The Role of Heme in the Synthesis and Assembly of Hemoglobin

The role of alpha-hemoglobin stabilizing protein in redox chemistry, denaturation, and hemoglobin assembly

Hemoglobin biosynthesis in erythrocyte precursors involves several steps. The correct ratios and concentrations of normal alpha (alpha) and beta (beta) globin proteins must be expressed; apoproteins must be folded correctly; heme must be synthesized and incorporated into these globins rapidly; and the individual alpha and beta subunits must be rapidly and correctly assembled into heterotetramers. These events occur on a large scale in vivo, and dysregulation causes serious clinical disorders such as thalassemia syndromes. Recent work has implicated a conserved erythroid protein known as Alpha-Hemoglobin Stabilizing Protein (AHSP) as a participant in these events. Current evidence suggests that AHSP enhances alpha subunit stability and diminishes its participation in harmful redox chemistry. There is also evidence that AHSP facilitates one or more early-stage post-translational hemoglobin biosynthetic events. In this review, recent experimental results are discussed in light of several current models describing globin subunit folding, heme uptake, assembly, and denaturation during hemoglobin synthesis. Particular attention is devoted to molecular interactions with AHSP that relate to alpha chain oxidation and the ability of alpha chains to associate with partner beta chains.

Role of alpha-hemoglobin-stabilizing protein in normal erythropoiesis and beta-thalassemia

Hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis is coordinated by homeostatic mechanisms to limit the accumulation of free alpha or beta subunits, which are cytotoxic. Alpha hemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP) is an abundant erythroid protein that specifically binds free alphaHb, stabilizes its structure, and limits its ability to participate in chemical reactions that generate reactive oxygen species. Gene ablation studies in mice demonstrate that AHSP is required for normal erythropoiesis. AHSP-null erythrocytes are short-lived, contain Hb precipitates, and exhibit signs of oxidative damage. Loss of AHSP exacerbates beta-thalassemia in mice, indicating that altered AHSP expression or function could modify thalassemia phenotypes in humans, a topic that is beginning to be explored in clinical studies. We used biochemical, spectroscopic, and crystallographic methods to examine how AHSP stabilizes alphaHb. AHSP binds the G and H helices of alphaHb on a surface that largely overlaps with the alpha1-beta1 interface of HbA. This result explains previous findings that betaHb can competitively displace AHSP from alphaHb to form HbA tetramer. Remarkably, binding of AHSP to oxygenated alphaHb induces dramatic conformational changes and converts the heme-bound iron to an oxidized hemichrome state in which all six coordinate positions are occupied. This structure limits the reactivity of heme iron, providing a mechanism by which AHSP stabilizes alphaHb. These findings suggest a biochemical pathway through which AHSP might participate in normal Hb synthesis and modulate the severity of thalassemias. Moreover, understanding how AHSP stabilizes alphaHb provides a theoretical basis for new strategies to inhibit the damaging effects of free alphaHb that accumulates in beta-thalassemia.

Biosynthesis of cat hemoglobins: translation of poly(A)-RNA from animals of various HbA/HbB phenotypes

The molecular basis for the genetic control of variable proportions of the two hemoglobins in domestic cat blood was investigated. Both major hemoglobins of cat blood, HbA (alpha 2 beta A2) and HbB (alpha 2 beta B2), were synthesized in an mRNA-dependent rabbit reticulocyte system using poly(A)-RNA from cat reticulocyte polysomes as the source of the message. The relative amounts of HbA and HbB synthesized in the system were a function of the HbA/HbB phenotype of the cat from which the reticulocytes and poly(A)-RNA were obtained. Higher ratios of HbA/HbB synthesis were found when the source of poly(A)-RNA was the polysomes from a 90/10 (HbA/HbB) phenotype than when it was from a 50/50 (HbA/HbB) phenotype. These results indicate that the variable proportions of HbA and HbB found in the blood of different members of the cat population result from the genetic control of the relative amounts of functional beta A and beta B mRNA.

Globin chain synthesis ratios in sideroblastic anaemia

Globin synthesis ratios were measured on reticulocytes from nine patients with primary acquired sideroblastic anaemia (SA), four patients with hereditary or congenital SA, two patients with secondary acquired SA and three patients with iron deficiency (ID). Ten of the samples from patients with SA and all the samples from patients with ID had normal ratios. Samples from three patients had significantly abnormal ratios, one from a patient with SA and acquired Hb H disease (alpha/beta 0 X 26), one from a patient with secondary acquired SA (alpha/beta 0 X 88), and one from a patient who went on to develop acute myeloblastic leukaemia (alpha/beta 1 X 36). Globin synthesis was stimulated by 100 microM haem similarly in normal, SA and ID reticulocytes. Any limitation of globin synthesis in SA and ID is therefore not easily reversible by adding haem. Inhibition of haem synthesis in nonsideroblastic reticulocytes using 4 mM isonicotinic acid hydrazide for 1 h incubation affected neither total globin synthesis nor the alpha/beta ratio. These results contradict the view that decreased haem synthesis decreases globin chain synthesis and decreases the alpha/beta globin chain synthesis ratios in human reticulocytes. Previously reported findings that haem could reverse globin chain synthesis inhibition in SA were good evidence for a primary deficiency of haem synthesis in the erythroblasts of these patients. Our inability to substantiate these findings emphasizes the need for a re-evaluation of the aetiology of sideroblastic anaemia.

Bone marrow and peripheral blood globin chain biosynthesis in iron deficiency

Globin chain synthesis was studied in 13 iron-deficient patients. The mean whole-cell globin alpha/beta ratio in the peripheral blood of 11 patients was 1.05 +/- 0.06 which is similar to the value 0.99 +/- 0.08 obtained for 10 controls. The ratios obtained for stroma-free globin were not significantly different from those of whole cell preparations. In contrast, the alpha/beta ratio of bone marrow was 0.73 +/- 0.14 in 10 iron deficient patients, which is significantly lower than that of controls. Two other patients had decreased alpha/beta ratios in the peripheral blood, probably because of the presence of an alpha-thalassemia gene. These results demonstrate a reduced rate of synthesis of alpha chains relative to that of beta chains in the bone marrow of iron-deficient patients that is not demonstrable in the peripheral blood.

Globin chain biosynthesis in iron deficiency

Globin chain synthesis was studied in seven severely iron-deficient patients before and after treatment with iron. There was no appreciable difference between the individual pre- and post-treatment alpha/beta specific activity ratios and the mean alpha/beta ratio for each group was 1.00+/-SD 0.04. In a further six untreated iron-deficient patients the mean alpha/beta ratio was 1.00+/-SD 0.04. There was therefore no evidence that iron deficiency caused a reduction in alpha/beta ratio. Three patients with beta thalassaemia trait and coexistent iron deficiency had lower alpha/beta ratios before treatment than after treatment with iron. It appeared that iron deficiency had caused reduced alpha chain synthesis in this group. Preliminary experiments have shown that the alpha/beta specific activity ratio of purified haemoglobin A is decreased in iron deficiency, indicating an increase in the size of the free alpha chain pool. It is suggested that iron deficiency may interfere with the proteolytic mechanism normally responsible for the destruction of excess alpha chains. In combined iron deficiency and beta thalassaemia trait, the resulting increase in free alpha chains might act by negative feedback to inhibit further alpha chain synthesis (Blum et al, 1970) thereby reducing the pre-treatment alpha/beta ratio.

Evidence for rapid loss of newly synthesized haemoglobin S molecules in sickle cell anaemia and sickle cell trait

The present study indicates that newly completed haemoglobin S molecules rather than free betas-chains are preferentially bound to the reticulocyte stroma of individuals with sickle cell trait and sickle cell anaemia. Reticulocytes from indivdiuals with HbAA, AS and SS were incubated with [3H]eucine from 1.25 min to 120 min. Unlike the stroma-free haemolysates, the stroma of all individuals contained an excess of labelled beta-chains relative to alpha-chains after short incubation times. In haemoglobin AA and AS individuals, the stromal betaA radioactivity was 1--2% of the total cellular betaA radioactivity. In haemoglobin AS and SS individuals, the stromal betaS radioactivity was 3--5% and 10--20% of the total cellular betaS radioactivity, respectively. All of the stroma beta-chain radioactivity was associated with completed haemoglobin molecules. Because of the unlabelled free alpha-chain pool found in reticulocytes, after short incubation times newly completed haemoglobin molecules have predominantly labelled beta-chains and unlabelled alpha-chains. These findings suggest that part of the discrepancy between the stroma and stroma-free haemolysate alpha/beta radioactivities seen in HbAS and HbSS individuals may result from normal labelling kinetics. A pulse chase experiment performed on an individual with HbSS revealed that comleted HbS molecules, in addition to being associated with the stroma, were lost from the cell.

Interaction between the synthesis of alpha and beta globin

We have examined the relationship between alpha and beta globin chain syntheses by utilizing the distribution of isoleucyl residues in rabbit hemoglobin. The alpha globin chain contains three isoleucyl residues while the beta chain of certain rabbits contains no isoleucine. O-Methyl-L-threonine, an isoleucine isostere, inhibits incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids into alpha chains in rabbit reticulocytes. When alpha chain synthesis is inhibited by 50-85%, beta synthesis is stimulated by 15-50%. The excess labeled beta chains are not distinguishable from authentic beta chains by any of the following criteria: (a) carboxymethyl cellulose chromatography in sodium phosphate-urea buffers, (b) electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate, and (c) electrophoresis of methionine-containing tryptic peptides. The stimulation of beta synthesis continues after the pool of excess alpha chains has been exhausted by preincubation with O-methyl-L-threonine. The stimulation does not occur, however, when 1 mM 2-mercaptoethanol is added to the incubation medium or when the cells are excessively diluted in the incubation mixture. The rates of beta chain initiation and elongation during stimulation have been compared to the rates during normal synthesis. Although both rates are increased, the rate of elongation increases more than initiation, suggesting that initiation is the rate-limiting step in increased beta chain production. The stimulation of beta synthesis when alpha synthesis is inhibited is interpreted as resulting from relief of competition between alpha and beta mRNAs for limiting components of the protein synthetic apparatus.

Disturbed haem and globin synthesis in reticulocytes of prenatal flexed-tailed (f-f) anaemic mice

Haem synthetase activity and co-ordination of α- and β-globin chain synthesis have been investigated in prenatal reticulocytes of congenic FL/4Re +/+Lvb/Lvband FL/1 Ref/f Lvb/Lvb, mice, which have a marked hypochromic, microcytic, siderocytic anaemia, with reduced erythrocyte numbers at birth, and also in other stocks bearing theflesion. Haem synthetase activity inf/freticulocyte homogenates was similar to that in normal cells but was markedly dependent on protoporphyrin added to the homogenate, while activity in normal cell homogenates was relatively independent of added precursor. In cultured normal prenatal reticulocytes α- and β-globin was synthesized in approximately equal amounts during a 4 h labelling period, but inf/freticulocytes there was an approximate 50% deficiency in β-globin chain synthesis. This deficiency could be repaired by added haem but not by protoporphyrin. Such a lesion is quantitatively consistent with the observed hypochromia of neonatalf/ferythrocytes. The relationship of this abnormality to effects of theflocus on early erythropoietic precursor cells is discussed.

The control of haemoglobin synthesis: factors controlling the output of alpha and beta chains

Analysis of the effects of amino acid starvation in reticulocytes is comparatively simple compared with similar analysis in other tissues of whole organisms. This is mainly because of the absence of RNA synthesis in reticulocytes, but also because the bulk of the protein being synthesized is haemoglobin, a protein whose structure is completely known. The absence of RNA synthesis eliminates complications that would otherwise arise through RNA-mediated control mechanisms which in turn might mask the effects of amino acid starvation on the protein synthetic machinery in the cells (Munro, 1969). Consequently reticulocytes have been used to study the effect of amino acid starvation on the actual process of protein synthesis and assembly.

The control of haemoglobin synthesis: factors controlling the output of α and β chains

Analysis of the effects of amino acid starvation in reticulocytes is comparatively simple compared with similar analysis in other tissues of whole organisms. This is mainly because of the absence of RNA synthesis in reticulocytes, but also because the bulk of the protein being synthesized is haemoglobin, a protein whose structure is completely known. The absence of RNA synthesis eliminates complications that would otherwise arise through RNA-mediated control mechanisms which in turn might mask the effects of amino acid starvation on the protein synthetic machinery in the cells (Munro, 1969). Consequently reticulocytes have been used to study the effect of amino acid starvation on the actual process of protein synthesis and assembly.