Hemoglobin, oxygen and

Iron is especially important in the life processes as it is directly involved in the transport and storage of oxygen (hemoglobin and myoglobin), electron transport (cytochromes and ferredoxins), the metabolism of H2 by dehydrogenase, the utilization of peroxide (through peroxidases) and several other vital metabolic functions. 

If we set 3 — 4, corresponding to the case of completely oxygenated hemoglobin, and make use of equation P (page 442), this becomes ... 

Reactivity. Hemoglobin can exist ia either of two stmctural coaformatioas, corresponding to the oxy (R, relaxed) or deoxy (T, tense) states. The key differences between these two stmctures are that the constrained T state has a much lower oxygen affinity than the R state and the T state has a lower tendency to dissociate into subunits that can be filtered in the kidneys. Therefore, stabilization of the T conformation would be expected to solve both the oxygen affinity and renal excretion problems. 

Pyridoxal Derivatives. Various aldehydes of pyridoxal (Table 3) react with hemoglobin at sites that can be somewhat controlled by the state of oxygenation (36,59). It is thereby possible to achieve derivatives having a wide range of functional properties. The reaction, shown for PLP in Figure 3, involves first the formation of a Schiff s base between the amino groups of hemoglobin and the aldehyde(s) of the pyridoxal compound, followed by reduction of the Schiff s base with sodium borohydride, to yield a covalendy-linked pyridoxyl derivative in the form of a secondary amine. 

In 1982 a study of the usefulness of DBBF in the production of a blood substitute was reported (99). A single modification achieved the dual goals of reduced oxygen affinity and restricted tetramer—dimer dissociation. This work was confirmed in 1987 (98). The product, called aa-hemoglobin, was formulated in Ringer s lactate. P q under physiologic conditions is 3.7 kPa (28.0 torr). Hill s parameter is 2.2, and the Bohr effect was reduced (100). Plasma retention was increased, and the product appeared to be less heterogeneous than some of the other derivatives under study. Its production was scaled up by Baxter Healthcare Corp., under contract to the U.S. Army. 

Chapter 11. Hemoglobin Oxygen Bonding and Magnetic Properties 849... 

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