Polymerization and solubility of recombinant hemoglobins alpha 2 beta 2 (6Val) (Hb S) and alpha 2 beta 2(6Leu) (Hb Leu)

The Sickle-Cell Fiber Revisited

Sickle cell disease is the consequence of a single point mutation on the surface of the β chains of the hemoglobin molecule leading to the formation of rigid polymers that disrupt circulation. It has long been established that the polymers are comprised of seven pairs of double strands that are twisted replicas of the double strands found in crystals. Here, we review several newer developments that elaborate on that simple model and provide deeper insights into the process.

Molecular Dynamics of Hemoglobin Reveals Structural Alterations and Explains the Interactions Driving Sickle Cell Fibrillation

In sickle cell anemia, deoxyhemoglobin deforms RBCs by forming fibrils inside that disintegrate on oxygenation. We studied 100 ns long all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) for sickle and normal hemoglobin fibril models to understand this process, complemented by multiple 1 μs MD for a single tetramer of sickle and normal hemoglobin in deoxy and oxy states. We find that the presence of hydrophobic residues without a bulky side chain at β-6 in hemoglobin is the reason for the stability of the fibrils. Moreover, the free energy landscapes from MD of hemoglobin starting in the tensed (T) state capture the putative transition from T to relaxed (R) state, associated with oxygen binding. The three conformational wells in the landscapes are characterized by the quaternary changes where one αβ dimer rotates with respect to the other. The conformational changes from the oxygenation of sickle hemoglobin hinder the intermolecular contacts necessary for fibril formation.

Beta7E-beta132K salt bridge and sickle haemoglobin stability and conformation

The liganded (R-state) form of sickle cell haemoglobin (HbS) is of particular relevance at non-polymerizing concentrations as oxy HbS exhibits unusual properties compared with oxy HbA: mechanical precipitability (resulting from surface denaturation), greater unfolding at an air-water interface and a tendency to oxidize more readily. In human haemoglobins, the beta7 (A4) Glu residue forms an intrachain salt bridge with beta132 (H10) Lys in both liganded and deoxy structures. In the present study, recombinant haemoglobins with substitutions in the beta7 and beta132 sites were studied in order to determine the role of the beta7-beta132 salt bridge on Hb conformational integrity and stability. The elimination of this interhelix bridge correlates with enhanced surface denaturation and conformational alterations in the central cavity 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) cleft and alpha1beta2 interface. The A-helix beta7 Ala substitution generates a class of conformational change at the DPG pocket and alpha1beta2 interface that is distinct from that dictated by the H-helix beta132 Ala substitution. These results are significant with regard to the communication pathway between the alpha1beta1 and alpha1beta2 interfaces, and the new understanding of Hb allostery dependent upon tertiary structural constraints caused by effector binding to the R-state.

Functional studies and polymerization of recombinant hemoglobin Glu-alpha2beta26(A3) --> Val/Glu-7(A4) --> Ala

In hemoglobin (Hb) S the hydrophobic mutated residue Val-beta6(A3) (donor site) closely interacts with the hydrophobic side groups of Phe-beta85(F1) and Leu-beta88(F4) (EF pocket, acceptor site) of a neighboring tetramer, resulting in decreased solubility and polymerization of the deoxy-Hb. The beta6(A3) residue is followed by two charged residues Glu-beta7(A4) and Lys-beta8(A5). This cluster has no attraction for the hydrophobic EF pocket. We have modified the beta7(A4) residue next to the donor site Val-beta6(A3), replacing the charged Glu by a hydrophobic Ala-(rHb betaE6V/E7A). The single mutant Glu-beta7 --> Ala-(rHb betaE7A) was also engineered. Both rHbs exhibit a heat instability and an increased oxygen affinity compared to Hb A and Hb S. There was a concentration dependence of the ligand binding properties (1-300 microM in heme) indicating an increased amount of dimers relative to Hb A. The deoxy form of rHb betaE6V/E7A polymerizes in vitro, with a decreased rate of polymer formation relative to Hb S, while the single mutant betaE7A does not polymerize in the same experimental conditions. The Glu-beta7(A4) --> Ala substitution does not increase the hydrophobic interaction between donor and acceptor site. We speculate that the loss of the normal saline bridge between Glu-beta7(A4) and Lys-beta132(H10) leads to an increased flexibility of the A helix and may account for the difference of the polymerization for this Hb S mutant.

Recombinant human sickle hemoglobin expressed in yeast

Sickle hemoglobin has been expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae after site-directed mutagenesis of a plasmid containing normal human alpha- and beta-globin genes. Cassette mutagenesis of this plasmid was achieved by inserting a DNA fragment containing the beta-globin gene in the replicative form of M13mp18 to make a point mutation and then reconstituting the original plasmid containing the mutated beta-globin gene. Pure recombinant hemoglobin S was shown to be identical to natural sickle hemoglobin in its ultraviolet and visible absorption bands and by gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, amino acid analysis, mass spectrometry, partial N-terminal sequencing, and functional properties (P50, cooperativity, and response to 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate). In yeast and in mammalian cells, cotranslational processing yields the same N-terminal valine residues of hemoglobin alpha- and beta-chains, but in bacterial expression systems the N terminus is extended by an additional amino acid because the initiator methionine residue is retained. Since the N-terminal valine residues of both chains of hemoglobin S participate in important physiological functions, such as oxygen affinity, interaction with anions, and the Bohr coefficient, the yeast expression system is preferable to the bacterial system for recombinant DNA studies. Hence, mutagenesis employing this expression system should permit definitive assignments of the role of any amino acid side chain in hemoglobin S aggregation and could suggest additional approaches to therapeutic intervention. The engineering of this system for the synthesis of sickle hemoglobin and its purification to homogeneity in a single column procedure are described.

Effects of beta 6 amino acid hydrophobicity on stability and solubility of hemoglobin tetramers

The relationship between different amino acids at the beta 6 position of hemoglobin and tetramer stability was addressed by a site-directed mutagenesis approach. Precipitation rates during mechanical agitation of oxyhemoglobins with Gln, Ala, Val, Leu and Trp at the beta 6 position increased 2, 5, 13, 21 and 53 times, respectively, compared with that for Hb A. There was a linear relationship between the log of the precipitation rate constant and amino acid hydrophobicity at the beta 6 position, suggesting that enhanced precipitation of oxy Hb S during mechanical agitation results in part from increased hydrophobicity of beta 6 Val. Deoxyhemoglobin solubility increased in the order of beta 6 Ile, Leu, Val, Trp, Gln, Ala and Glu suggesting that hydrophobic interactions between beta 6 Val and the acceptor site of another hemoglobin molecule during deoxy-Hb S polymerization not only depend on hydrophobicity but also on stereospecificity of the amino acid side chain at the beta 6 position. Furthermore, our results indicate that hydrophobic amino acids at the beta 6 position which promote tetramer instability in the oxy form do not necessarily promote polymerization in the deoxy form.