The crystal structure of haemoglobin from Atlantic cod.

Ronny Helland,Eva Katrin Bjørkeng,Magne Olav Sydnes,Daniela Maria Pampanin,Ulli Rothweiler

doi:10.1107/s2053230x1900904x

Abstract

The crystal structure of haemoglobin from Atlantic cod has been solved to 2.54 Å resolution. The structure consists of two tetramers in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The structure of haemoglobin obtained from one individual cod suggests polymorphism in the tetrameric assembly.

Highlights

Increasing the knowledge of how Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is affected by chemicals that contaminate the aquatic environment has been a longstanding effort (Karlsen et al, 2011; Pampanin, 2017; Pampanin et al, 2014, 2016; Pampanin & Sydnes, 2013; Sundt et al, 2012). Environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), resulting for example from oil exploration and production operations or accidental oil spills, have received attention from researchers since the 1970s owing to their carcinogenic potential (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2009)
PAHs derived from tobacco smoking have been found to make adducts with particular amino acids in haemoglobin (Phillips & Venitt, 2012)
It is reasonable to believe that this would be the case for Atlantic cod, and this hypothesis is strengthened by the fact that PAH adducts with other blood proteins have been identified in this fish species (Enerstvedt et al, 2017; Enerstvedt, Sydnes & Pampanin, 2018)

Summary

Introduction

Increasing the knowledge of how Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is affected by chemicals that contaminate the aquatic environment has been a longstanding effort (Karlsen et al, 2011; Pampanin, 2017; Pampanin et al, 2014, 2016; Pampanin & Sydnes, 2013; Sundt et al, 2012). Environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), resulting for example from oil exploration and production operations or accidental oil spills, have received attention from researchers since the 1970s owing to their carcinogenic potential (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2009).

Method

Macromolecule production

Crystallization

Results and discussion