Haemichrome formation during the in vitro oxidation of Hb Köln

The globins of cyanobacteria and algae

Approximately, 20 years ago, a haemoglobin gene was identified within the genome of the cyanobacterium Nostoc commune. Haemoglobins have now been confirmed in multiple species of photosynthetic microbes beyond N. commune, and the diversity of these proteins has recently come under increased scrutiny. This chapter summarizes the state of knowledge concerning the phylogeny, physiology and chemistry of globins in cyanobacteria and green algae. Sequence information is by far the best developed and the most rapidly expanding aspect of the field. Structural and ligand-binding properties have been described for just a few proteins. Physiological data are available for even fewer. Although activities such as nitric oxide dioxygenation and oxygen scavenging are strong candidates for cellular function, dedicated studies will be required to complete the story on this intriguing and ancient group of proteins.

Acute and long-term stability studies of deoxy hemoglobin and characterization of ascorbate-induced modifications

The reaction of ascorbate with recombinant hemoglobin (rHb1.1) in the presence of differing partial pressures of oxygen was studied. In the presence of 15 000 ppm (1.5%) residual oxygen, ascorbate/oxygen-mediated reactions resulted in an increased rate of autoxidation, modification of the beta-globin, increased oxygen affinity and decreased maximum Hill coefficient. One of the observed modifications to the beta-globin was a 72 Da addition to its N-terminus. Detailed characterization indicates the modification was an imidazolidinone type structure. Thorough deoxygenation of the hemoglobin solution to <150 ppm of oxygen prior to addition of ascorbate was required to prevent these modifications. Addition of ascorbate to the deoxy hemoglobin (deoxyHb) at pH 8 induced aggregation, eventually leading to precipitation. No such precipitation was observed at pH 7. Long-term storage of the hemoglobin was carried out by addition of ascorbate to deoxyHb at pH 7. The level of methemoglobin remained at <2% for up to 1 year at 4 degreesC, with no detectable precipitation of the protein. Modifications similar to those observed by the acute studies were observed over the 1-year period and correlated with disappearance of the added ascorbate.

Haemoglobinometry on automated haematology analysers

It is generally recognized that the standardized cyanmethaemoglobin (HiCN) method is the preferred method for the determination of haemoglobin in blood. In automated analysers, however, the reaction time available before the photometric measurement is too short. With the Ortho ELT800 we found that the conversion into HiCN took longer than 25 s. More important was the variation of results with the haemoglobin derivatives present in the blood sample. Our experiments suggest that Coulter counters and other automated analysers as well use denaturated globin haemichrome as the end product in their haemoglobin procedure although they profess to use HiCN by the addition of cyanide to the reagents. However, haemichrome is a suitable alternative for automated analysers as the conversion time is very short for all haemoglobin derivatives including HbCO. In the Coulter S Plus III where white cell size distribution analysis and haemoglobin determination are performed in the same solution, the haemoglobin derivative formed shortly after mixing is not a stable one. White cell size analysis and haemoglobin determination should preferably be performed in separate channels with different lysing reagents giving optimal conditions for each determination. Evaluation of the analysers would be easier if the manufacturers would give correct information on the chemistry of the haemoglobin method and state the composition of the reagents used.

Genetic variation in Cameroon: thermostability variants of hemoglobin and of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

The technique of heat denaturation was used in addition to electrophoresis for the detection of thermostability variants of hemoglobin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in an attempt to measure the amount of genetic variability present in villages in the United Republic of Cameroon, Equatorial Africa. A minimum of three to a maximum of 13 thermostability variants were estimated for HbA and HbS, and a minimum of two to a maximum of ten thermostability variants were estimated for GdA, GdB, and GdA-. It is suggested that hemoglobin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase thermostability variants are genetically determined and that the sites of these variants are at the hemoglobin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase structural loci. The evidence for the existence of these hidden variants and their importance in the neutralist v. selectionist controversy are discussed.

Isolation and characterization of the hemoglobin from the lanceolate fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum

The hemoglobin of the flatworm Dicrocoelium dendriticum, a lanceolate fluke which infests the hepatic ducts of certain mammals, has been isolated by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the denatured protein was found to be 15500, a value in the same range as hemoglobin subunits. The fact that the native hemoglobin has an apparent molecular weight of 22000 in 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, suggests limited aggregation. The protein contains, as all other myoglobins and hemoglobins, one molecule of non-covalently associated ferroprotoporphyrin IX per polypeptide chain. It forms the same ligand derivatives with very similar spectral properties as vertebrate hemoglobins. The high oxygen affinity (p50 is 0.07--0.1 mmHg or 9.3--13.3 Pa at 20 degrees C and pH 7.0) and the absence of heme-heme interaction of (Hill coefficient nH=1.0) are properties which this heme protein shares with other monomeric hemoglobins from invertebrate and lower vertebrate organisms. The native hemoglobin exists in two forms, having isoelectric points of 4.51 and 4.53, which do not differ in their amino-acid compositions. Dansylation indicated that the amino-terminal amino-acid residue is alanine. The carboxy-terminal sequence, determined by carboxypeptidase A digestion of the globin, is -His-Ala-Leu.

Studies of hemoglobin denaturation and Heinz body formation in the unstable hemoglobins

The sequential changes that occur during the precipitation on mild heating of the unstable hemoglobins, Hb Christchurch, Hb Sydney, Hb Köln, and Hb A, were examined with particular attention to the possibility of an accompanying oxidative process. Hb Christchurch, Hb Sydney, and Hb A precipitated with equal amounts of alpha- and beta-chains and full heme complement. Hb Köln, however, was one-half hemedepleted and showed a slight excess of precipitated beta-chains. In all cases the spectrum of the precipitated material was typical of a hemichrome. There was no evidence that sulfhydryl oxidation contributed to the precipitation process. Reduced glutathione was unable to protect the hemoglobin against precipitation, and mixed disulfide formation between the precipitating hemoglobin and glutathione was insignificant, even in the presence of excess glutathione. No blockade of beta93 cysteines could be demonstrated in the unstable hemoglobins. Precipitation of oxyhemoglobin and carboxyhemoglobin in all cases gave nonspecific oxidation of approximately two of the six hemoglobin sulfhydryl groups to give intra- and intermolecular disulfide bonds. Single alpha- and beta-chains, plus polymers of up to five or six chains linked by disulfide bridges, were demonstrated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This disulfide oxidation was not observed with deoxy- or methemoglobin and did not appear to influence the rate of precipitation. These findings fit the theoretical prediction that autoxidation of oxy- and carboxyhemoglobin is accompanied by formation of a free radical, with the reactions of this free radical being confined intramolecularly.Together, these results are in keeping with predictions based on the known structural abnormalities of the unstable hemoglobins, all of which result in greater molecular flexibility. Our findings support the conclusion that the usual precipitating event is altered bonding at the heme to give the formation of hemichromes. There is no evidence of an accompanying oxidative process that could pose a threat to the integrity of the red cell.