PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Jonathan A Lukin

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathan A Lukin.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Quaternary structure of carbonmonoxyhemoglobins in solution: structural changes induced by the allosteric effector inositol hexaphosphate.

We have applied the residual dipolar coupling (RDC) method to investigate the solution quaternary structures of (2)H- and (15)N-labeled human normal adult recombinant hemoglobin (rHb A) and a low-oxygen-affinity mutant recombinant hemoglobin, rHb(alpha96Val-->Trp), both in the carbonmonoxy form, in the absence and presence of an allosteric effector, inositol hexaphosphate (IHP), using a stretched polyacrylamide gel as the alignment medium. Our recent RDC results [Lukin, J. A., Kontaxis, G., Simplaceanu, V., Yuan, Y., Bax, A., and Ho, C. (2003) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100, 517-520] indicate that the quaternary structure of HbCO A in solution is a dynamic ensemble between two previously determined crystal structures, R (crystals grown under high-salt conditions) and R2 (crystals grown under low-salt conditions). On the basis of a comparison of the geometric coordinates of the T, R, and R2 structures, it has been suggested that the oxygenation of Hb A follows the transition pathway from T to R and then to R2, with R being the intermediate structure [Srinivasan, R., and Rose, G. D. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 11113-11117]. The results presented here suggest that IHP can shift the solution quaternary structure of HbCO A slightly toward the R structure. The solution quaternary structure of rHbCO(alpha96Val-->Trp) in the absence of IHP is similar to that of HbCO A in the presence of IHP, consistent with rHbCO(alpha96Val-->Trp) having an affinity for oxygen lower than that of Hb A. Moreover, IHP has a much stronger effect in shifting the solution quaternary structure of rHbCO(alpha96Val-->Trp) toward the R structure and toward the T structure, consistent with IHP causing a more pronounced decrease in its oxygen affinity. The results presented in this work, as well as other results recently reported in the literature, clearly indicate that there are multiple quaternary structures for the ligated form of hemoglobin. These results also provide new insights regarding the roles of allosteric effectors in regulating the structure and function of hemoglobin. The classical two-state/two-structure allosteric mechanism for the cooperative oxygenation of hemoglobin cannot account for the structural and functional properties of this protein and needs to be revised.

Allosteric Regulation↗

A biophysical investigation of recombinant hemoglobins with aromatic B10 mutations in the distal heme pockets.

This study examines the structural and functional effects of amino acid substitutions in the distal side of both the alpha- and beta-chain heme pockets of human normal adult hemoglobin (Hb A). Using our Escherichia coli expression system, we have constructed four recombinant hemoglobins: rHb(alphaL29F), rHb(alphaL29W), rHb(betaL28F), and rHb(betaL28W). The alpha29 and beta28 residues are located in the B10 helix of the alpha- and beta-chains of Hb A, respectively. The B10 helix is significant because of its proximity to the ligand-binding site. Previous work showed the ability of the L29F mutation to inhibit oxidation. rHb(alphaL29W), rHb(betaL28F), and rHb(betaL28W) exhibit very low oxygen affinity and reduced cooperativity compared to those of Hb A, while the previously studied rHb(alphaL29F) exhibits high oxygen affinity. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicates that these mutations in the B10 helix do not significantly perturb the alpha(1)beta(1) and alpha(1)beta(2) subunit interfaces, while as expected, the tertiary structures near the heme pockets are affected. Experiments in which visible spectrophotometry was utilized reveal that rHb(alphaL29F) has equivalent or slower rates of autoxidation and azide-induced oxidation than does Hb A, while rHb(alphaL29W), rHb(betaL28F), and rHb(betaL28W) have increased rates. Bimolecular rate constants for NO-induced oxidation have been determined using a stopped-flow apparatus. These findings indicate that amino acid residues in the B10 helix of the alpha- and beta-chains can play different roles in regulating the functional properties and stability of the hemoglobin molecule. These results may provide new insights for designing a new generation of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers.

Adult↗

Quaternary structure of hemoglobin in solution.

Many important proteins perform their physiological functions under allosteric control, whereby the binding of a ligand at a specific site influences the binding affinity at a different site. Allosteric regulation usually involves a switch in protein conformation upon ligand binding. The energies of the corresponding structures are comparable, and, therefore, the possibility that a structure determined by x-ray diffraction in the crystalline state is influenced by its intermolecular contacts, and thus differs from the solution structure, cannot be excluded. Here, we demonstrate that the quaternary structure of tetrameric human normal adult carbonmonoxy-hemoglobin can readily be determined in solution at near-physiological conditions of pH, ionic strength, and temperature by NMR measurement of (15)N-(1)H residual dipolar couplings in weakly oriented samples. The structure is found to be a dynamic intermediate between two previously solved crystal structures, known as the R and R2 states. Exchange broadening at the subunit interface points to a rapid equilibrium between different structures that presumably include the crystallographically observed states.

Carboxyhemoglobin↗

MONTE: An automated Monte Carlo based approach to nuclear magnetic resonance assignment of proteins.

A general-purpose Monte Carlo assignment program has been developed to aid in the assignment of NMR resonances from proteins. By virtue of its flexible data requirements the program is capable of obtaining assignments of both heavily deuterated and fully protonated proteins. A wide variety of source data, such as inter-residue scalar connectivity, inter-residue dipolar (NOE) connectivity, and residue specific information, can be utilized in the assignment process. The program can also use known assignments from one form of a protein to facilitate the assignment of another form of the protein. This attribute is useful for assigning protein-ligand complexes when the assignments of the unliganded protein are known. The program can be also be used as an interactive research tool to assist in the choice of additional experimental data to facilitate completion of assignments. The assignment of a deuterated 45 kDa homodimeric Glutathione-S-transferase illustrates the principal features of the program.

Algorithms↗

NMR investigation of the dynamics of tryptophan side-chains in hemoglobins.

NMR relaxation measurements of 15N spin-lattice relaxation rate (R(1)), spin-spin relaxation rate (R(2)), and heteronuclear nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) have been carried out at 11.7T and 14.1T as a function of temperature for the side-chains of the tryptophan residues of 15N-labeled and/or (2H,15N)-labeled recombinant human normal adult hemoglobin (Hb A) and three recombinant mutant hemoglobins, rHb Kempsey (betaD99N), rHb (alphaY42D/betaD99N), and rHb (alphaV96W), in the carbonmonoxy and the deoxy forms as well as in the presence and in the absence of an allosteric effector, inositol hexaphosphate (IHP). There are three Trp residues (alpha14, beta15, and beta37) in Hb A for each alphabeta dimer. These Trp residues are located in important regions of the Hb molecule, i.e. alpha14Trp and beta15Trp are located in the alpha(1)beta(1) subunit interface and beta37Trp is located in the alpha(1)beta(2) subunit interface. The relaxation experiments show that amino acid substitutions in the alpha(1)beta(2) subunit interface can alter the dynamics of beta37Trp. The transverse relaxation rate (R(2)) for beta37Trp can serve as a marker for the dynamics of the alpha(1)beta(2) subunit interface. The relaxation parameters of deoxy-rHb Kemspey (betaD99N), which is a naturally occurring abnormal human hemoglobin with high oxygen affinity and very low cooperativity, are quite different from those of deoxy-Hb A, even in the presence of IHP. The relaxation parameters for rHb (alphaY42D/betaD99N), which is a compensatory mutant of rHb Kempsey, are more similar to those of Hb A. In addition, TROSY-CPMG experiments have been used to investigate conformational exchange in the Trp residues of Hb A and the three mutant rHbs. Experimental results indicate that the side-chain of beta37Trp is involved in a relatively slow conformational exchange on the micro- to millisecond time-scale under certain experimental conditions. The present results provide new dynamic insights into the structure-function relationship in hemoglobin.

Amino Acid Substitution↗