Hemoglobin and Myoglobin

Page 1: Myoglobin and Hemoglobin

Overview

  • B₂ Chemistry 237: A course reflecting on oxygen-binding proteins.

  • Focus on O2 binding proteins such as Myoglobin and Hemoglobin.


Page 2: Introduction to Topics

What is Coming

  • General protein-ligand interactions.

  • Definition and description of binding including thermodynamics.

  • Oxygen binding properties of Myoglobin and Hemoglobin.

  • Structural-function correlation for Myoglobin and Hemoglobin.

  • Study of Hemoglobin mutants and the correlation of changes in their structure and function.


Page 3: Protein-Ligand Interactions

Key Concepts

  • Reversible and Transient Process: Chemical equilibrium represented as A + B ⇌ AB.

  • Ligand: A small molecule that binds to the protein.

  • Binding Site: The specific region on the protein where the ligand binds.

  • Binding Mechanism: Ligand binds via non-covalent forces allowing transient interactions.


Page 4: Binding Quantification

Equilibrium Composition

  • Ligand (L) binding to a protein site (P) characterized by the equilibrium constant (K):

    • Formula: K_A + k_a & k_b 𝑃𝐿 ⇌ 𝑃 + 𝐿

    • A large value of K_A indicates tight binding:

    • [PL] is the concentration of the bound form.


Page 5: Binding Characteristics

Important Definitions

  • Equilibrium Composition characterized by the Equilibrium Dissociation Constant (K_d):

    • K_d = [P]×[L] / [PL]

    • K_d small indicates tight binding.


Page 6: Bound Fraction Analysis

Analysis of Binding Fraction

  • Bound Fraction (Θ): Can be determined practically to simplify the binding equation.

  • Substituting [PL] and rearranging leads to formulas based on equilibrium constants.


Page 7: Binding Curves

Key Concepts

  • K_d indicates ligand concentration at half saturation.

  • Typically a plot of the fraction of bound sites vs ligand concentration.


Page 8: Analysis of Binding Curves

Characteristics of Binding Curves

  • Binding strength is contingent on free ligand concentration and K_d.

  • K_d determinable graphically and may indicate the half-occupancy of binding sites.


Page 9: Thermodynamics of Binding

Thermodynamic Connections

  • Association constant (K_a), dissociation constant (K_d) are crucial for describing binding.

    • Relationship: K_d = 1/Ka

  • Free energy (∆G°) equation: ∆G° = ∆H° - T∆S°.

  • Strong binding: K_d < 10 nM; weak binding: K_d > 10 µM.


Page 10: Examples of Binding Strength

Protein Dissociation Constants

Protein

Ligand

Kd (M)

Avidin

Biotin

1 × 10^-15

Insulin receptor

Insulin

1 × 10^-10

Anti-HIV immunoglobulin

gp41

4 × 10^-10

Nickel-binding protein

Ni²+

1 x 10^-7

Calmodulin

Ca2+

3 × 10^-6

Sequence-specific Protein-DNA

-

10^-16


Page 11: O2 Transport in Organisms

Importance of O2

  • Active cells require O2 for efficient energy conversion through oxidative metabolism.

  • O2 needs to diffuse readily through tissues to sustain cellular functions.

  • CO2 produced by active cells must also be removed efficiently.


Page 12: O2 and Iron Interaction

Binding Dynamics

  • Iron interactions related to O2 binding.


Page 13: Myoglobin and Hemoglobin Overview

Key Features

  • Each subunit binds one iron-containing heme group.

  • Alpha subunit has 7 alpha helices; Beta has 8.

  • Heme group is nestled in a hydrophobic pocket formed by C, F, and E helices.

  • No covalent attachments between the heme and the protein exist.

  • Myoglobin is monomeric; Hemoglobin is tetrameric.


Page 14: Function and Structure of Myoglobin and Hemoglobin

Myoglobin

  • Located in muscle tissue; composed of 153 amino acids in a single polypeptide.

  • Functions to store and transport O2 within muscle tissue, enhancing solubility and diffusion rates.

Hemoglobin

  • Found in red blood cells; a tetrameric protein (α2β2) with 141 amino acids in α and 143 in β subunits.

  • Transports O2 from the lungs to tissues and CO2 from tissues to lungs.


Page 15: Iron Binding Sites

Binding Characteristics

  • Interaction of iron with heme and its related dynamics.


Page 16: Measuring O2 Binding

Spectrophotometric Analysis

  • Heme group is a strong chromophore absorbing UV and visible light.

  • Electronic state changes of Fe affect absorbance during O2 binding, monitored through UV-Vis spectrophotometry.


Page 17: O2 Binding Curve for Myoglobin

Curve Characteristics

  • X-axis: Partial pressure of O2 (pO2).

  • Y-axis: Degree of saturation (Θ).

  • Myoglobin binding curve is hyperbolic, contrasting with the sigmoidal curve of Hemoglobin.


Page 18: Function of Partial Pressure of O2

Protein Functionality

  • Myoglobin aids O2 movement within the muscle; Hemoglobin facilitates O2 delivery from lungs to tissues.

  • Partial pressure of O2 measures O2 solubility in blood or cellular fluid.


Page 19: Definition of Saturation Degree

Degree of Saturation

  • Often referred to as 'θ' or Y_O2:

  • θ = [O2 bound]/[total binding sites].

  • P50 defined as the pO2 at θ = 0.5.


Page 20: O2 Binding Curve Analysis

Effects at Varying pO2 Levels

  • Low pO2: Reduced binding.

  • High pO2 (lungs ~13 kPa): Effective binding occurs.


Page 21: Myoglobin Functions

Key Functions

  1. Increases solubility of O2 in water (in muscles).

  2. Enhances O2 diffusion.

  3. Critical for O2 storage in deep-diving mammals.

  4. Knockout mice can survive without substantial natural function of Myoglobin.


Page 22: Myoglobin as a Transport Protein

Transport Limitations

  • Myoglobin's tight O2 binding is advantageous for storage, but it is not an efficient transport protein.


Page 23: Requirements for Cooperative Binding

Cooperative Mechanism

  • Cooperative proteins with multiple binding sites enhance binding interactions.

  • Positive Cooperativity: First binding increases affinity for remaining sites.


Page 24: Hemoglobin Structure

Characteristics

  • Available in red blood cells and is a tetramer (α2β2) with specified subunit structures.

  • Functions mainly for O2 transport and CO2 removal in circulation.


Page 25: Cooperative Binding in Hemoglobin

Binding Curve Properties

  • Binding is cooperative resulting in the sigmoidal shape of the curve.

  • Models: Hill Model, Adair Model, MWC symmetry model.


Page 26: T and R States Defined

Structural States

  • T-State: Low affinity, associated with deoxy state.

  • R-State: High affinity, associated with oxy state.

  • Definitions based on studies by Jacques Monod, Jeffrey Wyman, and Jean-Pierre Changeux.


Page 27: T-State vs R-State

Binding Characteristics

  • T-state shows weak binding at all sites.

  • R-state allows for strong binding at all sites. Interaction between T and R states determines binding affinity.


Page 28: Importance of Conformational States

Physiological Relevance

  • Hb binds O2 efficiently in lungs (pO2 ~100 torr) and releases it in the body (pO2 ~30 torr).


Page 29: T-State & R-State Structures

Visualization

  • Structural representations of T-state and R-state in visual studies.


Page 30: Positive Cooperativity Concept

Reinforcing Binding Dynamics

  • Binding of one O2 influences other binding sites leading to easier O2 binding as saturation progresses, resulting in a sigmoidal curve.


Page 31: Effectors Influencing O2 Binding

Concept of Effectors

  • Effectors modify protein/enzyme activity:

    • Positive effectors: Enhance binding.

    • Negative effectors: Decrease binding affinity.

  • Example: O2 acts as a positive effector for itself in Hemoglobin.


Page 32: Influence of Blood Acidity on O2 Affinity

Acidity Impact

  • Increased H+ and CO2 stabilizes T-state, reducing O2 affinity.

  • CO2 binds at Hb’s N terminus reducing affinity.

  • Blood stream molecules alter O2 affinity, BPG stabilizes T-state.


Page 33: The Bohr Effect

Description and Observation

  • Observed by Christian Bohr in 1904, increased acidity causes a right shift in Hb binding curve.


Page 34: Physiological pH Conditions

Metabolism Effects

  • Metabolic processes generate CO2 and protons affecting blood pH.

    • Equilibrium: CO2 + H2O ⇌ HCO3- + H+.


Page 35: pH Impact on O2 Affinity

Correlations

  • Higher levels of H+ reduce O2 affinity, facilitating release when metabolism increases.


Page 36: Binding of Protons in T-State

Proton Binding Dynamics

  • Protons bind to stabilize T-state H-bonds during O2 binding dynamic.


Page 37: CO2 Binding Mechanism

Binding Dynamics

  • CO2 binds to beta subunit N-termini leading to increased blood acidity; thus enhancing O2 release.


Page 38: Summary of Effects

Cellular Metabolism Summary

  • O2 consumption generates H+ which destabilizes Hb-O2 bond, increasing O2 release.

  • H+ binding leads to stabilizations in T-state.

  • In lungs, high pO2 drives R-state formation, releasing H+.


Page 39: The BPG Effect in Hemoglobin

Behaviors of Purified vs In-Blood Hemoglobin

  • Carbamate formations and effects of H+ and BPG binding need to be distinguished.


Page 40: BPG Properties

Biochemical Role

  • BPG (bis-phosphoglycerate) is a small molecule with five negative charges binding to Hb under certain states, decreasing O2 affinity.


Page 41: BPG Binding Dynamics

Binding Site / States

  • BPG binds only in the T state's central region; high O2 concentrations disallow such binding in R state.


Page 42: Physiological Influence of BPG

Implications at High Altitudes

  • Increased [BPG] raises P50, resulting in better O2 offloading in low oxygen environments.


Page 43: BPG Effect at High Altitude

Adaptive Mechanism

  • Adaptation to lower oxygen uptake leads to increased tissue O2 delivery despite decreased atmospheric O2 levels.


Page 44: Changes Over Time at High Altitudes

BPG and Altitude Prevalence

  • Correlation of P50 changes with duration at high altitudes.


Page 45: Myoglobin Structure

Overview of Myoglobin

  • Key component in muscles aiding O2 diffusion, structured from 153 amino acids with globin regions.


Page 46: Structural Composition of Myoglobin

Key Elements

  • Presence of 8 alpha helices and 1 heme, stabilized by hydrophobic interactions and ionic interactions.


Page 47: Heme Binding Mechanics

Heme Functional Dynamics

  • Bound between E and F helices, crucial interactions prevent oxidation of Fe2+ and allow reversible O2 binding.


Page 48: Important Residues in Heme Interaction

Residue Interactions

  • Various amino acids play roles in the heme functional activity and binding properties.


Page 49: Salt Bridges in Myoglobin

Summary of Interactions

  • Key salt linkages contributing to Myoglobin stability.


Page 50: General Structural Properties of Hemoglobin

Overview of Structure

  • Composed of 4 subunits and specified contacts crucial for full functionality.


Page 51: Similarities and Differences in Structures

Sequence Identity

  • Myoglobin and Hemoglobin show structural similarities despite low sequence homology.


Page 52: Structural Identity of Heme

Comparative Overview

  • Myoglobin and Hemoglobin consist of similar frameworks, showing approximately 20% sequence identity.


Page 53: Interface Dynamics of Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin Dimer Interactions

  • Recognition of contacts and structural changes during transitions.


Page 54: Detailed Interactions

Residue Changes and Conformational Switches

  • Key residues involved in transitions between T and R states.


Page 55: Visualizations of Dimer Structure

Color-Coded State Illustrations

  • Detailed structural changes among the subunits depicted in color-coded forms.


Page 56: Structural Changes During O2 Binding

Geometric Adjustments

  • Observations of heme geometry alteration upon O2 binding.


Page 57: Movement Correlation in Heme and Helices

Movement Dynamics

  • Micro-level movements resulting from O2 binding seen within the helical structures.


Page 58 & 59: X-Ray Structure of Deoxy and Oxy Hemoglobin

Structural Insights

  • Visualization of hemoglobin structures in both deoxygenated and oxygenated forms.


Page 60: T and R-State Interface Changes

Interaction Changes

  • Notable hydrogen bond alterations arising during O2 binding.


Page 61: C-Termini Changes in Hemoglobin

Influence of Binding

  • O2 binding affects C-terminal stability positively impacting R-conformation.


Page 62 & 63: Structural Profiles of Deoxy and Oxy Hemoglobin

Reiteration of Structural Changes

  • Similar reiteration of key structural information in underlying diagrams.


Page 64: BPG Binding Sites

Binding Dynamics

  • Collage of structure information detailing the binding affinity themes.


Page 65: Hemoglobin Stabilization Factors

Summary of Stabilization Forces

  • Recognizable interactions holding hemoglobin together during its functional activities.


Page 66: Hemoglobin Variants Origin

Gene Relationships

  • Overview of structural and evolutionary connections among globin genes.


Page 67: Fetal Hemoglobin Structure

Comparison with Adult Hemoglobin

  • Composition noted for fetal hemoglobin contrasting with adult forms.


Page 68: Affinity of Fetal Hemoglobin

Binding Properties

  • Fetal hemoglobin displays higher O2 affinity at lower pO2 due to its binding stability.


Page 69: His143 Substitution Effects

Impact on Binding Affinity

  • Role of Ser143 in decreasing BPG binding, influencing O2 affinity.


Page 70: Overview of Abnormal Hemoglobin Variants

Variant Characteristics

  • Highlight of various abnormal hemoglobin states with potential clinical manifestations.


Page 71: Sickle-cell Hemoglobin Description

Characteristics and Consequences

  • Sickle-cell variant characterized by altered red blood cell morphology leading to transport difficulties.


Page 72: Mechanism of Sickle Cell Formation

Structural Alteration

  • Glu6 to Val mutation leading to fiber formation under T-state, causing physical red blood cell deformities.


Page 73: Sickle Cell Fiber Formation

Insights on Fiber Contacts

  • Detailed understanding of intermolecular contacts causing fiber formations in sickle-cell hemoglobin.


Page 74: Trait vs Disease in Sickle Cell

Prevalence and Advantage

  • Exploration of the heterozygous advantage against malaria and persistence in populations despite health issues from the homozygous state.


Page 75: Malaria and Sickle-cell Gene Correlation

Visual Insights

  • Graphical representation showcasing the overlap of malaria prevalence with sickle-cell gene distribution.


Page 76: Table of Hemoglobin Variants

Variant Names and Effects

Name

Mutation Description

Effect

Hammersmith

Phe CD1(42)β → Ser

Weakens heme binding

Bristol

Val E11(67)β → Asp

Weakens heme binding

...

...

...


Page 77: Disruption of Binding by Variants

Effects of Variants

  • Impact on heme binding and overall functionality of affected variants from external influences.


Page 78: Further Variants Effects

Similar Observations and Impacts

  • Comprehension of structural disruptions stemming from specific mutations and their subsequent impacts.


Page 79: Methemoglobins

Overview

  • Mutations leading to oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ nullifying O2 binding capability.


Page 80: Mutation Dynamics

Structural Implications

  • Detailed overview of mutations that influence stability leading to altered functional dynamics in hemoglobin.


Page 81: Effects of Switching Region Mutations

Stabilization Consequences

  • Analysis of how mutations in key regions stabilize either T or R state configurations.


Page 82: Summary of Mutation Effects

Overview of Cooperativity and Affinity

  • Understanding of how alterations enhance or inhibit O2 affinity and cooperativity.