Oxygen Binding Behavior Research Articles

Horizontal and Vertical Push Effects in Saddled Zinc Porphyrin Complexes: Implications for Heme Distortion.

A heme oxygen binding behavior was described through a unique geometric and electronic comparison of zinc porphyrin complexes. In this work, a charge transfer model for saddled metalloporphyrin complexes outlined the push effects of the ring nonplanarity and axial imidazole, and the pull effect of the axial dioxygen. The origin and role of the horizontal (ring nonplanarity) push effect and its relationship to the vertical (axial ligand) push/pull effect and its contribution to dioxygen binding were considered from the perspectives of crystal structures, theoretical calculations, and bathochromic shifts. Single-point energy and molecular orbital calculations starting from crystal structures were used to obtain the electronic structures of zinc porphyrin complexes. This study not only revealed that the electronic behavior of metalloporphyrins is driven by ring nonplanarity and axial ligation but also afforded new insight into the oxygen carrier mechanism in heme.

Development of Time-course Oxygen Binding Analysis for Hemoglobin-based Oxygen Carriers.

Developing blood substitutes is in urgent demand for chronic blood shortage all over the world. In this connection, the oxygen binding behavior of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) is one of the most important characteristics. However, present methods available for estimating oxygen binding behavior have need of expensive apparatus, and also are not suitable for high-throughput and the time-course analysis. To overcome these problems, we proposed a simple analysis method for the time-course oxygen binding behavior of HBOCs, which employs a general UV-Vis microplate reader and a common reagent, sodium dithionite, as a reductant for HBOCs and an oxygen scavenger. Our method enabled time-course oxygen binding behavior analysis of HBOCs in a simple manner, and obtained data corresponding with those by the conventional method. Thus, our developed method will accelerate the development of HBOCs due to easy oxygen binding analysis.

Nature of charge transport and p-electron ferromagnetism in nitrogen-doped ZrO2: an ab initio perspective.

Zirconium dioxide provides an exceptional prototype material for studying the redistribution of the polaron holes and its magnetic coupling with their nearby anions owning to the difference oxygen binding behavior in the monoclinic phase. Here, we perform a comprehensive study of the p-electron magnetism in the nitrogen doped 2 × 2 × 2 monoclinic ZrO2 based on spin-polarized density functional theory. Nitrogen substitutions make the system display half-metallic properties, and the origin of room temperature ferromagnetism ascribes to the p-p coupling interaction between N 2p and the host 2p states. The charge density difference and Mülliken population analyses provide evidences of charge redistributions. Our results reveal that the polaron transfer may alter the magnetic properties and it is greatly facilitated ferromagnetic coupling if the polaron holes are localized around a single anion dopant.

Subunit Disassembly Pathway of Human Hemoglobin Revealing the Site-Specific Role of Its Cysteine Residues

Cysteine residues play a unique role in human hemoglobin (Hb) by affecting its cooperative oxygen binding behavior and the stability of its tetrameric structure. However, how these cysteine residues fulfill their biophysical functions from the molecular level is yet unclear. Here we study the subunit disassembly pathway of human hemoglobin using the sulfhydryl reagent, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (PMB) and investigate the functional roles of cysteine residues in human hemoglobin. We show evidence from the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry that all three types of cysteine residues, including the surface-exposed βCys93 and the shielded αCys104 and βCys112 are reactive to PMB, resolving an issue long under debate. It is demonstrated that all three types of cysteine residues must be blocked by PMB to accomplish the subunit disassembly, and the PMB-cysteine reactions proceed in a stepwise manner with an order of βCys93, αCys104, and βCys112. The PMB reactions with the three different cysteine residues demonstrate strong site-specificity. The possible influence of PMB-cysteine reactions to the stability of various intersubunit salt bridges has been discussed based on the crystallographic structure of hemoglobin, providing insights in understanding the hemoglobin subunit disassembly pathway and the site-specific functional role of each cysteine residue in hemoglobin.

Purification of hemoglobin from red blood cells using tangential flow filtration and immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography

Two methods for purifying hemoglobin (Hb) from red blood cells (RBCs) are compared. In the first method, red blood cell lysate is clarified with a 50nm tangential flow filter and hemoglobin is purified using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC). In the second method, RBC lysate is processed with 50nm, 500kDa, and 50–100kDa tangential flow filters, then hemoglobin is purified with IMAC. Our results show that the hemoglobins from both processes produce identical Hb products that are ultrapure and retain their biophysical properties (except for chicken hemoglobin, which shows erratic oxygen binding behavior after purification). Therefore, the most efficient method for Hb purification appears to be clarification with a 50nm tangential flow filter, followed by purification with IMAC, and sample concentration/polishing on a 10–50kDa tangential flow filter.

Unusual oxygen binding behavior of a 24-meric crustacean hemocyanin

Hemocyanins from Crustacea usually are found as 1x6 or 2x6-meric assemblies. An exception is the hemocyanin isolated from thalassinidean shrimps where the main component is a 24-meric structure. Our analysis of oxygen binding data of the thalassinidean shrimp Upogebia pusilla based on a three-state MWC-model revealed that despite the 24-meric structure the functional properties can be described very well based on the hexamer as allosteric unit. In contrast to the hemocyanins from other thalassinidean shrimps the oxygen affinity of hemocyanin from U. pusilla is increased upon addition of l-lactate. A particular feature of this hemocyanin seems to be that l-lactate already enhances oxygen affinity under resting conditions which possibly compensates the rather low intrinsic affinity observed in absence of l-lactate. The fast rate of oxygen dissociation might indicate that in this hemocyanin a higher cooperativity is less important than a fast response of saturation level to changes in oxygen concentration.

Quaternary structure and functional properties of Penaeus monodon hemocyanin

The hemocyanin of the tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, was investigated with respect to stability and oxygen binding. While hexamers occur as a major component, dodecamers and traces of higher aggregates are also found. Both the hexamers and dodecamers were found to be extremely stable against dissociation at high pH, independently of the presence of calcium ions, in contrast to the known crustacean hemocyanins. This could be caused by only a few additional noncovalent interactions between amino acids located at the subunit-subunit interfaces. Based on X-ray structures and sequence alignments of related hemocyanins, the particular amino acids are identified. At all pH values, the p50 and Bohr coefficients of the hexamers are twice as high as those of dodecamers. While the oxygen binding of hexamers from crustaceans can normally be described by a simple two-state model, an additional conformational state is needed to describe the oxygen-binding behaviour of Penaeus monodon hemocyanin within the pH range of 7.0 to 8.5. The dodecamers bind oxygen according to the nested Monod-Whyman-Changeaux (MWC) model, as observed for the same aggregation states of other hemocyanins. The oxygen-binding properties of both the hexameric and dodecameric hemocyanins guarantee an efficient supply of the animal with oxygen, with respect to the ratio between their concentrations. It seems that under normoxic conditions, hexamers play the major role. Under hypoxic conditions, the hexamers are expected not to be completely loaded with oxygen. Here, the dodecamers are supposed to be responsible for the oxygen supply.

Responses of normal and sickle cell hemoglobin to S-nitroscysteine: implications for therapeutic applications of NO in treatment of sickle cell disease

Factors which govern transnitrosation reactions between hemoglobin (Hb) and low molecular weight thiols may define the extent to which S-nitrosated Hb (SNO-Hb) plays a role in NO in the control of blood pressure and other NO-dependent reactions. We show that exposure to S-nitrosylated cysteine (CysNO) produces equivalent levels of SNO-Hb for Hb A 0 and sickle cell Hb (Hb S), although these proteins differ significantly in the electron affinity of their heme groups as measured by their anaerobic redox potentials. Dolphin Hb, a cooperative Hb with a redox potential like that of Hb S, produces less SNO-Hb, indicating that steric considerations outweigh effects of altered electron affinity at the active-site heme groups in control of SNO-Hb formation. Examination of oxygen binding at 5–20 mM heme concentrations revealed increases due to S-nitrosation in the apparent oxygen affinity of both Hb A 0 and Hb S, similar to increases seen at lower heme concentrations. As observed at lower heme levels, deoxygenation is not sufficient to trigger release of NO from SNO-Hb. A sharp increase in apparent oxygen affinity occurs for unmodified Hb S at concentrations above 12.5 mM, its minimum gelling concentration. This affinity increase still occurs in 30 and 60% S-nitrosated samples, but at higher heme concentration. This oxygen binding behavior is accompanied by decreased gel formation of the deoxygenated protein. S-nitrosation is thus shown to have an effect similar to that reported for other SH-group modifications of Hb S, in which R-state stabilization opposes Hb S aggregation.

Two types of urate binding sites on hemocyanin from the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus: an ITC study

The oxygen binding behaviour of hemocyanins from Crustacea is regulated by small organic compounds such as urate and l-lactate. We investigated the binding characteristics of urate and the related compound caffeine to the 2×6-meric hemocyanin of A. leptodactylus under fully oxygenated conditions employing isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). An analysis of urate and caffeine binding based on a model of n identical binding sites resulted in approximately four binding sites for caffeine and eight for urate. This result suggests that the binding process for these effectors is more complex than this most simple model. Therefore, we introduced a number of alternative models. Displacement experiments helped to select the appropriate model. Based on these experiments, at least two different types of binding sites for urate and caffeine exist on the 2×6-meric hemocyanin of A. leptodactylus. The two binding sites differ strongly in their specificity towards the two analogues. It can be hypothesized that two different subunit types (β and γ) are responsible for the two types of binding sites.

Binding of urate and caffeine to haemocyanin analysed by isothermal titration calorimetry.

Haemocyanin serves as an oxygen carrier in the haemolymph of decapod crustaceans. The oxygen-binding behaviour of the pigment is modulated by the two major anaerobic metabolites, l-lactate and urate. The binding of these two metabolites to haemocyanin has been investigated mainly indirectly by following the effector-induced changes in the oxygen-binding properties of the respiratory pigment. Only a few direct investigations of effector binding, employing ultracentrifugation techniques and equilibrium dialysis, have been carried out. No evidence for cooperative binding for either effector was detected using these methods. However, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) offers a useful tool to gain additional insight into the binding of effectors to these highly allosterically regulated macromolecules. By applying the ITC method to the fully oxygenated dodecameric haemocyanin of the lobster Homarus vulgaris, cooperativity in binding has been found for the urate analogue caffeine but not for urate itself: using urate and the urate analogue caffeine as ligands, two conformations of the oxygenated pigment were detected.

Temperature adaptation influences the aggregation state of hemocyanin from Astacus leptodactylus

When Astacus leptodactylus were kept at various temperatures for several weeks, different ratios between di-hexameric and hexameric hemocyanins were observed in their hemolymph. The higher the temperature the more hexamers were present. This long-term adaptation to different temperatures or/and to temperature-induced pH-shifts as observed in the hemolymph has different effects on the expression of subunit types building up hexamers and those which covalently link two hexamers within the di-hexamers. The oxygen binding behaviour of di-hexameric hemocyanins from cold and warm adapted animals do not show differences with respect to affinity, Bohr effect and cooperativity.

Binding of Urate and Caffeine to Hemocyanin of the Lobster Homarus vulgaris (E.) As Studied by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry

Hemocyanin serves as an oxygen carrier in the hemolymph of the European lobster Homarus vulgaris. The oxygen binding behavior of the pigment is modulated by metabolic effectors such as lactate and urate. Urate and caffeine binding to 12-meric hemocyanin (H. vulgaris) was studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Binding isotherms were determined for fully oxygenated hemocyanin between pH 7.55 and 8.15. No pH dependence of the binding parameters could be found for either effector. Since the magnitude of the Bohr effect depends on the urate concentration, the absence of any pH dependence of urate and caffeine binding to oxygenated hemocyanin suggests two conformations of the pigment under deoxygenated conditions. Urate binds to two identical binding sites (n = 2) each with a microscopic binding constant K of 8500 M(-1) and an enthalpy change DeltaH degrees of -32.3 kcal mol(-1). Caffeine binds cooperatively to hemocyanin with two microscopic binding constants: K(1) = 14 100 M(-1) and K(2) = 40 400 M(-1). The corresponding enthalpy changes in binding are as follows: DeltaH degrees (1) = -23.3 kcal mol(-1) and DeltaH degrees (2) = -27.1 kcal mol(-1). The comparison of urate and caffeine binding to the oxygenated pigment indicates the existence of two protein conformations for oxygen-saturated hemocyanin. Since effector binding is not influenced by protons, four different conformations are required to create a convincing explanation for caffeine and urate binding curves. This was predicted earlier on the basis of the analysis of oxygen binding to lobster hemocyanin, employing the nesting model.

Characteristics and function of human hemoglobin vesicles as an oxygen carrier

A liposome-encapsulated human hemoglobin (Neo Red Cell, (NRC) has been developed and evaluated as an artificial oxygen carrier. The NRC is a liposome-encapsulated highly concentrated (>45%) stroma-free human hemoglobin with inositol hexaphosphate (IHP as an allosteric effector), a coenzyme and substrates for reducing methemoglobin (metHb). The NRC's surface was coated with polyethylene glycol to prevent aggregation in plasma and to prolong their retention time in the blood stream. The oxygen binding behavior of the NRC in vitro was investigated and it was found that it effectively transports oxygen in vivo as an oxygen carrier. The oxygen binding behavior and kinetics were studied by the stopped-flow method and the oxygen binding curve of the NRC was determined. The oxygen binding speed and binding coefficient (Kon) of NRC, washed human red blood cells (WRBC) and stroma-free human hemoglobin (SFHb) were measured by stopped-flow method. The oxygen binding speed of SFHb was the highest, while that of RBC was the lowest and that of NRC was intermediate. The oxygen binding of NRC ended within 60 msec when deoxy-NRC was mixed with oxygen. The Kon of NRC was 2.9 × 105, 10 times faster than that of RBC. The oxygen binding curve and P50O2 of NRC that contained various IHP concentrations were measured. The oxygen-binding curve of the NRC sequentially shifted to the right as the IHP content was increased. Exchange transfusion of 70% was carried out for rats with NRC containing various concentrations of IHP and of Hb, and investigated the optimum concentration of NRC in vivo. The lactate value after exchange transfusion was three times higher than before exchange transfusion, when rats were subjected to exchange transfused with NRC that did not contain IHP. But the increase of lactate was suppressed when rats were transfused with NRC that contained IHP. When the Hb concentration of NRC was 5 and 6%, exchange transfused rats recovered to normality just like rats transfused with RBC. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Influence of antibody binding on oxygen binding behavior of Panulirus interruptus hemocyanin

Oxygen binding behavior of monomeric subunit a and the hexameric form of this subunit of hemocyanin of Panulirus interruptus is influenced by the binding of various monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies react with other surface parts of the subunit than its second domain in which the oxygen binding site is located. The influence of three monoclonal antibodies and their antigen binding fragments (F ab) has been investigated. Two antibodies increase the oxygen affinity of monomeric hemocyanin from that observed in its low affinity T-state, while the third has little influence on this property. F ab fragments abolish almost completely the cooperativity of oxygen binding by the hexameric hemocyanin molecule. The two antibodies which increase the oxygen affinity of the monomeric molecule stabilize high-affinity states of the hexameric molecule, while the third stabilizes the low-affinity state.

Nested allostery in scorpion hemocyanin (Pandinus imperator)

The oxygen-binding behavior of the 24-meric hemocyanin of the scorpion Pandinus imperator and its dependence on allosteric effectors such as protons can be successfully described by the nesting model; the MWC model is not acceptable. The affinities of the four assumed conformations of the allosteric unit, the 12-meric half-molecule, are not dependent on pH whereas the three allosteric equilibrium constants decrease with decreasing proton concentration. Comparison with the oxygen-binding behavior of the 24-meric tarantula hemocyanin (Eurypelma californicum) reveals that the affinity values for the various conformations seem to be conserved for chelicerata hemocyanin.

Red cell properties and optimal oxygen transport.

It is clear that the oxygen-binding behavior of hemoglobin can affect overall oxygen transport, because certain genetic alterations in the molecule may lead to polycythemia (Winslow and Ander son, 1982). Furthermore, an extreme left-shift in the oxygen equilibrium curve (OEC) caused by severe respiratory alkalosis was an essential feature in oxygen transport on the summit of Mt. Everest (Winslow et al., 1984), confirming the importance of blood oxygen affinity.

Synthesis, oxygen-binding behavior, and Moessbauer spectroscopy of covalently bound polyphosphazene-heme complexes

Effet de la liaison covalente entre un support polyphosphazene hydrosoluble et deux metalloporphyrines sur la fixation d'oxygene et les proprietes d'electrolyse de ces systemes

Root effect of Panulirus interruptus hemocyanin

Panulirus interruptus hemocyanin exhibits a progressive decrease in oxygen affinity and a parallel loss of cooperativity with decrease in pH, resulting in an apparent loss of the oxygen-binding capacity of the protein. For a characterization of this system, oxygen-binding curves have been determined over the complete range of oxygen saturation, applying a special technique which involves high-pressure spectrophotometry. Although the oxygen-binding behavior as a function of pH is complex and cannot be described within the frame of a simple two-state Monod-Wyman-Changeux model, the observed Root effect is clearly related to a progressive stabilization of a low oxygen affinity state of the protein and functional heterogeneity is not apparent.

Hemocyanin from the Australian freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor. Oxygen binding studies of major components.

Oxygen binding curves have been obtained for unfractionated hemocyanin from Cherax destructor and it major components, the 25S and 17S forms. In all cases the binding was characterized by positive cooperativity at pH 7.8 with a P50 of approximately 4 mmHg and a Hill coefficient, nH, of approximately 3. There was no evidence of concentration dependence of the binding curves in the range 0.6-6 mg/mL, a finding which excludes a dynamic equilibrium between polymeric forms of different oxygen affinity as a source of the cooperative binding. A positive Bohr effect operates between pH 6.8 and pH 7.8 and removal of calcium ions from the 25S and 17S aggregates markedly reduces their affinities for oxygen. Cooperativity is retained in these circumstances though nH drops to about 2.5 in the case of the 25S and 2.0 in the case of the 17S form. The two major monomers M1 and M2, from which the 25S and 17S complexes are constructed, may be reconstituted into the hexamers (M1)6 and (M2)6. These show oxygen binding behavior perfectly consistent with that expected of native hexamers as studied in the 17S fraction, a mixed population of hexamers. The monomer M1 can also be studied in monomeric form and was found to show indistinguishable oxygen binding at pH 7.8 and pH 10, the curve being a rectangular hyperbola as expected. The oxygen binding curve of the single subunit hexamer (M1)6 was fitted adequately by a polynomial expression of order 6 as required for a molecule with six binding sites. Further interpretation in terms of a particular binding model was not attempted because available knowledge of the structures of arthropod hemocyanin aggregates and their oxygen binding sites does not yet justify it.

Dissociation and oxygen-binding behaviour of beta-hemocyanin from Helix pomatia.

The dissociation behaviour of Helix pomatiaβ‐ hemocyanin as influenced by pH, calcium‐iopn concentraion and ionic strength, and the oxygen vinging properiotes were investigated. The dissociation behaviour of β‐hemocyuanin and α‐hemocyanin differs distinctly in a number of properties: (a) they show a different response to high salt concentration, (b) the stabilizing influence of calcium ions on the whole molecules of β‐hemocyanin is smaller than that on α‐hemocyanin, (c) half molecules of β‐hemocyanina are stablized to a large extent in teh presence of calcium ions and (d) at low ionic strength no peak separation between one‐tenth and one‐twentieth molecules of β‐hemocyanin is observed in the ultracentrifuge, which indicates an equilibrium between the species.The oxygen binding behaviour of β‐hemocyanin shows the typical features of proteins with a large hnumber of binding sites. The Hill plot is characterized by a high value of the Hill coefficient (maxm nH=7), coupled to a low value for the interatrion free energy per site. The oxygen binding behaviour can bacisally be described by a mocdified tewo‐state allosteric model with the variation, imposed by teh expeimental data, taht KT is pH‐dependent (negative Bohr effect), while KR is pH‐indepenmdent. Regulation of the cooperativity by teh alloosteric effector H+ is mainly due to changes in the allosteric equilibrium constant.In order to describe the cooperativity as a function of pH, the minimum number of interacting binding sites has to be varied, indicating that the size of the ‘functional constellation’ is variavle. This finding may have important implications on the relationship between the so‐called ‘structural’ and ‘functional constellation’.A comparison fo the oxygen binding properties of β‐and α‐hemocyanin shows that these proteins are complementary in their behaviour, with respect to the responses to changes in H+ anmd Ca2+ concentrations. This may be of importance for the animal in order ito meet specific physiological and enviromental requirements.