title: Alpha-hemoglobin stabilizing protein: molecular function and clinical correlation.
abstract: The discovery of alpha-hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP), a chaperone for free alpha-hemoglobin (alpha-Hb), has provided a satisfactory solution to the perplexing problem of balanced globin levels for Hb production in erythroid cells in the face of a two-fold excess of alpha-globin to beta-globin gene dosage. Unmatched alpha-Hb is unstable and precipitates onto membranes, where the released heme exerts oxidative damages resulting in ineffective erythropoiesis and hemolytic anemia, the underlying causes of pathology in the hereditary anemia of beta-thalassemia. The interaction of alpha-Hb with AHSP involves surfaces normally employed in binding to beta-Hb. However, a conformational change to the AHSP-bound alpha-Hb results in an oxidized heme, but in a pocket that is now less exposed to the outside environment, thereby protecting against both peroxide-induced heme loss and iron-induced redox reaction. Studies in both mice and humans indicate that reduction in AHSP can result in hematological pathology. Conversely, alpha-Hb variants that are compromised in their ability to bind with AHSP produce beta-thalassemia-like symptoms. Disease conditions like some forms of thalassemia that are directly associated with AHSP structural and/or functional defects can now be included within the category of chaperonopathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chairat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turbpaiboon
authors.forename: Prapon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilairat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D055542:alpha-Globins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055544:beta-Globins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C468768:AHSP protein, human; D001798:Blood Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D055542:alpha-Globins; D055544:beta-Globins