganic anion binds with increased affinity. These structural differences can be correlated with functional data for the mutant hemoglobins [Doyle, M. L., Lew, G., DeYoung, A., Kwiatkowski, L., Noble, R. W., & Ackers, G. K. (1992) Biochemistry preceding paper is this issue] as well as with the properties of ruminant hemoglobins and a mechanism [Perutz, M., & Imai, K. (1980) J. Mol. Biol. 136, 183-191] that relates the intrasubunit interactions of the beta-chain amino terminus to changes in oxygen affinity. Since the structures of the mutant deoxyhemoglobins show only subtle differences from the structure of deoxyhemoglobin A, it is concluded that any of the three hemoglobins could probably function as a surrogate for hemoglobin A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of whole body UV-irradiation on oxygen delivery from the erythrocyte

In 16 healthy caucasian volunteers (mean age: 22.2 years) the influence of whole body UV-irradiation on the oxygen transport properties of erythrocytes was investigated. Four hours after irradiation with UV (using the minimal erythema dose, MED) no variation of haemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, pH or standard bicarbonate could be found, whereas inorganic plasma phosphate (Pi), calcium, the intraerythrocytic 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), the activity of erythrocytic phosphofructokinase (PFK) and pyruvatekinase (PK) increased significantly. The half saturation tension of oxygen (P50-value) tended to increase. The increase of Pi causes--via a stimulation of the glycolytic pathway--an increase in 2,3-DPG concentration and thus results in a shift of the oxygen dissociation curve. It is therefore possible to enhance tissue oxygenation by whole body UV-irradiation.     

A new hemoglobin variant. HB Yatsushiro alpha 2 A beta 2 60 Val replaced by Leu

This study was performed to establish the structural abnormality of a new hemoglobin variant discover-d in a Japanese patient with angina pectoris. The hybridization of the separated hemoglobin with canine hemoglobin revealed a beta-chain anomaly. Peptide betaTp-6 was found to be abnormally located on the peptide map of tryptic digests of the S-carboxymethylated beta-chain from the variant hemoglobin. A structural study on the abnormal betaTp-6 revealed that the variant hemoglobin differs from hemoglobin A by substitution of leucine for valine at residue 60 of the beta-chain. This new variant hemoglobin is designated as hemoglobin Yatsushiro after the name of the city where the propositus lived. The patient is hematologically healthy and his clinical history has nothing to do with this abnormal hemoglobin.