International Hemoglobin Information Center. Variants of the alpha chain

Self-association of haemoglobin Olympia (alpha 2 beta 2 20 (B2) Val----Met). A human haemoglobin bearing a substitution at the surface of the molecule

Oxygenation measurements at equilibrium were carried out for solutions of pure haemoglobin (Hb) Olympia (alpha 2 beta 2 20 (B2) Val----Met) at 200 microM (haem) and revealed a high oxygen affinity (P50 = 4.2 torr at pH 7.20, 25 degrees C) compared to HbA (P50 = 5.6 torr), with the Hill coefficient (eta H) reduced from the normal value of 2.9 to 2.5 for Hb Olympia at neutral pH. 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate and chloride effects were normal, but measurements of the alkaline Bohr effect indicated an excess Bohr effect of about 20% for Hb Olympia. Precise determinations of the oxygen binding curves gave the unexpected finding of a dependence of co-operativity on pH with eta H rising from 2.4 at pH 6.8 to 3.0 at pH 8. Moreover, the Hill coefficient was dependent upon the concentration at alkaline pH and fell to 1.8 in low concentration solutions (approximately 30 microM-haem) of the haemoglobin variant; at this concentration the Bohr effect was normal. This effect of concentration on co-operativity could be accounted for fully by the allosteric model, with introduction of Hb Olympia self-association. In this case the allosteric constant L' for the supramolecular species has the value of the allosteric constant L for the tetramer species, raised to a power equal to the number of molecules in the aggregates and modulated by the ratio of the dissociation constants of the aggregates, DNR/DNT. Model curves with N tetramers per aggregate (where N approximately 2 at pH 7.5 and N approximately 4 at pH 8.0) fully represented the concentration dependence for Hb Olympia of the eta H values and the detailed shape of the experimental curves for eta H as a function of log[y/(1-y)], the first derivative of the Hill plot. These curves are much steeper when supramolecular species are present. Direct measurements of the protein aggregation by centrifugation confirmed the presence of aggregates in the solutions of Hb Olympia. Hb Olympia is therefore one of the few examples of mutant human haemoglobins that self-associate with functional consequences in terms of oxygen binding properties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Hb Owari [alpha 121 (H 4) Val----Met]: a new hemoglobin variant with a neutral-to-neutral amino acid substitution detected by isoelectric focusing

An abnormal hemoglobin, Hb Owari [alpha 121 (H 4) Val----Met], was discovered in seven Japanese. This variant was isoelectrofocused to the site between the Hb A and Hb F bands and amounted to 12.7-19.0% of the total hemoglobin in the hemolysate. This hemoglobin showed normal functional properties.

Structural and functional studies of hemoglobin Poissy alpha 2 beta 2(56) (D7) Gly----Arg and 86 (F2) Ala----Pro

Hemoglobin Poissy alpha 2 beta 2(56) (D7) Gly----Arg and 86 (F2) Ala----Pro, is a new variant of the beta chain with two substitutions within the second exon of the corresponding gene. The electrophoretic mobilities are identical to those of Hb Hamadan alpha 2 beta 2(56) (D7) Gly----Arg as is the fingerprint of the tryptic hydrolysate of the two abnormal beta chains. The second substitution beta 86 Ala----Pro was detected by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Hb Poissy has a threefold increase in oxygen affinity with low Hill coefficient and diminished Bohr effect, which are restored to normal upon addition of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Since the functional properties of Hb Hamadan (beta 56 Gly----Arg) have been described as normal, the abnormal function of Hb Poissy may be attributed to the beta 86 (F2) Ala----Pro substitution. Hb Poissy exhibits a mild instability and a greater reactivity of the thiol groups of the beta 93 (F9) Cys residues in the deoxy form than does Hb A. The oxidation rate of Hb Poissy is biphasic indicating a large inequivalence between the alpha and beta hemes. Thereafter NMR studies demonstrated that the beta 86 Ala----Pro substitution produces a displacement of the F helix closer to the heme plane and a large increase in the dynamic fluctuations of the tertiary structure on the proximal side of the beta hemes. These results lead to the conclusion that the beta 86 Ala----Pro substitution produces a destabilization of the F helix extending downwards to the FG corner and altering both the beta hemes and the alpha 1 beta 2 contacts.

Hemoglobin kenitra alpha 2 beta 2 69 (E13) Gly----Arg. A new beta variant of elevated expression associated with alpha-thalassemia, found in a Moroccan woman

Hemoglobin Kenitra is a new variant of the beta chain alpha 2 beta 2 69 (E13) Gly----Arg which does not produce any clinical symptoms. It is a slow-moving hemoglobin with a distinctive pattern of electrophoretic mobilities. The stability test was negative. Oxygen affinity studies were not performed. It was found in association with alpha-thalassemia and microcytosis, but paradoxically a high expression of the variant (55%) was observed.

Hb F-La Grange or alpha 2 gamma 2 101(G3)Glu----Lys; 75Ile; 136Gly: a high oxygen affinity fetal hemoglobin variant observed in a Caucasian newborn

The identification of a newly discovered gamma-chain variant is reported. This abnormal fetal hemoglobin is characterized by a Glu----Lys substitution at position 101(G3) of its gamma chain and was observed in a Caucasian baby girl. Because glutamic acid residue in position gamma 101 is involved in the alpha 1-gamma 2 chain contact, its replacement by a lysine residue results in changes in physicochemical and functional properties. The variant readily forms hybrid hemoglobins at room temperature, is mildly unstable at higher temperature, and has an increased oxygen affinity with a somewhat lower heme-heme interaction.