title: Proton-linked subunit heterogeneity in ferrous nitrosylated human adult hemoglobin: an EPR study.
abstract: The effect of pH on the X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of ferrous nitrosylated human adult tetrameric hemoglobin (HbNO) as well as of ferrous nitrosylated monomeric alpha- and beta-chains has been investigated, at -163 degrees C. At pH 7.3, the X-band EPR spectrum of tetrameric HbNO and ferrous nitrosylated monomeric alpha- and beta-chains displays a rhombic shape. Lowering the pH from 7.3 to 3.0, tetrameric HbNO and ferrous nitrosylated monomeric alpha- and beta-chains undergo a transition towards a species characterized by a X-band EPR spectrum with a three-line splitting centered at 334mT. These pH-dependent spectroscopic changes may be taken as indicative of the cleavage, or the severe weakening, of the proximal HisF8-Fe bond. In tetrameric HbNO, the pH-dependent spectroscopic changes depend on the acid-base equilibrium of two apparent ionizing groups with pK(a) values of 5.8 and 3.8. By contrast, the pH-dependent spectroscopic changes occurring in ferrous nitrosylated monomeric alpha- and beta-chains depend on the acid-base equilibrium of one apparent ionizing group with pK(a) values of 4.8 and 4.7, respectively. The different pK(a) values for the proton-linked spectroscopic transition(s) of tetrameric HbNO and ferrous nitrosylated monomeric alpha- and beta-chains suggest that the quaternary assembly drastically affects the strength of the proximal HisF8-Fe bond in both subunits. This probably reflects a 'quaternary effect', i.e., structural changes in both subunits upon tetrameric assembly, which is associated to a relevant variation of functional properties (i.e., proton affinity).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Interdepartmental Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, University Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, I-00146 Rome, Italy. ascenzi@uniroma3.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ascenzi
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bocedi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gioia
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coletta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009603:Nitroso Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D009603:Nitroso Compounds; D011522:Protons