title: Human hemoglobin cross-linked through the polyphosphate-binding site. Functional properties and evidence for conformers.
abstract: The properties of human hemoglobin reacted with 2-nor-2-formylpyridoxal 5'-phosphate, a bifunctional derivative of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, have been investigated both from an equilibrium and kinetic point of view. The experimental data, interpreted in terms of the two-state allosteric model, indicate that a perturbed R state is characteristic of this modified low ligand affinity hemoglobin. In flash photolysis experiments, a quickly reacting component is always observed, in spite of the lack of dissociation into free dimers; this kinetic behavior is thought to reflect the presence of functionally independent alpha beta dimers, still connected by the flexible cross-link but forming an open hemoglobin tetramer. Two possible models for the interpretation of the kinetics of CO and/or haptoglobin binding are presented and discussed.
mesh_terms: D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011122:Polyphosphates; C045124:2-nor-2-formylpyridoxal-5'-phosphate; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D010100:Oxygen