Heterogeneity between Two α Subunits of αβ Human Hemoglobin and O Binding Properties: Raman, H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Terahertz Spectra.

Following a previous detailed investigation of the β subunit of αβ human adult hemoglobin (Hb A), this study focuses on the α subunit by using three natural valency hybrid α(Fe-deoxy/O)β(Fe) hemoglobin M (Hb M) in which O cannot bind to the β subunit: Hb M Hyde Park (β92His → Tyr), Hb M Saskatoon (β63His → Tyr), and Hb M Milwaukee (β67Val → Glu). In contrast with the β subunit that exhibited a clear correlation between O affinity and Fe-His stretching frequencies, the Fe-His stretching mode of the α subunit gave two Raman bands only in the T quaternary structure. This means the presence of two tertiary structures in α subunits of the αβ tetramer with T structure, and the two structures seemed to be nondynamical as judged from terahertz absorption spectra in the 5-30 cm region of Hb M Milwaukee, α(Fe-deoxy)β(Fe). This kind of heterogeneity of α subunits was noticed in the reported spectra of a metal hybrid Hb A like α(Fe-deoxy)β(Co) and, therefore, seems to be universal among α subunits of Hb A. Unexpectedly, the two Fe-His frequencies were hardly changed with a large alteration of O affinity by pH change, suggesting no correlation of frequency with O affinity for the α subunit. Instead, a new Fe-His band corresponding to the R quaternary structure appeared at a higher frequency and was intensified as the O affinity increased. The high-frequency counterpart was also observed for a partially O-bound form, α(Fe-deoxy)α(Fe-O)β(Fe)β(Fe), of the present Hb M, consistent with our previous finding that binding of O to one α subunit of T structure αβ tetramer changes the other α subunit to the R structure.