Binding of 21 thiol reagents to human hemoglobin in solution and in intact cells

Zinc-Substituted Hemoglobin-Albumin Cluster as a Porphyrin-Carrier for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

Apohemoprotein is focused on the field of theranostics, serving as a porphyrin carrier. Hemoglobin (Hb) consists of α2β2 tetramer with iron(II)-protoporphyrin IX (heme) bound to each globin. However, heme-removed Hb (apoHb) causes dissociation at αβ interfaces and aggregation under physiological conditions. We synthesized a stable apoHb derivative comprising intramolecular-crosslinked apoHb (apoXHb) and human serum albumin (HSA), apoXHb-HSA3. ApoXHb-HSA3 engendered no aggregates in the physiological solutions. Moreover, apoXHb-HSA3 was reconstituted with zinc(II)-protoporphyrin IX (ZnP), generating ZnXHb-HSA3, a potent photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT). The photophysical properties of ZnXHb-HSA3 were identical to those of zinc-substituted XHb (ZnXHb). Cellular uptake behavior was evaluated using various cancer cell lines. ZnXHb-HSA3 released ZnP around the cells, and the free ZnP penetrated cell membranes. In contrast, protein units were not observed within the cells. ZnXHb-HSA3 showed no cytotoxicity under dark conditions and demonstrated superior PDT activity in comparison to naked ZnXHb. ZnXHb-HSA3 acts as an innovative porphyrin carrier for enhanced PDT.

Glutathionyl Hemoglobin and Its Emerging Role as a Clinical Biomarker of Chronic Oxidative Stress

Hemoglobin is one of the proteins that are more susceptible to S-glutathionylation and the levels of its modified form, glutathionyl hemoglobin (HbSSG), increase in several human pathological conditions. The scope of the present review is to provide knowledge about how hemoglobin is subjected to S-glutathionylation and how this modification affects its functionality. The different diseases that showed increased levels of HbSSG and the methods used for its quantification in clinical investigations will be also outlined. Since there is a growing need for precise and reliable methods for markers of oxidative stress in human blood, this review highlights how HbSSG is emerging more and more as a good indicator of severe oxidative stress but also as a key pathogenic factor in several diseases.

Cooperative oxygen binding in beta-semihemoglobins caused by a chemical modification in the alpha1beta1 interface

A beta-semihemoglobin is an alpha-beta dimer of hemoglobin (Hb) in which the beta-subunit carries heme, while the alpha-subunit is heme-less, in apo form. It is characterised by displaying a high affinity for oxygen, and absence of cooperative binding of oxygen. We have modified chemically the residue beta112Cys (G14), located adjacent to the alpha1beta1 interface, and studied the impact of such a modification on the oligomeric state and oxygenation properties of the derivatives. We also studied the impact of modifying beta93Cys (F9) since its modification was unavoidable. For this, we used N-Ethyl maleimide and iodoacetamide. For the alkylation of beta112Cys (G14) in isolated subunits, we used N-Ethyl maleimide, iodoacetamide, or additionally, 4,4'-Dithiopyridine. Seven native and chemically modified beta-subunit derivatives were prepared and analysed. Only those derivatives treated with iodoacetamide showed oxygenation properties that were indistinguishable from those of native beta-subunits. These derivatives were then converted into their respective semihemoglobin forms, and four additional derivatives were prepared and analysed .in terms of ligation-linked oligomeric state, and oxygenation function, and contrasted against native Hb and unmodified beta-subunits. Strikingly, beta-semiHbs with modifications in beta112Cys showed indications of cooperative oxygen binding in various degrees, which suggested the possibility of assembly of two beta-semiHbs. The derivative modified with 4-Thiopyridine in beta112Cys showed a highly cooperative binding of oxygen (nmax = 1.67). A plausible allosteric scheme that could explain allostery in beta-semiHb system is suggested.

Core-Shell Structured Hemoglobin Nanoparticles as Artificial O2 Carriers

This paper describes the synthesis and O₂ binding properties of core-shell structured hemoglobin (Hb) nanoparticles (NPs), artificial O₂ carriers of five types, as designed for use as red blood cell (RBC) substitutes. Human adult Hbs were polymerized using α-succinimidyl-ω-maleimide and dithiothreitol in spheroidal shapes to create parent particles. Subsequent covalent wrapping of the sphere with human serum albumin (HSA) yielded 100 nm-diameter Hb nanoparticles (HbNPs). The HbNP showed higher O₂ affinity than that of RBC, but NPs prepared under a N₂ atmosphere exhibited low O₂ affinity. Entirely synthetic particles comprising recombinant human adult Hb and recombinant HSA were also fabricated. Using a recombinant Hb (rHb) variant in which Leu-β28 of the heme pocket had been replaced with Phe, we found somewhat low O₂ affinity of rHb(βL28F)NP. Particles made of stroma-free Hb (SFHb) containing natural antioxidant enzyme catalase (SFHbNP) formed a very stable O₂ complex, even in aqueous H₂O₂ solution. The SFHbNP showed good blood compatibility and did not affect the blood cell component functionality. The circulation half-life of SFHbNP in rats was considerably longer than that of naked Hb. All results indicate these Hb-based NPs as useful alternative materials for RBC and as a useful O₂ therapeutic reagent in diverse medical scenarios.

Measurement of S-glutathionylated proteins by HPLC

S-glutathionylated proteins (GSSP), i.e., protein-mixed disulfides with glutathione (GSH), are considered a suitable biomarker of oxidative stress. In fact, they occur within cells at low level and their concentration increases markedly under pro-oxidant conditions. Plasma is something different, since it is physiologically rich in S-thiolated proteins (RSSP), i.e., protein-mixed disulfides with various types of low molecular mass thiols (LMM-SH). However, albumin, which is largely the most abundant plasma protein, possesses a cysteine residue at position 34 that is mostly reduced (about 60%) under physiological conditions, but easily involved in the formation of additional RSSP in the presence of oxidants. The quantification of GSSP requires special attention to sample handling, since their level can be overestimated as a result of artefactual oxidation of GSH. We have developed the present protocol to avoid this methodological problem. Samples should be treated as soon as possible after their collection with the alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide that masks –SH groups and prevents their oxidation. The GSH released from mixed disulfides by reduction with dithiothreitol is then labeled with the fluorescent probe monobromobimane and quantified by HPLC. The method can be applied to many different biological samples, comprising blood components, red blood cell plasma membrane, cultured cells, and solid organs from animal models.

Hemoglobin(βC93A)-Albumin Cluster: Mutation of Cysteine-β93 to Alanine Allows Moderate Reduction of O2 Affinity by Inositol Hexaphosphate

Covalent wrapping of recombinant human hemoglobin (Cys-β93→Ala) variant rHb(βC93A) by human serum albumin (HSA) yielded the rHb(βC93A)-HSA₃ cluster as an artificial O₂ carrier as a red blood cell substitute. Complexation of inositol hexaphosphate to the central rHb(βC93A) core reduced the O₂ affinity moderately, in much the same way as that of naked hemoglobin. This reduction might be attributable to the inert, small Ala-β93 residue, which cannot be reacted with the bulky maleimide crosslinker.

Molecular insights of inhibition in sickle hemoglobin polymerization upon glutathionylation: hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulation-based approach

In sickle cell anemia, polymerization of hemoglobin in its deoxy state leads to the formation of insoluble fibers that result in sickling of red blood cells. Stereo-specific binding of isopropyl group of βVal6, the mutated amino-acid residue of a tetrameric sickle hemoglobin molecule (HbS), with hydrophobic groove of another HbS tetramer initiates the polymerization. Glutathionylation of βCys93 in HbS was reported to inhibit the polymerization. However, the mechanism of inhibition in polymerization is unknown to date. In our study, the molecular insights of inhibition in polymerization were investigated by monitoring the conformational dynamics in solution phase using hydrogen/deuterium exchange-based mass spectrometry. The conformational rigidity imparted due to glutathionylation of HbS results in solvent shielding of βVal6 and perturbation in the conformation of hydrophobic groove of HbS. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulation trajectory showed that the stereo-specific localization of glutathione moiety in the hydrophobic groove across the globin subunit interface of tetrameric HbS might contribute to inhibition in polymerization. These conformational insights in the inhibition of HbS polymerization upon glutathionylation might be translated in the molecularly targeted therapeutic approaches for sickle cell anemia.

A Triazole Disulfide Compound Increases the Affinity of Hemoglobin for Oxygen and Reduces the Sickling of Human Sickle Cells

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin (Hb). During a sickle cell crisis, deoxygenated sickle hemoglobin (deoxyHbS) polymerizes to form fibers in red blood cells (RBCs), causing the cells to adopt "sickled" shapes. Using small molecules to increase the affinity of Hb for oxygen is a potential approach to treating sickle cell disease, because oxygenated Hb interferes with the polymerization of deoxyHbS. We have identified a triazole disulfide compound (4,4'-di(1,2,3-triazolyl)disulfide, designated TD-3), which increases the affinity of Hb for oxygen. The crystal structures of carboxy- and deoxy-forms of human adult Hb (HbA), each complexed with TD-3, revealed that one molecule of the monomeric thiol form of TD-3 (5-mercapto-1H-1,2,3-triazole, designated MT-3) forms a disulfide bond with β-Cys93, which inhibits the salt-bridge formation between β-Asp94 and β-His146. This inhibition of salt bridge formation stabilizes the R-state and destabilizes the T-state of Hb, resulting in reduced magnitude of the Bohr effect and increased affinity of Hb for oxygen. Intravenous administration of TD-3 (100 mg/kg) to C57BL/6 mice increased the affinity of murine Hb for oxygen, and the mice did not appear to be adversely affected by the drug. TD-3 reduced in vitro hypoxia-induced sickling of human sickle RBCs. The percentage of sickled RBCs and the P₅₀ of human SS RBCs by TD-3 were inversely correlated with the fraction of Hb modified by TD-3. Our study shows that TD-3, and possibly other triazole disulfide compounds that bind to Hb β-Cys93, may provide new treatment options for patients with sickle cell disease.

Mercury(II) binds to both of chymotrypsin's histidines, causing inhibition followed by irreversible denaturation/aggregation

The toxicity of mercury is often attributed to its tight binding to cysteine thiolate anions in vital enzymes. To test our hypothesis that Hg(II) binding to histidine could be a significant factor in mercury's toxic effects, we studied the enzyme chymotrypsin, which lacks free cysteine thiols; we found that chymotrypsin is not only inhibited, but also denatured by Hg(II). We followed the aggregation of denatured enzyme by the increase in visible absorbance due to light scattering. Hg(II)-induced chymotrypsin precipitation increased dramatically above pH 6.5, and free imidazole inhibited this precipitation, implicating histidine-Hg(II) binding in the process of chymotrypsin denaturation/aggregation. Diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) blocked chymotrypsin's two histidines (his40 and his57 ) quickly and completely, with an IC50 of 35 ± 6 µM. DEPC at 350 µM reduced the hydrolytic activity of chymotrypsin by 90%, suggesting that low concentrations of DEPC react with his57 at the active site catalytic triad; furthermore, DEPC below 400 µM enhanced the Hg(II)-induced precipitation of chymotrypsin. We conclude that his57 reacts readily with DEPC, causing enzyme inhibition and enhancement of Hg(II)-induced aggregation. Above 500 µM, DEPC inhibited Hg(II)-induced precipitation, and [DEPC] >2.5 mM completely protected chymotrypsin against precipitation. This suggests that his40 reacts less readily with DEPC, and that chymotrypsin denaturation is caused by Hg(II) binding specifically to the his40 residue. Finally, we show that Hg(II)-histidine binding may trigger hemoglobin aggregation as well. Because of results with these two enzymes, we suggest that metal-histidine binding may be key to understanding all heavy metal-induced protein aggregation.

Identification of a small molecule that increases hemoglobin oxygen affinity and reduces SS erythrocyte sickling

Small molecules that increase the oxygen affinity of human hemoglobin may reduce sickling of red blood cells in patients with sickle cell disease. We screened 38 700 compounds using small molecule microarrays and identified 427 molecules that bind to hemoglobin. We developed a high-throughput assay for evaluating the ability of the 427 small molecules to modulate the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin. We identified a novel allosteric effector of hemoglobin, di(5-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-2-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)disulfide (TD-1). TD-1 induced a greater increase in oxygen affinity of human hemoglobin in solution and in red blood cells than did 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), or diformamidine disulfide. The three-dimensional structure of hemoglobin complexed with TD-1 revealed that monomeric units of TD-1 bound covalently to β-Cys93 and β-Cys112, as well as noncovalently to the central water cavity of the hemoglobin tetramer. The binding of TD-1 to hemoglobin stabilized the relaxed state (R3-state) of hemoglobin. TD-1 increased the oxygen affinity of sickle hemoglobin and inhibited in vitro hypoxia-induced sickling of red blood cells in patients with sickle cell disease without causing hemolysis. Our study indicates that TD-1 represents a novel lead molecule for the treatment of patients with sickle cell disease.

Protein glutathionylation and oxidative stress

Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) demonstrated that glutathionyl hemoglobin (Hb) levels are increased in patients with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, uremia and Friedreich's ataxia. Glutathionylation of Hb is enhanced by oxidative stress. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) have also been developed for the quantification of glutathionyl Hb. Glutathionyl-lens proteins were detected in uremic patients and cataractous aged subjects. Glutathionylation of numerous enzymes is induced by oxidative stress, reduces their catalytic activities and may be involved in protection from the damaging effects of oxidative agents. Thioredoxin, glutaredoxin (thioltransferase) and protein disulfide isomerase are the key enzymes in controlling cellular oxidative stress that catalyze reduction of glutathionyl protein disulfide bonds. Thus, protein glutathionylation is closely associated with oxidative stress.

Peculiar features of the aggregation effect of silver(I) ion on hemoglobin

Silver(I) ion has been shown to produce aggregation effect on bovine oxyhemoglobin (HbO(2)) in Tris buffer even when taken in amounts corresponding to only two or less silver ions per one HbO(2) tetramer. The extent of produced effect is comparable to those previously observed for Hg(II), Cd, Zn, and Ni in spite of significantly different electronic configurations of the ions in question. Aggregation effect of the silver is ascribed to an interaction of the reactive thiol group sulfur-bound silver atom with the carboxylate residues surrounding the reactive thiol group-bearing cysteine beta93 group of hemoglobin. Mercury ligands, in particular, Tris molecules and OH(-) anions markedly suppress the protein coagulation, thereby supporting the proposed protein aggregation mechanism.

Responses of normal and sickle cell hemoglobin to S-nitroscysteine: implications for therapeutic applications of NO in treatment of sickle cell disease

Factors which govern transnitrosation reactions between hemoglobin (Hb) and low molecular weight thiols may define the extent to which S-nitrosated Hb (SNO-Hb) plays a role in NO in the control of blood pressure and other NO-dependent reactions. We show that exposure to S-nitrosylated cysteine (CysNO) produces equivalent levels of SNO-Hb for Hb A(0) and sickle cell Hb (Hb S), although these proteins differ significantly in the electron affinity of their heme groups as measured by their anaerobic redox potentials. Dolphin Hb, a cooperative Hb with a redox potential like that of Hb S, produces less SNO-Hb, indicating that steric considerations outweigh effects of altered electron affinity at the active-site heme groups in control of SNO-Hb formation. Examination of oxygen binding at 5-20 mM heme concentrations revealed increases due to S-nitrosation in the apparent oxygen affinity of both Hb A(0) and Hb S, similar to increases seen at lower heme concentrations. As observed at lower heme levels, deoxygenation is not sufficient to trigger release of NO from SNO-Hb. A sharp increase in apparent oxygen affinity occurs for unmodified Hb S at concentrations above 12.5 mM, its minimum gelling concentration. This affinity increase still occurs in 30 and 60% S-nitrosated samples, but at higher heme concentration. This oxygen binding behavior is accompanied by decreased gel formation of the deoxygenated protein. S-nitrosation is thus shown to have an effect similar to that reported for other SH-group modifications of Hb S, in which R-state stabilization opposes Hb S aggregation.

Erythrocyte-active agents and treatment of sickle cell disease

The sickle hemoglobin (HbS)-containing erythrocyte and its membrane represent a logical target for sickle cell disease therapy. Several antisickling agents which interfere with HbS polymerization have been studied over the last 30 years, but none has overcome the challenge of delivering high concentrations inside the sickle red blood cell without toxicity. The sickle erythrocyte membrane has also been targeted for therapeutic developments. Prevention of sickle cell dehydration by use of specific blockers of ion transport pathways mediating potassium loss from the sickle erythrocyte has been shown to be a feasible strategy in vitro, in vivo in transgenic sickle mice, and in patients. Other approaches have focused on improving the hemorheology of sickle erythrocytes and reducing their abnormal adhesion to endothelial cells. These potential treatments could be used alone or in combination with other approved therapies, such as hydroxyurea.

Different metabolizing ability of thiol reactants in human and rat blood: biochemical and pharmacological implications

The effect of oxidants, electrophiles, and NO donors in rat or human erythrocytes was analyzed to investigate the influence of protein sulfhydryl groups on the metabolism of these thiol reactants. Oxidant-evoked alterations in thiolic homeostasis were significantly different in the two models; large amounts of glutathione protein mixed disulfides were produced in rat but not in human erythrocytes by treatment with hydroperoxides or diamide. The disappearance of all forms of glutathione (reduced, disulfide, protein mixed disulfide) was induced by menadione only in human erythrocytes. The treatment of rat red blood cells with electrophiles produced glutathione S-conjugates to a much lower extent than in human red blood cells; GSH was only minimally depleted in rat red blood cells. The NO donor S-nitrosocysteine induced a rapid transnitrosation reaction with hemoglobin in rat erythrocytes producing high levels of S-nitrosohemoglobin; this reaction in human red blood cells was negligible. All drugs were cleared more rapidly in rat than in human erythrocytes. Unlike human Hb, rat hemoglobin contains three families of protein SH groups; one of these located at position beta125 is directly implicated in the metabolism of thiol reactants. This is thought to influence significantly the biochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological effects of some drugs.

Reaction of human myoglobin and nitric oxide. Heme iron or protein sulfhydryl (s) nitrosation dependence on the absence or presence of oxygen

The amino acid sequence of human myoglobin (Mb) is similar to other mammalian Mb except for a unique cysteine residue at position 110 (Cys(110)). Anaerobic treatment of ferrous forms of wild-type human Mb, the C110A variant of human Mb or horse heart Mb, with either authentic NO or chemically derived NO in vitro yields heme-NO complexes as detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). By contrast, no EPR-detectable heme-NO complex was observed from the aerobic reactions of NO and either the ferric or oxy-Mb forms of wild-type human or horse heart myoglobins. Mass analyses of wild-type human Mb treated aerobically with NO indicated a mass increase of approximately 30 atomic mass units (i.e., NO/Mb = 1 mol/mol). Mass analyses of the corresponding apoprotein after heme removal showed that NO was associated with the apoprotein fraction. New electronic maxima were detected at A(333 nm) (epsilon = 3665 +/- 90 mol(-)(1) cm(-)(1); mean +/- S.D.) and A(545 nm) (epsilon = 44 +/- 3 mol(-)(1) cm(-)(1)) in solutions of S-nitrosated wild-type human Mb (similar to S-nitrosoglutathione). Importantly, the sulfhydryl S-H stretch vibration for Cys(110) measured by Fourier transform infrared (nu approximately 2552 cm(-)(1)) was absent for both holo- and apo- forms of the wild-type human protein after aerobic treatment of the protein with NO. Together, these data indicate that the reaction of wild-type human Mb and NO yields either heme-NO or a novel S-nitrosated protein dependent on the oxidation state of the heme iron and the presence or absence of dioxygen.

Hemoglobin-sulfhydryls from tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria) can reduce oxidative damage induced by organic hydroperoxide in erythrocyte membrane

Sulfhydryl groups are important to avoid oxidative damage to the cell. In RBC, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tert-BOOH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are capable of oxidizing heme and promoting lipid peroxidation. H2O2 caused greater oxidation of heme than tert-BOOH, although the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups was similar. Geochelone carbonaria Hb, a rich sulfhydryl protein, inhibited the TBA-reactive substances formation of human erythrocytes exposed to tert-BOOH by about 30%; this decrease was smaller with Geochelone denticulata Hb. Sulfhydryl reagents diminished the number of reactive sulfhydryl groups in the G. carbonaria Hb resulting in a decrease of its antioxidant power, suggesting the involvement of sulfhydryls of Hb in the protection against lipid peroxidation.

Histidin as a mercurial poisoning inhibitor

Histidin has been shown to effectively inhibit coagulation of horse oxyhemoglobin (HbO(2)) modified by mercury(II) ion bound to reactive thiol groups of protein. Kinetic parameters were measured and the histidin-to-mercury binding constant was kinetically estimated. Histidin, as other pharmaceutically acceptable compounds with some mercury-binding capacity, has been suggested to alleviate mercury intoxication conditions.

Reaction of human myoglobin and H2O2. Involvement of a thiyl radical produced at cysteine 110

The human myoglobin (Mb) sequence is similar to other mammalian Mb sequences, except for a unique cysteine at position 110. Reaction of wild-type recombinant human Mb, the C110A variant of human Mb, or horse heart Mb with H(2)O(2) (protein/H(2)O(2) = 1:1.2 mol/mol) resulted in formation of tryptophan peroxyl (Trp-OO( small middle dot)) and tyrosine phenoxyl radicals as detected by EPR spectroscopy at 77 K. For wild-type human Mb, a second radical (g approximately 2. 036) was detected after decay of Trp-OO( small middle dot) that was not observed for the C110A variant or horse heart Mb. When the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) was included in the reaction mixture at protein/DMPO ratios </=1:10 mol/mol, a DMPO adduct exhibiting broad absorptions was detected. Hyperfine couplings of this radical indicated a DMPO-thiyl radical. Incubation of wild-type human Mb with thiol-blocking reagents prior to reaction with peroxide inhibited DMPO adduct formation, whereas at protein/DMPO ratios >/=1:25 mol/mol, DMPO-tyrosyl radical adducts were detected. Mass spectrometry of wild-type human Mb following reaction with H(2)O(2) demonstrated the formation of a homodimer (mass of 34,107 +/- 5 atomic mass units) sensitive to reducing conditions. The human Mb C110A variant afforded no dimer under identical conditions. Together, these data indicate that reaction of wild-type human Mb and H(2)O(2) differs from the corresponding reaction of other myoglobin species by formation of thiyl radicals that lead to a homodimer through intermolecular disulfide bond formation.

NMR study of the sites of human hemoglobin acetylated by aspirin

Acetylation of hemoglobin by aspirin and other acetylating agents has been used to generate hemoglobin analogs with altered structural and functional properties, and may prove useful in the treatment of sickle cell disease. We have studied the acetylation of human hemoglobin using [1'-(13)C]acetylsalicylic acid in combination with two-dimensional HMQC and HSQC NMR analysis. The spectra of the acetylated hemoglobin exhibit a number of well resolved resonances. Several spectral assignment strategies were used: blocking the 2, 3-DPG binding site non-covalently with inositol hexaphosphate or covalently with a cross-linking agent, selective carbamylation of the N-terminal valine amino groups with cyanate, spin-labeling the hemoglobin at betaCys93, and analysis of a hemoglobin triple mutant: betaV1MH2DeltaK144R, in which betaLys144 is replaced by an arginine residue. These studies support the conclusion that the most rapidly acetylated residue is betaLys82 rather than betaLys144, as previously reported. Further, it is apparent that acetyl betaLys82 can give rise to several resonances due to additional acetylation of betaLys82' or other nearby residues. An additional assignment strategy involving comparison of the chemical shifts of the acetyl resonances observed for adducts of diamagnetic carbonmonoxyhemoglobin with the shifts observed in paramagnetic cyanomethemoglobin provides information about the location of the acetyl derivatives relative to the heme irons. This approach is limited, however, by the lack of well defined structural information for the lysine residues on the protein surface. Additional tentative assignments have also been made, using the above approaches.

Fast-reacting thiols in rat hemoglobins can intercept damaging species in erythrocytes more efficiently than glutathione

The S-conjugation rates of the free-reacting thiols present on each component of rat hemoglobin with 5,5-dithio-bis(2,2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) have been studied under a variety of conditions. On the basis of their reactivity with DTNB (0.5 mM), three classes of thiols have been defined as follows: fast reacting (fHbSH), with t1/2 <100 ms; slow reacting (sHbSH), with t1/2 30-50 s; and very slow reacting (vsHbSH), with t1/2 180-270 s. Under paraphysiological conditions, fHbSH (identified with Cys-125beta(H3)) conjugates with DTNB 100 times faster than glutathione and approximately 4000 times more rapidly than (v)sHbSH (Cys-13alpha(A11) and Cys-93beta(F9)). Such characteristics of fHbSH reactivity that are independent of the quaternary state of hemoglobin are mainly due to the following: (i) its low pK (approximately 6.9, the cysteinyl anion being stabilized by a hydrogen bond with Ser-123beta(H1)) and (ii) the large exposure to the solvent (as measured by analysis of a model of the molecular surface) and make these thiols the kinetically preferred groups in rat erythrocytes for S-conjugation. In addition, because of the high cellular concentration (8 mM, i.e. four times that of glutathione), fHbSHs are expected to intercept damaging species in erythrocytes more efficiently than glutathione, thus adding a new physiopathological role (direct involvement in cellular strategies of antioxidant defense) to cysteinyl residues in proteins.

Reactivity of 42 disulfides with thiol group of human haemoglobin and human serum albumin

The reactivities of disulfides of different compound families towards thiol groups of human haemoglobin and human serum albumin were determined at physiological pH 7.4 by anion-exchange liquid chromatography. The apparent second-order kinetic rate constants, K1, were calculated for the reaction of these disulfides with each protein. The results show that the studied heterocyclic disulfides are the most reactive compounds with both proteins. The lipophilic properties of these disulfides were evaluated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography, using the percentage of acetonitrile (PAC) required for eluting each compound of the chromatographic column in a water-acetonitrile gradient. The structure-reactivity correlations between log K1 and log PAC are stated for each protein and compared. They fit a parabolic curve which permits one to define a lipophilic domain corresponding to a quantitative reaction of disulfides towards these proteins. The studied disulfides present a similar optimum of reactivity for both proteins.

Changes of polymerization and conformation of hemoglobin S induced by thiol reagents

Thiol reagents, covalently bound to cysteine beta 93, either inhibit or facilitate the polymerization process of hemoglobin S. The progelling effect of parahydroxymercurybenzoate or 2,2'-dithiodipyridine contrasted with the increased oxygen affinity and the destabilization of the T state of Hb shown by functional and NMR studies. Thiol reagents increased the oxygen affinity of Hb from 30 to 1000%. Such variability was also observed in the reduction (up to 50%) of the alkaline Bohr effect. We show that the antigelling or progelling activity of thiol reagents does not depend solely on the concentration of molecules present in the deoxy T state but that specific effects of the reagent affects molecular interactions of the hemoglobin S polymerization process.

Binding of DTNB to band 3 in the human red cell membrane

Inhibition of red cell water transport by the sulfhydryl reagent 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) has been reported by Naccache and Sha'afi ((1974) J. Cell Physiol. 84, 449-456) but other investigators have not been able to confirm this observation. Brown et al. ((1975) Nature 254, 523-525) have shown that, under appropriate conditions, DTNB binds only to band 3 in the red cell membrane. We have made a detailed investigation of DTNB binding to red cell membranes that had been treated with the sulfhydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), and our results confirm the observation of Brown et al. Since this covalent binding site does not react with either N-ethylmaleimide or the sulfhydryl reagent pCMBS (p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonate), its presence has not previously been reported. This covalent site does not inhibit water transport nor does it affect any transport process we have studied. There is an additional low-affinity (non-covalent) DTNB site that Reithmeier ((1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 732, 122-125) has shown to inhibit anion transport. In N-ethylmaleimide-treated red cells, we have found that this binding site inhibits water transport and that the inhibition can be partially reversed by the specific stilbene anion exchange transport inhibitor 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS), thus linking water transport to anion exchange. DTNB binding to this low-affinity site also inhibits ethylene glycol and methyl urea transport with the same KI as that for water inhibition, thus linking these transport systems to that for water and anions. These results support the view that band 3 is a principal constituent of the red cell aqueous channel, through which urea and ethylene glycol also enter the cell.

Kinetics of polymerization of hemoglobin S modified by thiol reagents and by oxidation

The effects of four thiol reagents on the kinetics of polymerization of hemoglobin S have been studied in high phosphate buffer (1.8 M), in the presence (3 mM) or absence of sodium dithionite, depending on the reduction of mixed disulfides of Hb in the presence of this reducing agent. The effect of oxidized forms (methemoglobin) of HbS on the kinetics of aggregation of deoxyHbS was also studied because of the presence of 33% metHbS when HbS was modified by 4-aminophenyl disulfide. In the presence of sodium dithionite, the delay times prior to polymerization of deoxyHbS modified by N-ethylmaleimide, iodoacetamide and 4-aminophenyl disulfide were, respectively, 1.5-, 1.35- and 1.15-times longer than that of native deoxyHbS. The results indicate that the radicals bound to the cysteine beta 93 residue inhibit the contacts in the polymer formation to various extents but do not modify the size of the nuclei.

Determination of the dissociation constant of oligomeric proteins by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography: application to human haemoglobin

The measurement of protein retention volumes on a size-exclusion chromatographic column offers the possibility of determining dissociation constants for oligomeric proteins, as changes in the retention volume, depending on the concentration of the protein, are due to a dissociation equilibrium. The retention volume may be calibrated in terms of dissociation constant by using either extreme concentration conditions or chemical modifications that shift the equilibrium towards a single species. When zonal chromatography is used, the dilution during elution modifies the equilibrium state. In contrast, the saturation method permits the concentrations of the different species to be kept constant. These two methods were compared and the elution factor that must be used in zonal chromatography on high-performance size-exclusion columns (LiChrospher Diol) was obtained. The tetramer-dimer dissociation constants of normal and modified haemoglobins were measured by this method, and the results are in accordance with flash photolysis measurements.

Alteration of rheological properties of human erythrocytes by crosslinking of membrane proteins

The crosslinking of membrane proteins of human erythrocytes by diamide (diazene dicarboxylic acid bis(N,N-dimethylamide) ) was quantified by 4% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. The relation between the crosslinking of membrane proteins and erythrocyte functions (rheological and oxygen transporting) was quantitatively examined. (i) The crosslinking of membrane protein was induced by diamide, without changing the shape and the contents of intracellular organic phosphates (adenylates and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate). The intensity of spectrin 2 in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis decreased proportionally to diamide concentration. The percentage decrease in spectrin 2 (using band 3 as an internal standard) was the most appropriate indicator for crosslinking ("% crosslinking'). (ii) The suspension viscosity of erythrocytes increased in proportion to the percentage of crosslinking, in the range of applied shear rates of 3.76-752 s-1. (iii) Erythrocyte deformability (measured by a high-shear rheoscope) was reduced by the crosslinking. The change was detectable even at 5% crosslinking. (iv) Rouleaux formation (measured by a television image analyzer combined with a low-shear rheoscope) was inhibited by the crosslinking. The inhibition was also sensitively detected at more than 5% crosslinking. (v) Hemoglobin in erythrocytes was chemically modified by higher dose of diamide (probably by the binding of diamide with sulfhydryl groups). Also the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin increased and the heme-heme interaction decreased. (vi) The reduction of the crosslinking of membrane proteins by dithiothreitol apparently reversed the intensity of spectrin bands in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the erythrocyte functions (the suspension viscosity and the deformability), though not completely.