- Marcello Malpighi described the RBCs in 1665.
- Felix Hope Seyler in 1862 isolated pure Hemoglobin.
- Christian Bohr in 1904 discovered that hemoglobin is the transporter of oxygen.
- In 1912 Kutster established the structure of hemoglobin.
- Hans Fischer synthesized heme in the laboratory in 1920 (Nobel prize, 1930).
- In 1945, Linus Pauling (Nobel prize, 1954) described abnormal hemoglobins.
- Max Perutz (Nobel Prize, 1962) studied the 3D structure of Hemoglobin.
Index of the Article
What is Hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is a globular heme protein in vertebrate red blood cells and in the plasma of many invertebrates that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide; heme group binds oxygen and carbon dioxide and as well as imparts a red color to the blood; also spelled as hemoglobin.
- Why Proteins are Very Important? How to Explain?
- Peptide bonds: Backbone of the Proteins
- What is Amino acid and its Structural Chemistry?
Introduction of Hemoglobin Protein
- Red-colored conjugated protein (made up of heme and Globin) present inside the RBC
- Normal Hb% in an adult male is 14 to 16 gm.
- Approximately 6.25 gm of Hb are synthesized and destroyed every day.
- Heme structure does not vary from species to species.
- It is the basic protein globin that varies in amino acid composition and sequence in different species.
- Globin is rich in Histidine and lysine.
Importance
- Hb binds O2 transports O2 and delivers the same to tissues.
- Hb binds CO2, a waste product of metabolism.
- 2-3 BPG, produced in RBC by Rapport-Leubering shunt stabilizes Hb confirmation at the quaternary level and enhances dissociation of O2 from Hb at the tissue site.
- Cyanide combines with methemoglobin to form cyanomethemoglobin which is non-toxic.
- The study of Hb structure gives an insight into the molecular basis of hemoglobinopathies.
Structure of Hemoglobin
- Heme is an iron porphyrin compound. Porphyrin is a tetrapyrrole structure.
- Ferrous iron occupies the center of the porphyrin ring and establishes linkages with all the four nitrogens of all the pyrrole rings.
- It is also linked to the nitrogen of the imidazole ring of histidine present in the globin part.
- Globin part is made of four polypeptide chains, to identical α-chains and two identical β-chains in normal adult hemoglobin.
- Each chain contains a “heme” in the so-called ‘heme pocket’. So one Hb molecule possesses four heme units.
- Hb molecule contains hydrophobic amino acids inside and hydrophilic ones on the surface.
- Heme pockets of α-subunits are of just adequate size to give entry to an O2 molecule. Entry f O2 into heme pockets of β-subunits is blocked by a valine residue.
- Varieties of normal human Hb are
- Hb-A1 (two α-chains and β-chains)
- HbF (two α-chains and ¥-chains)
- Hb-A2 (two α-chains and delta-chains)
- Embryonic Hb (two α-chains and €-chains)
- Hb-A3 (Altered from Hb-A found in old red cells)
- HbA1C (Glycosylated Hb, present in a concentration of 3-5% of total Hb). In diabetes mellitus, it is increased to 6 to 15%.
Hemoglobin derivatives
- Hemin (Hematin hydrochloride)
- Hemochromogen
- Hematoidin
- Methemoglobin (an Oxidation product of Hb; produced by drugs like nitrites, phenacetin, sulphonamide drugs; lack of enzymes like methemoglobin reductase, diaphorase-I, HbM.
- Toxic effects of Met Hb are cyanosis, fatigue, tachycardia, tachypnea, depression.
- Methemalbumin: (Combination of hematin with albumin), not present in normal adult blood, when present indicates intravascular hemolysis, detected by Schumm’s test.
Combination of Hb with gases
- Oxyhemoglobin: (loose and reversible combination with O2); 1.34ml O2 combines with each gm of Hb.
- One mole of Hb can maximally combine with four mols of O2. The partial pressure of O2 favors oxygenation.
- Partial pressure of CO2 favors dissociation. Acidosis favors liberation of O2.
- Oxygenated Hb is in a relaxed state i.e, ‘R’ state. R state characterized by the removal of valine residue from heme pocket of β-subunit; broken salt bridges; cannot bind BPG; FFe++ comes in the plane of porphyrin ring; Heme-Heme interaction increases the affinity to O2; Histidines ofβ-chains release protons (H+).
- Deoxygenated Hb: In “T” form i.e. Taut form, salt bridges plenty and intact, valine residue covers heme pocket of β-chain and does not allow entry of O2; can bind BPG; F++ out of the plane of porphyrin ring; low affinity to O2; β-chain histidine residue protonated (H+ added).
- Carboxyhemoglobin (Hb+ carbo monoxide): Firmer combination, not reversible, the affinity of Hb to CO in 210 times more than )2; inhibits cytochrome oxidase of electron transport chain.
- Carbamino Hb (Hb + CO2):
- Sulfhaemoglobin: Greenish pigment; formed when H2S reacts with Oxy-Hb, seen in severe constipation, certain types of bacteria.
Abnormal Haemoglobins
More than 30 abnormal types descry, differentiated by their characteristic electrophoretic mobilities, generally transmitted; are due to the single mutant gene; Two types –
- Due to the mutation of the structural gene. E.g: HbS, HbM, HbC, HbD (Punjab) etc.
- Due to a mutation in the regulator gene. E.g: Thalassemias.
- Detection by Finger Printing techniques and Hybridization
Effects of abnormal Hb
- Changed Red cell morphology
- Hemolytic anemia, Jaundice
- Methemoglobinemia
- High O2 affinity E.g: Hb cheaper, Hb-Rainier
- Interfere with mRNA formation e.g.: Hb constant spring
HbS
In both β-chains glutamic acid in the 6th position is replaced by Valine. This results in an increase in viscosity and precipitation of HbS. Hence the crescent or sickle-shaped RBC of more fragile nature. However such RBCs show increased resistance to malaria but more vulnerable to salmonella infections.
Thalassemias
- α-chain Thalassemia: Synthesis of α-chains is replaced. E.g.: HbH (β4) and Hb-Barts (¥4).
- β-chain Thalassemia (Thalassemia major): Synthesis of β-chain is repressed. As a result, increased synthesis of HbA2 or HbF.
