Acoustical properties of aqueous solutions of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin

The acoustical relaxation spectrum of aqueous solutions of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin solutions was investigated in the frequency range 0.5–1000 MHz. The abrupt high frequency cut off of the broad absorption spectrum is consistent with a heavily weighted, shortest relaxation time of 2 × 10^?9 sec. Both the high-frequency cut-off and high frequency residual absorption appear to be slightly different for oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin solution.     

The reactions of OH radicals with D-ribose in deoxygenated and oxygenated aqueous solution

Aqueous solution ofD-ribose (10^?2M) saturated with N₂O and N₂O/O₂ (4/1) were γ-irradiated (dose rate: 3.85 x 10¹⁸ eV.g^?1.h^?1) at room temperature. The following products were identified:D-ribonic acid (1). D-erythro-pentos-2-ulose (2). D-erythro-pentos-4-ulose (3),D-erythro-pentos-3-ulose (4), D-ribo-pentodialdose (5), 2-deoxy-D-erythro-pentonic acid (6), 2-deoxypentos-3-ulose (7)(7), 4-deoxylpentos-3-ulose (8), 3-deoxypentos-4-ulose (9), 3-deoxypentos-2-ulose (10), 5-deoxypentos-4-ulose (11), erythrose (12), erythro-tetrodialdose (13), erythronic acid (14), threose/erythrulose (15). threonic acid (16), 2-deoxytetrose (17), and glyceraldehyde (18). In deoxygenated solutions, 13, 14, and 16 were absent. In the presence of oxygen, the formation of 6–11 and 17 was suppressed. From quantitative measurements, G-values were calculated for both deoxygenated and oxygenated conditions. Five different, primary, ribosyl radicals are formed which, in deoxygenated solution, undergo disproportionation reactions (to give 1-5), and transformations such as elimination of water and carbon monoxide followed by disproportionation reactions (to give6-12.17). Material-balance considerations indicate the formation of dimers (not measured). In oxygenated solutions, oxygen rapidly adds to the primary ribosyl radicals, thus preventing the transformation reactions, and the main products are 1–5 and 13. Possible mechanistic routes are discussed. The attack of HO radicals on D-ribose involves C-1, ～20%; C-2 and C-4, ～35%: C-3, ～ 20%; and C-5, ～25%     

Polymerization in erythrocytes containing S and non-S hemoglobins

We analyzed the effects of protein and water nonideality and of erythrocyte heterogeneity on the polymerization of hemoglobin S in cells where there were significant amounts of non-S hemoglobins, sickle trait (AS), and SC disease. For AS erythrocytes, the calculated predicted results were in good agreement with measured polymer formation as previously reported (Noguchi C.T., D.A. Torchia, and A.N. Schnechter, 1981, J. Biol. Chem. 256:4168-4171). Throughout much of the physiologically relevant oxygen saturation region, polymer was not formed in AS erythrocytes. Measurements of polymer formation in SC erythrocytes as a function of oxygen saturation using 13C NMR are reported here and also are in good agreement with the calculated predicted results. As in sickle (SS) erythrocytes, polymer can be detected in SC erythrocytes in the region above 60% oxygen saturation. The increased polymer formation in SC erythrocytes as compared with AS erythrocytes can be explained in terms of hemoglobin composition and concentration in SC erythrocytes, with the concomitant increase in the proportion of dense cells. These findings provide a basis for understanding the pathophysiology of sickle cell and of SC disease, in contrast to benign sickle trait, in terms of intracellular polymer formation.     

Water sorption on deoxygenated hemoglobins CC, SC, SS, AS, and AA

Five human hemoglobins whose genetic relationship to one another involves one set of alleles, hemoglobins CC, SC, SS, AS, and AA, were studied in the deoxygenated form within a McBain gravimetric sorption system at 28°C. Water was used as the adsorbate at relative vapor pressures ranging from 0.11 to 0.39. The results of this study are reported and compared with a similar study on the ferric form of these same five hemoglobins. For both forms of hemoglobin studied, a slight increase was measured in the number of polar sites accessible to H₂O vapor for those genotypes in which the substituent in the sixth position from the N terminus of the two β chains had a positively charged side chain, i.e., hemoglobin C. Those samples containing hemoglobin S (less soluble in the deoxy form) show an increased BET monolayer coverage in the deoxy as compared to the ferric form. For each genotype, the deoxygenated form had more polar sites accessible to H₂O vapor than its ferric form. This finding is in agreement with an increase in the size of the central cavity as shown by crystallographic analysis.     

Embryonic and larval hemoglobins during the early development of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

The main hemoglobin (Hb) found in Shumway (embryonic) stage 25 bullfrogs is that which we have designated Td-4. The other major tadpole Hbs (Td-1, 2, and 3) predominate during Taylor and Kollros (larval) stages I-XVIII. We propose that Td-4 is an embryonic Hb, whereas Td-1, 2, and 3 are larval (fetal-like) Hbs. Embryonic Hb Td-4 continues to be synthesized during the larval stages. During the larval period, the average peripheral blood Hb profile changes very little with morphological stage or general growth. However, there is great heterogeneity in the embryonic:larval Hb ratio among individual tadpoles of a given stage or weight, apparently due to differential Hb and red cell production by the two active erythropoietic sites, mesonephric kidneys (Td-4), and liver (Td-1, 2, 3).     

Polymerization of hemoglobins in Arctic fish: Lycodes reticulatus and Gadus morhua

In vitro, and possibly in vivo, hemoglobin polymerization and red blood cell sickling appear to be widespread in codfish. In this article, we show that the hemoglobins of the two Arctic fish Lycodes reticulatus and Gadus morhua also have the tendency to polymerize, as monitored by dynamic light scattering experiments. The elucidation of the primary structure of the single hemoglobin of the zoarcid L. reticulatus shows the presence of a large number of cysteyl residues in α and β chains. Their role in eliciting the ability to produce polymers was also addressed by MALDI-TOF and TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. The G.morhua globins are also rich in Cys, but unlike in L. reticulatus, polymerization does not seem to be disulfide driven. The widespread occurrence of the polymerization phenomenon displayed by hemoglobins of Arctic fish supports the hypothesis that this feature may bea response to stressful environmental conditions.     

Quantum mechanical analysis of oxygenated and deoxygenated states of hemocyanin: theoretical clues for a plausible allosteric model of oxygen binding.

Abstract: In this work with ab initio computations, we describe relevant interactions between protein active sites and ligands, using as a test case arthropod hemocyanins. A computational analysis of models corresponding to the oxygenated and deoxygenated forms of the hemocyanin active site is performed using the Density Functional Theory approach. We characterize the electron density distribution of the binding site with and without bound oxygen in relation to the geometry, which stems out of the crystals of three hemocyanin proteins, namely the oxygenated form from the horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus, and the deoxygenated forms, respectively, from the same source and from another arthropod, the spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus. Comparison of the three available crystals indicate structural differences at the oxygen binding site, which cannot be explained only by the presence and absence of the oxygen ligand, since the geometry of the ligand site of the deoxygenated Panulirus hemocyanin is rather similar to that of the oxygenated Limulus protein. This finding was interpreted in the frame of a mechanism of allosteric regulation for oxygen binding. However, the cooperative mechanism, which is experimentally well documented, is only partially supported by crystallographic data, since no oxygenated crystal of Panulirus hemocyanin is presently available. We address the following question: is the local ligand geometry responsible for the difference of the dicopper distance observed in the two deoxygenated forms of hemocyanin or is it necessary to advocate the allosteric regulation of the active site conformations in order to reconcile the different crystal forms? We find that the difference of the dicopper distance between the two deoxygenated hemocyanins is not due to the small differences of ligand geometry found in the crystals and conclude that it must be therefore stabilized by the whole protein tertiary structure.     

Response of the glycolysis of human erythrocytes to the transition from the oxygenated to the deoxygenated state at constant intracellular pH

The time course of the rate of the glycolysis of human erythrocytes and of some metabolites were determined before and after rapid deoxygenation at constant intracellular pH. For this purpose stripped deoxygenated haemoglobin was used as a rapid oxgen acceptor.Deoxygenation causes an increase of the glycolytic rate by 26%. Glucose 6-phosphate is decreased while the adenine nucleotides and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate remain constant. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and the triose phosphates decrease transiently before rising.The data can be explained by increased binding of phosphocompounds to deoxygenated as compared with oxygenated haemoglobin. Thereby the control enzymes hexokinase and phosphofructokinase are influenced. It is concluded that under physiological conditions changes in the oxygenation state of haemoglobin per se alter the glycolytic rate.     

Response of the glycolysis of human erythrocytes to the transition from the oxygenated to the deoxygenated state at constant intracellular pH.

The time course of the rate of the glycolysis of human erythrocytes and of some metabolites were determined before and after rapid deoxygenation at constant intracellular pH. For this purpose stripped deoxygenated haemoglobin was used as a rapid oxygen acceptor. Deoxygenation causes an increase of the glycolytic rate by 26%. Glucose 6-phosphate is decreased while the adenine nucleotides and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate remain constant. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and the triose phosphates decrease transiently before rising. The data can be explained by increased binding of phosphocompounds to deoxygenated as compared with oxygenated haemoglobin. Thereby the control enzymes hexokinase and phosphofructokinase are influenced. It is concluded that under physiological conditions changes in the oxygenation state of haemoglobin per se alter the glycolytic rate.     

Evolution of ruminant hemoglobins. Thermodynamic divergence of ox and buffalo hemoglobins.

The ligand-binding properties of hemoglobins from two homozygote phenotypes (AA and BB) of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) have been characterized by equilibrium and kinetic techniques. In the case of the BB phenotype, the two constituent hemoglobins have been purified and separately analysed. Buffalo hemoglobins display the reduced sensitivity to organic phosphates characteristic of ruminant hemoglobins, their physiological effector probably being the chloride ion. In contrast to the other known hemoglobins from ruminants, all the hemoglobins from the water buffalo display a significant temperature sensitivity, the delta H for oxygen binding in the presence of physiological effectors approaching that of human hemoglobin (delta H = -30.5 kJ/mol O2). This discrepancy with the other ruminant hemoglobins (e.g. ox, delta H = -10.4 kJ/mol O2), whose primary structure is very similar to that of buffalo, hemoglobins might be correlated to the different habitat and phylogenetic history of the two subfamilies (Bos and Bubalus) of Bovidae.