Kinetic Characterisation of the R and R2 Quaternary Structures of Oxyhemoglobins Arising from Different Effects of Inositol Hexakisphosphate on Their Reactions with Ellman's Reagent.

In a previously reported equilibrium study of the reaction of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate), DTNB, with various carbonmonoxyhemoglobins over the pH range 5.6 to 9, we obtained contradictory results on the influence of the allosteric effector inositol hexakisphosphate (inositol-P) on the DTNB reaction. For this reason, we replaced the carbonmonoxyhemoglobins with oxyhemoglobins and investigated the effect of inositol-P on the equilibrium and of their reactions with DTNB over the same pH range.

R and R2 quaternary structures of carbonmonoxyhemoglobins: Differential effect of inositol hexakisphosphate on their affinity for Ellman's reagent.

The reaction of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate), DTNB, with hemoglobin sulfhydryl groups is linked to three negatively contributing Bohr effect groups: His2β is present in all avian hemoglobins but absent in some mammalian hemoglobins; His77β and His143β are absent in avian but present in nearly all mammalian hemoglobins. To probe the consequences of these differences, we determined the influence of inositol hexakisphosphate (inositol-P) on the DTNB affinities of avian and mammalian carbonmonoxyhemoglobins. Inositol-Pdecreases by two orders of magnitude the DTNB affinity of guinea pig hemoglobin, which has His2β and the R2 quaternary structure.

Bohr effect and oxygen affinity of carp, eel and human hemoglobin: Quantitative analyses provide rationale for the Root effect.

The functional properties of most fish hemoglobins are more complex than those of human hemoglobin. This complexity arises in the form of the Root effect, in which the oxygen affinity of such fish hemoglobins decreases rapidly with pH relative to that of human hemoglobin. Cooperative ligand binding is also diminished below pH ≈ 6.

Bohr effect of human hemoglobin: Separation of tertiary and quaternary contributions based on the Wyman equation.

As a prelude to separating tertiary from quaternary structure contributions to the Bohr effect, we employed the Wyman equation to analyze Bohr data for human hemoglobin to which 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate, 2,3-BPG, is bound. Changes in the pKs of the histidine Bohr groups result in a net reduction of their contributions to the Bohr effect at pH 7.4 compared to their contributions in stripped hemoglobin.

Bohr effect of native and chemically modified hemoglobins: Quantitative analyses based on the Wyman equation.

Thirteen histidines and the α-chain terminal amino group (ACTA) make all of the contributions to the Bohr effect of human hemoglobin. The pKs of the 13 histidines in carbonmonoxy- and deoxyhemoglobin are known from H NMR studies. Those of ACTA are not so precisely known.

Bohr effect of avian hemoglobins: Quantitative analyses based on the Wyman equation.

The Bohr effect data for bar-headed goose, greylag goose and pheasant hemoglobins can be fitted with the Wyman equation for the Bohr effect, but under one proviso: that the pK of His146β does not change following the T→R quaternary transition. This assumption is based on the x-ray structure of bar-headed goose hemoglobin, which shows that the salt-bridge formed between His146β and Asp94β in human deoxyhemoglobin is not formed in goose deoxyhemoglobin. When the Bohr data for chicken hemoglobin were fitted by making the same assumption, the pK of the NH terminal group of Val1α decreased from 7.

Bohr effect of hemoglobins: Accounting for differences in magnitude.

The basis of the difference in the Bohr effect of various hemoglobins has remained enigmatic for decades. Fourteen amino acid residues, identical in pairs and located at specific 'Bohr group positions' in human hemoglobin, are implicated in the Bohr effect. All 14 are present in mouse, 11 in dog, eight in pigeon and 13 in guinea pig hemoglobin.

Bohr effect of human hemoglobin A: magnitude of negative contributions determined by the equilibrium between two tertiary structures.

We have measured the affinity of the CysF9[93]β sulfhydryl group of human deoxyhemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin for 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate), DTNB, between pH ≈5.6 and 9 in order to understand the basis of the reported reduction of the Bohr effect induced by chemical modification of the sulfhydryl. We analyzed the results quantitatively on the basis of published data indicating that the sulfhydryl exists in two conformations that are coupled to the transition between two tertiary structures of hemoglobin in dynamic equilibrium.

Tertiary conformational transition in sheep hemoglobins induced by reaction with 5,5 -dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) and by binding of inositol hexakisphosphate.

We have determined the second-order reverse rate constant, k(R), for the reaction of 5,5 -dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) - DTNB - with sheep hemoglobins as a function of pH from values of the second-order forward rate constant, k(F), and the equilibrium constant, K(equ), at 25 degrees C: k(R)=k(F)K(equ). We demonstrate that (i) inositol hexakisphosphate (inositol-P(6)) decreases k(F) and k(R) by increasing K(rt), the rright harpoon over left harpoont tertiary conformation transition constant; (ii) the conformation favored for both the forward and reverse reactions is the r conformation. For stripped hemoglobin we obtain from the k(F) data a t isomer population of 34.

Transition of haemoglobin between two tertiary conformations: Inositol hexakisphosphate increases the transition constant and the affinity of sheep haemoglobin for 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate).

The equilibrium constant (K(equ)) for the reaction of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) - DTNB - with the CysF9[93]beta sulphydryl group of the haemoglobins of the sheep decreases by about two orders of magnitude between pH approximately 5.6 and 9.2: from a mean of 7.

Transition of hemoglobin between two tertiary conformations: The transition constant differs significantly for the major and minor hemoglobins of the Japanese quail (Cortunix cortunix japonica).

We demonstrate that 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) - DTNB - reacts with only CysF9[93]beta and CysB5[23]beta among the multiple sulfhydryl groups of the major and minor hemoglobins of the Japanese quail (Cortunix cortunix japonica). K(equ), the equilibrium constant for the reaction, does not differ very significantly between the two hemoglobins. It decreases 430-fold between pH approximately 5.

Transition of hemoglobin between two tertiary conformations: determination of equilibrium and thermodynamic parameters from the reaction of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) with the CysF9[93]beta sulfhydryl group.

The equilibrium constant of the reaction of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) with the CysF9[93]beta sulfhydryl group of hemoglobin decreases by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude between pH 5.6 and 9. The reaction is coupled to the ionizations of two groups on the protein.

Reversible reaction of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) with the CysF9[93]beta sulfhydryl groups of the hemoglobins of the domestic cat: variation of the equilibrium and reverse rate constants with pH.

We have determined for the first time the equilibrium constant, Keq, for the reaction of Ellman's reagent, 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate), with the CysF9[93]beta sulfhydryl groups of the hemoglobins of the domestic cat. In the pH range 5.6 to 9.

Reversible reaction of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) with the hemoglobins of the domestic cat: acetylation of NH3+ terminal group of the beta chain transforms the complex pH dependence of the forward apparent second order rate constant to a simple form.

We demonstrate kinetically that the reaction of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) with the CysF9[93]beta sulfhydryl group of domestic cat hemoglobins is a reversible process. In the major hemoglobin, in which the NH3+ terminal group of GlyNA1[1]beta is free, kf, the apparent forward second order rate constant, has a complex pH dependence profile. In the minor hemoglobin, the NH3+ terminal group of SerNA1[1]beta is acetylated, and the pH dependence profile of kf is simple.

Effect of anionic surfactant on the reaction of 2,2(1)-dithiobispyridine with bovine oxyhemoglobin as a function of temperature.

The reaction of bovine oxyhemoglobin with 2,2(1)-dithiobispyridine in the absence and presence of sodium n-dodecyl sulphate has been studied as a function of pH and temperature. The quantitative analysis of the pH dependence of the apparent second order rate constants shows that two ionizable groups are linked to the reaction in the native form. These are His HC3 (146) beta and Cys F9 (93) beta.

Hemoglobins with multiple reactive sulphydryl groups: the reaction of pigeon hemoglobin with 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid).

Pigeon hemoglobin has eight reactive sulphydryl groups per (tetramer) molecule, as determined by Boyer titration with p-chloromercuribenzoate. However, only four of these are titratable with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) under the same experimental conditions. The time course of the reaction of pigeon hemoglobin with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) is biphasic.

Hemoglobins with multiple reactive sulphydryl groups: the reaction of dog hemoglobin with 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoate).

Dog hemoglobin has four sulphydryl groups per (tetramer) molecule located at the G18(111)alpha and F9(93)beta positions. The two sulphydryls at the G18(111)alpha positions are unreactive toward nonmercurial sulphydryl reagents, but those at the F9(93)beta positions are reactive toward these reagents. We have studied the kinetics of the reaction of dog hemoglobin with 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) as a function of pH.

Biochemical characterization of a novel channel-activating site on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

We have studied the interaction of the reversible acetylcholine esterase inhibitor (-)physostigmine and several structurally related compounds with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) from Torpedo marmorata electric tissue by means of ligand-induced ion flux into nAChR-rich membrane vesicles, direct binding studies and photoaffinity labeling. (-)Physostigmine acts as a channel-activating ligand at low concentrations and as a direct channel blocker at elevated concentrations. Channel activation is not inhibited by desensitizing concentrations of ACh or ACh-competitive ligands (including alpha-bungarotoxin and D-tubocurarine) but is inhibited by antibody FK1 and several other compounds.

Ionizable groups linked to the reaction of 2,2'-dithiobispyridine with hemoglobin.

The pH-dependence of the second-order rate-constant for the reaction of 2,2'-dithiobispyridine with the CysF9(93) beta sulphydryl group of hemoglobin in the R quaternary structure is analyzed in terms of a tentative model based on the observation that this sulphydryl exists as a mixture of two tertiary conformations in dynamic equilibrium. For the four aquomethemoglobins studied (human A and S, dog and rabbit), the equation derived from this model gives a better fit than a simpler equation based on the assumption of only one tertiary conformation. For the corresponding carbonmonoxyhemoglobins the simpler equation gives a better fit.

A second pathway of activation of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor channel.

We have studied the interaction of the reversible acetylcholine esterase inhibitor (-)physostigmine (D-eserine) with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) from Torpedo marmorata electric tissue by means of ligand-induced ion flux into nAChR-rich membrane vesicles and of equilibrium binding. We find that (-) physostigmine induces cation flux (and also binds to the receptor) even in the presence of saturating concentrations of antagonists of acetylcholine, such as D-tubocurarine, alpha-bungarotoxin or antibody WF6. The direct action on the acetylcholine receptor is not affected by removal of the methylcarbamate function from the drug and thus is not due to carbamylation of the receptor.

Desensitization is a property of the cholinergic binding region of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, not of the receptor-integral ion channel.

The reversible acetylcholine esterase inhibitor (-)-physostigmine (eserine) is the prototype of a new class of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activating ligands: it induces cation fluxes into nAChR-rich membrane vesicles from Torpedo marmorata electric tissue even under conditions of antagonist blocked acetylcholine binding sites (Okonjo, Kuhlmann, Maelicke, Neuron, in press). This suggests that eserine exerts its channel-activating property via binding sites at the nAChR separate from those of the natural transmitter. We now report that eserine can activate the channel even when the receptor has been preincubated (desensitized) with elevated concentrations of acetylcholine.

Temperature-jump studies on hemoglobin. Kinetic evidence for a non-quaternary isomerization process in deoxy- and carbonmonoxyhemoglobin.

Temperature jumps on mixtures of hemoglobin and pH indicators give rise to relaxation signals in the microsecond range. The pH and concentration dependences of the reciprocal relaxation time, 1/tau, may be rationalized on the basis of a reaction scheme in which a slow isomerization process in the protein moiety is coupled to a rapid co-operative ionization of two protons. At 11 degrees C the rate constants of the isomerization are kr = 4.

The uptake of protons by heme-linked ionizable groups on azide binding to methemoglobin.

When azide ion reacts with methemoglobin in unbuffered solution the pH of the solution increases. This phenomenon is associated with increases in the pK values of heme-linked ionizable groups on the protein which give rise to an uptake of protons from solution. We have determined as a functional of pH the proton uptake, delta h+, on azide binding to methemoglobin at 20 degrees C.

Subunit iron spin heterogeneity in human aquomethemoglobin A.

On the basis of a reaction scheme in which the ligand binding steps are preceded by fast iron spin transitions (Okonjo, K.O. (1980) Eur.

The effect of heme-linked ionizable groups on cyanide binding to methemoglobin.

The pH dependence of the kinetics of the binding of cyanide ion to methemoglobins A and S and to guinea pig and pigeon methemoglobins appears to be not directly correlated with the net charges on the proteins. The kinetics can, however, be adequately explained in terms of three sets of heme-linked ionizable groups with pK1 ranging between 4.9 and 5.