1
|
Bellelli A, Brunori M. Control of Oxygen Affinity in Mammalian Hemoglobins: Implications for a System Biology Description of the Respiratory Properties of the Red Blood Cell. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2021; 21:553-572. [PMID: 32013829 DOI: 10.2174/1389203721666200203151414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Hemoglobin and myoglobin have been considered for a long time the paradigmatic model systems for protein function, to the point of being defined the "hydrogen atom[s] of biology". Given this privileged position and the huge amount of quantitative information available on these proteins, the red blood cell might appear as the model system and"hydrogen atom" of system biology. Indeed, since the red cell's main function is O2 transport by hemoglobin, the gap between the protein and the cell may appear quite small. Yet, a surprisingly large amount of detailed biochemical information is required for the modelization of the respiratory properties of the erythrocyte. This problem is compounded if modelization aims at uncovering or explaining evolutionarily selected functional properties of hemoglobin. The foremost difficulty lies in the fact that hemoglobins having different intrinsic properties and relatively ancient evolutionary divergence may behave similarly in the complex milieu of blood, whereas very similar hemoglobins sharing a substantial sequence similarity may present important functional differences because of the mutation of a few key residues. Thus, the functional properties of hemoglobin and blood may reflect more closely the recent environmental challenges than the remote evolutionary history of the animal. We summarize in this review the case of hemoglobins from mammals, in an attempt to provide a reasoned summary of their complexity that, we hope, may be of help to scientists interested in the quantitative exploration of the evolutionary physiology of respiration. Indeed the basis of a meaningful modelization of the red cell requires a large amount of information collected in painstaking and often forgotten studies of the biochemical properties of hemoglobin carried out over more than a century.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bellelli
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Brunori
- Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Palazzo Corsini, Via della Lungara, Roma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nery MF, Arroyo JI, Opazo JC. Genomic organization and differential signature of positive selection in the alpha and beta globin gene clusters in two cetacean species. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 5:2359-67. [PMID: 24259315 PMCID: PMC3879965 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The hemoglobin of jawed vertebrates is a heterotetramer protein that contains two α- and two β-chains, which are encoded by members of α- and β-globin gene families. Given the hemoglobin role in mediating an adaptive response to chronic hypoxia, it is likely that this molecule may have experienced a selective pressure during the evolution of cetaceans, which have to deal with hypoxia tolerance during prolonged diving. This selective pressure could have generated a complex history of gene turnover in these clusters and/or changes in protein structure themselves. Accordingly, we aimed to characterize the genomic organization of α- and β-globin gene clusters in two cetacean species and to detect a possible role of positive selection on them using a phylogenetic framework. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogeny reconstructions revealed that both cetacean species had retained a similar complement of putatively functional genes. For the α-globin gene cluster, the killer whale presents a complement of genes composed of HBZ, HBK, and two functional copies of HBA and HBQ genes, whereas the dolphin possesses HBZ, HBK, HBA and HBQ genes, and one HBA pseudogene. For the β-globin gene cluster, both species retained a complement of four genes, two early expressed genes—HBE and HBH—and two adult expressed genes—HBD and HBB. Our natural selection analysis detected two positively selected sites in the HBB gene (56 and 62) and four in HBA (15, 21, 49, 120). Interestingly, only the genes that are expressed during the adulthood showed the signature of positive selection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana F Nery
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Weber RE, Campbell KL. Temperature dependence of haemoglobin-oxygen affinity in heterothermic vertebrates: mechanisms and biological significance. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2011; 202:549-62. [PMID: 20958923 DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2010.02204.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
As demonstrated by August Krogh et al. a century ago, the oxygen-binding reaction of vertebrate haemoglobin is cooperative (described by sigmoid O(2) equilibrium curves) and modulated by CO(2) and protons (lowered pH) that - in conjunction with later discovered allosteric effectors (chloride, lactate and organic phosphate anions) - enhance O(2) unloading from blood in relatively acidic and oxygen-poor tissues. Based on the exothermic nature of the oxygenation of the haem groups, haemoglobin-O(2) affinity also decreases with rising temperature. This thermal sensitivity favours oxygen unloading in warm working muscles, but may become detrimental in regionally heterothermic animals, for example in cold-tolerant birds and mammals and warm-bodied fish, where it may perturb the balance between O(2) unloading and O(2) requirement in organs with substantially different temperatures than at the respiratory organs and thus commonly is reduced or obliterated. Given that the oxygenation of haemoglobin is linked with the endothermic release of allosteric effectors, increased effector interaction is an effective strategy that is widely exploited to achieve adaptive reductions in the temperature dependence of blood-O(2) affinity. The molecular mechanisms implicated in heterothermic vertebrates from different taxonomic groups reveal remarkable variability, both as regards the effectors implicated (protons in tunas, organic phosphates in sharks and billfish, chloride ions in ruminants and chloride and phosphate anions in the extinct woolly mammoth, etc.) and binding sites for the same effectors, indicating multiple evolutionary origins, but convergent physiological functionality (reductions in temperature dependence of O(2) -binding affinity that safeguard tissue O(2) supply).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R E Weber
- Zoophysiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Structural and functional characterization of Delphinus delphis hemoglobin system. J Comp Physiol B 2009; 179:971-83. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-009-0380-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2009] [Revised: 06/12/2009] [Accepted: 06/13/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
5
|
De Rosa MC, Castagnola M, Bertonati C, Galtieri A, Giardina B. From the Arctic to fetal life: physiological importance and structural basis of an 'additional' chloride-binding site in haemoglobin. Biochem J 2004; 380:889-96. [PMID: 14979874 PMCID: PMC1224201 DOI: 10.1042/bj20031421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2003] [Revised: 01/28/2004] [Accepted: 02/23/2004] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Haemoglobins from mammals of sub-Arctic and Arctic species, as well as fetal human Hb, are all characterized by a significantly lower Delta H of oxygenation compared with the majority of mammalian haemoglobins from temperate species (exceptions are represented by some cold-resistant species, such as cow, horse and pig). This has been interpreted as an adaptive mechanism of great importance from a physiological point of view. To date, the molecular basis of this thermodynamic characteristic is still not known. In the present study, we show that binding of extra chloride (with respect to adult human Hb) ions to Hb would significantly contribute to lowering the overall heat of oxygenation, thus providing a molecular basis for the low effect of temperature on the oxygenation-deoxygenation cycle. To this aim, the oxygen binding properties of bovine Hb, bear (Ursus arctos) Hb and horse Hb, which are representative of this series of haemoglobins, have been studied with special regard to the effect of heterotropic ligands, such as organic phosphates (namely 2,3-diphosphoglycerate) and chloride. Functional results are consistent with a mechanism for ligand binding that involves an additional binding site for chloride ion. Analysis of computational chemistry results, obtained by the GRID program, further confirm the hypothesis that the reason for the lower Delta H of oxygenation is mainly due to an increase in the number of the oxygen-linked chloride-binding sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Cristina De Rosa
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry and CNR Institute of Chemistry of Molecular Recognition, Catholic University of Rome, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Corda M, Tamburrini M, De Rosa MC, Sanna MT, Fais A, Olianas A, Pellegrini M, Giardina B, di Prisco G. Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) haemoglobin: primary structure, functional characterisation and computer modelling studies. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2003; 134:53-62. [PMID: 12524033 DOI: 10.1016/s1096-4959(02)00229-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The functional properties of haemoglobin from the Mediterranean whale Balaenoptera physalus have been studied as functions of heterotropic effector concentration and temperature. Particular attention has been given to the effect of carbon dioxide and lactate since the animal is specialised for prolonged dives often in cold water. The molecular basis of the functional behaviour and in particular of the weak interaction with 2,3-diphosphoglycerate is discussed in the light of the primary structure and of computer modelling. On these bases, it is suggested that the A2 (Pro-->Ala) substitution observed in the beta chains of whale haemoglobin may be responsible for the displacement of the A helix known to be a key structural feature in haemoglobins that display an altered interaction with 2,3-diphosphoglycerate as compared with human haemoglobin. The functional and structural results, discussed in the light of a previous study on the haemoglobin from the Arctic whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata, give further insights into the regulatory mechanisms of the interactive effects of temperature, carbon dioxide and lactate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Corda
- Department of Sciences Applied to Biosystems, University of Cagliari-Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato CA, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
di Prisco G, Carratore V, Cocca E, Riccio A, Tamburrini M. Molecular structure and functional adaptations of hemoglobins from Antarctic marine organisms. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2000. [DOI: 10.1080/11250000009356354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
8
|
Lutz PL, Storey KB. Adaptations to Variations in Oxygen Tension by Vertebrates and Invertebrates. Compr Physiol 1997. [DOI: 10.1002/cphy.cp130221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
9
|
Clementi ME, Condò SG, Castagnola M, Giardina B. Hemoglobin function under extreme life conditions. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1994; 223:309-17. [PMID: 7519981 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1994.tb18996.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Considering the variety of species that depend on hemoglobin for oxygen transport, these molecules must execute their primary function under extreme environmental conditions. Hence, a thermodynamic analysis of oxygen binding with hemoglobins from different species reveals a series of adaptive mechanisms which are based on the thermodynamic connection between the binding of heterotropic effectors and the reaction with oxygen. The examples reported, from fishes to human fetus, illustrate how evolution can alter the structural basis of the heterotropic interactions to optimize the oxygenation-deoxygenation cycle in dependence of the physiological needs of the particular organisms. Moreover they show that a thermodynamic analysis of the reaction with oxygen overcomes the meaning of a detailed structural and functional characterization going deeper into the physiology of the specific organism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M E Clementi
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Condò SG, Corda M, Sanna MT, Pellegrini MG, Ruiz MP, Castagnola M, Giardina B. Molecular basis of low-temperature sensitivity in pig hemoglobins. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1992; 209:773-6. [PMID: 1425681 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1992.tb17347.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
It has been generally assumed that mammals have blood with a greater temperature sensitivity than ectothermic organisms. Recent results have shown that in some species of mammals, Hb displays a value of overall oxygenation enthalpy (delta H) much less exothermic than that observed for most mammalian hemoglobins, including human adult Hb. In this respect, a very interesting case is represented by porcine blood which shows a modest effect of temperature, the temperature coefficient of its oxygen-dissociation curve being significantly lower than that of human blood. Here we report a detailed functional characterization of pig Hb, which, interpreted on the basis of the amino acid sequence of the alpha and beta chains of the molecule, sheds some light on the molecular basis of the phenomenon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S G Condò
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Giardina B, Galtieri A, Lania A, Ascenzi P, Desideri A, Cerroni L, Condo SG. Reduced sensitivity of O2 transport to allosteric effectors and temperature in loggerhead sea turtle hemoglobin: functional and spectroscopic study. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 1992; 1159:129-33. [PMID: 1327156 DOI: 10.1016/0167-4838(92)90016-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The functional and spectroscopic (EPR and absorbance) properties of the adult loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) hemoglobin have been studied with special reference to the action of allosteric effectors and temperature. Present results indicate that turtle Hb displays a very low O2 affinity and a very small sensitivity to allosteric effectors and temperature. Furthermore, the amplitude of the Bohr effect for O2 binding is strongly reduced. In parallel, EPR and absorbance spectroscopic properties of the nitrosylated derivative of turtle Hb suggest that the hemoprotein is in a low-affinity conformation, even in the absence of allosteric effectors. These findings suggest the existence of unusual molecular mechanisms modulating the basic reaction of Hb with O2, which may be linked to specific physiological needs related to the diving behavior of the turtle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Giardina
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Giardina B, Condò SG, Brix O. The interplay of temperature and protons in the modulation of oxygen binding by squid blood. Biochem J 1992; 281 ( Pt 3):725-8. [PMID: 1311173 PMCID: PMC1130751 DOI: 10.1042/bj2810725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
An extensive set of data relating to the binding of oxygen by haemocyanin from the squid Todarodes sagittatus has been collected under various experimental conditions. The results obtained show that, within the range of physiological pH, the concentration of protons affects mainly the high-affinity state of the molecule without significantly affecting the low-affinity state. As far as the effect of temperature is concerned, the data show a characteristic feature which is very similar to that previously described in the case of haemoglobins from Arctic mammals such as reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and musk ox. (Ovibos moschatus). The shape of the oxygen equilibrium curve shows strong temperature-dependence, since the overall heat of the binding of oxygen to the low-affinity state of the molecule is strongly exothermic and that to the high-affinity state is very close to zero. The results provide an outline of the intramolecular compromise that, through the interplay of temperature and protons, optimizes the loading and unloading of oxygen under the various environmental conditions experienced by this species of squid.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Giardina
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
Evolution has adopted different strategies to solve the problem of transporting oxygen to respiring tissues, according to needs dictated by the environment. A thermodynamic analysis of haemoglobins of organisms living in extreme polar environments (mammals and fish) provides elegant examples of such adaptations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G di Prisco
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|