Structure, function, and metabolism of hemoglobin Vladimíra Kvasnicová

Structure of hemoglobin hemoprotein (complex protein: globin + prosthetic group) quaternary structure: 4 subunits prosthetic group of each of the subunit = heme 4 polypetide chains 4 molecules of heme 4 ferrous (Fe2+) ions

Mr = 64 500 The figure is found at http://dtc.pima.edu/~biology/202alpha/lesson1/hemoglobin.jpg (March 2007)

it has not a quarternary structure: only 1 polypeptide chain HEME hemoglobin MYOGLOBIN it has not a quarternary structure: only 1 polypeptide chain found in muscles: binds O2 „for storrage“ higher affinity to oxygen than hemoglobin The figures are found at http://www.virtuallaboratory.net/Biofundamentals/lectureNotes/AllGraphics/myoglobinSurface.jpg and http://courses.washington.edu/conj/protein/hemo.gif (March 2007)

Types of hemoglobin and its subunits adult hemoglobin: HbA1 = 22 HbA2 = 22 ( 2% from total Hb of adults) fetal hemoglobin HbF = 22 ! higher affinity to O2 than HbA ! binds oxygen more firmly at lower pO2 (placenta!)

The figure is found at http://www. labcorp The figure is found at http://www.labcorp.com/datasets/labcorp/html/img/fethgb.jpg (March 2007)

Structure of heme cyclic tetrapyrrole the pyrrols has different substituents belongs among porphyrins (heme = Fe-protoporphyrine IX) it contains: conjugated double bonds → red color 4 nitrogen atoms (N) 1 ferrous ion (Fe2+) → in the middle of the tetrapyrrole structure by coordination-covalent bonds

Pyrrole hemoglobin The figures are found at http://www.medical-definitions.net/images/hemoglobin.jpg and http://omlc.bme.ogi.edu/spectra/hemoglobin/hemestruct/heme-struct.gif (March 2007)

Pyrrole The figures are found at http://www.medical-definitions.net/images/hemoglobin.jpg and http://omlc.bme.ogi.edu/spectra/hemoglobin/hemestruct/heme-struct.gif (March 2007)

Synthesis of hemoglobin bone marrow in erytroblasts, not in erythrocytes 4 individual subunits are connected by noncovalent bonds to form tetramer of Hb hemoglobin is an intracellular protein: within ery concentration of Hb in blood: female 120 – 162 g/l male 135 – 172 g/l

Synthesis of hemoglobin Disorders: THALASSEMIA = group of genetically determined disorders: absence or reduced synthesis of a globin chain ( or  thalassemia) ANEMIA (= decreased oxygen-carrier capacity of blood) sideropenic anemia – insufficient concentration of Fe sickle cell anemia – point mutation in the -globin gene forms abnormal HbS (Glu → Val)

Synthesis of heme - REPETITION mainly in the bone marrow (Hb) and in the liver (cytochroms) mitochondria / cytoplasm / mitochondria substrates: succinyl-CoA + glycine important intermediates: -aminolevulinic acid (= 5-aminolevulinic, ALA) porphobilinogen (PBG = pyrrol derivative) uroporphyrinogen III (= 1st porphyrinogen – precursor of heme) protophorphyrine IX (= direct precursor of heme)

The figure is from: Color Atlas of Biochemistry / J. Koolman, K. H The figure is from: Color Atlas of Biochemistry / J. Koolman, K.H.Röhm. Thieme 1996. ISBN 0-86577-584-2

Synthesis of heme - regulation ALA-synthase the key regulatory enzyme in all tissues pyridoxal phosphate dependent ALA-synthase 1 (liver) inhibited by heme (feed back inhibition) regulation of transcription and by allosteric mechanism some drugs  amount of ALA-synthase ( conc. of heme) ALA-synthase 2 (erythroblasts) neither feed back inhibition nor induction by drugs regulated on the level of iron availability

Disorders of heme synthesis PORPHYRIAS inborn or acquired classification by defect enzyme accumulation of heme precursors in the body (skin) and their excretion with urine or feaces (dark color) neurogical symptomps, photosensitivity lead poisoning – accumulation of ALA (blood, urine) (inhibition of porphobilinogen synthase)

Degradation of hemoglobin cells of reticulo-endothelial system (RES) of spleen, bone marrow, liver, and skin Hb released from erythrocytes in blood vesels is bound by haptoglobin → RES free heme is transported by hemopexin HEMOGLOBIN → 4x globin + 4x heme globins chains → amino acids heme → Fe3+ + CO + biliverdin→bile pigments→feaces

The figure is from: Color Atlas of Biochemistry / J. Koolman, K. H The figure is from: Color Atlas of Biochemistry / J. Koolman, K.H.Röhm. Thieme 1996. ISBN 0-86577-584-2

Transport of blood gases Air composition: 78% N2 21% O2 1% water, inert gases, CO2 (0,04%) Air pressure: 1 atm = 101 325 Pa (~ 101 kPa) = 760 Torr (= mmHg) 1 mmHg = 0,1333 kPa 1 kPa = 7,5 mmHg

Transport of blood gases arterial blood venose blood pO2 13,33 kPa 5,33 kPa 100 mmHg 40 mmHg pCO2 5,33 kPa 6,13 kPa 40 mmHg 46 mmHg (alveols)

The figure is found at http://people. eku The figure is found at http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/RITCHISO//301notes6.htm (March 2007)

Transport of blood gases - function of hemoglobin - it transports O2 and part of CO2 (and CO) it binds H+ (reacts as a buffer) O2 and CO: bound to Fe2+ in heme → 4 O2 / 1 Hb „oxyhemoglobin“ HbO2 /„carbonylhemoglobin“ COHb CO2 is bound to globin! (-NH2 of side chains of amino acids) „carbaminohemoglobin“ HbCO2 H+ is bound to residues of His „deoxyhemoglobin“ HHb

Transport of blood gases - transport of CO2 - largely in a form of HCO3- (~ 70%) CO2 + H2O  H2CO3  HCO3- + H+ enzyme: carbonic anhydrase spontaneous dissociation (in erytrocytes) bound to hemoglobin (~ 23%) freely disolved (~ 7%)

The figure is found at http://fig. cox. miami The figure is found at http://fig.cox.miami.edu/~cmallery/150/physiol/sf41x11.jpg (March 2007)

Transport of blood gases - reactions in erytrocytes - tissues: CO2 + H2O → H2CO3 → HCO3- + H+ H+ + HbO2 → HHb + O2 → aerobic metabolism lungs: HHb + O2 → HbO2 + H+ H+ + HCO3- → H2CO3 → H2O + CO2 → excreted

O2 O2 The figure is from http://science.kennesaw.edu/~jdirnber/Bio2108/Lecture/LecPhysio/42-29-BloodCO2Transport-AL.gif (March 07)

Hemoglobin saturation curve - saturation with oxygen - The figure is found at http://employees.csbsju.edu/hjakubowski/classes/ch331/bind/MbHbbindcurve.gif (March 2007)

The figure is found at http://dr-amy. com/rich/oxygen/fig1 The figure is found at http://dr-amy.com/rich/oxygen/fig1.gif (March 2007)

The figure is found at http://dr-amy. com/rich/oxygen/fig1 The figure is found at http://dr-amy.com/rich/oxygen/fig1.gif (March 2007)

HbF is left-shifted (it has higher affinity to oxygen) The figure is found at http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Fetal_hemoglobin (March 2007)

Saturation of hemoglobin by oxygen quaternary structure of hemoglobin allosteric effect T-conformation: lower affinity to O2 (deoxy Hb) R-conformation: higher affinity to O2 (oxyHb) T  R Hb + O2  HbO2

The figure is found at http://employees. csbsju The figure is found at http://employees.csbsju.edu/hjakubowski/classes/ch331/bind/MbHbbindcurve.gif (March 2007)

The animation is found at http://en. wikipedia The animation is found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hb-animation2.gif (March 2007)

Saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen Factors affecting the saturation: alkaline pH and  pO2 stabilize R-conformation (IN LUNGS) acidic pH,  pCO2,  temperature and 2,3-BPG stabilize T-conformation, i.e. deoxyHb (IN PERIPHERY) shift of the saturation curve toward right

Bohr´s effect = the saturation of Hb by O2 drops because lowering pH The figure is found at http://employees.csbsju.edu/hjakubowski/classes/ch331/bind/MbHbbindcurve.gif (March 2007)

The figure is found at http://www. nd. edu/~aseriann/dpg The figure is found at http://www.nd.edu/~aseriann/dpg.html (March 2007)

Patological forms of hemoglobin methemoglobin (over 3%) metHb Fe3+ instad of Fe2+ unable to transport oxygen !!! glycohemoglobin (over 6%) HbA1c after long term increased glycemia carbonylhemoglobin (over 2%) COHb after CO poisoning sulfhemoglobin, cyanhemoglobin poisoning by H2S, HCN or by cyanides

Carbon monoxide poisoning CO has 200x higher affinity to Hb than O2 it forms COHb = carbonyl hemoglobin (formerly called carboxyhemoglobin) max. allowed concentration in the air: 0.003% intoxication by CO depends on pCO and a time of its exposition (0.04%  strong headache, 2-3 hours: unconsciousness; 1%  death after a few minutes)

to Fe2+ instead of oxygen CO binds to Fe2+ instead of oxygen The figure is found at http://www.orthosmoke.org/index.php/pt/Carbon%20Monoxide (March 2007)

The figure is found at http://dr-amy. com/rich/oxygen/fig1 The figure is found at http://dr-amy.com/rich/oxygen/fig1.gif (March 2007)

Carbon monoxide poisoning may result due to: exposure to automobile exhaust smoke inhalation an improperly ventilated gas heater or other appliance (incomplete burning)

Carbon monoxide poisoning CONSEQUENCES decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of Hb decreased delivery of oxygen to cells CO prevents reversible displacement of O2 on Hb CO shifts the O2-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the left CO inhibits the intracellular respiration CO may bind directly to cardiac and skeletal muscle to cause direct toxicity and to components of the nervous system to cause demyelination and neurologic symptoms

„cherry red coloration to the skin“ The figure is found at http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~lcscott/carbonmonoxide.html (March 2007)

Saturation of hemoglobin with CO COHb / total Hb (ratio in %) Saturation of hemoglobin with CO physiological value:  2% The figure is found at http://www.uhseast.com/134221.cfm (March 2007)

The figure is from http://www. coheadquarters. com/CORisk/figco32x The figure is from http://www.coheadquarters.com/CORisk/figco32x.htm (March 2007)

Carbon monoxide poisoning TREATEMENT fresh air exposure to high concentrations of oxygen (the 100% oxygen is administered by a face mask) it is recommended in patients who have a history of loss of consciousness, carbonyl hemoglobin saturation greater than 25%, metabolic acidosis and cerebellar findings on neurologic exam