PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

R C Terwilliger

Publications and source records attributed to R C Terwilliger.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Structural studies of a branchiopod crustacean (Lepidurus bilobatus) extracellular hemoglobin. Evidence for oxygen-binding domains.

The extracellular hemoglobin of the notostracan branchiopod Lepidurus bilobatus has an apparent molecular weight of 680,000 and may exist in a dissociation-association equilibrium dependent on pH and ligand state. The pigment contains one heme per 18,000 g protein. However, attempts to dissociate the hemoglobin by harsh denaturing conditions results in a 33-34,000 molecular weight polypeptide chain as well as traces of some 62-64,000 molecular weight material. Limited proteolysis of this hemoglobin with subtilisin produces 14,800 and 16,500 dalton heme-containing polypeptides (domains) which bind oxygen reversibly. These domains, isolated by column chromatography, have a heme content similar to the intact pigment. It is proposed that the intact 34,000 dalton subunit of Lepidurus hemoglobin consists of two linearly linked oxygen binding domains. Oxygen binding properties of the intact hemoglobin show a low oxygen affinity with a slight Bohr effect. In contrast, the isolated domains display a relatively high oxygen affinity and lack a Bohr effect between pH 7.0 and 8.0. It is apparent that the intact 34,000 dalton polypeptide is necessary for the expression of the heterotropic interactions of the native pigment.

Animals

The quaternary structure of a molluscan (Helisoma trivolvis) extracellular hemoglobin.

The hemoglobin (erythrocruorin) of the planorbid mollusc Helisoma trivolvis has a molecular weight of 1.7-10(6) and a sedimentation coefficient (s0 20, w) of 33.8 S at pH 7.0. At pH 2.0, the pigment consists of 32 S and 13 S material. The hemoglobin exists as a 350 000 molecular weight submultiple in 6 M guanidine and can be further dissociated into a 175-200 000 dalton polypeptide in 6M guanidine, 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol or by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of globin, performic acid oxidized globin or carboxymethylated globin. Electron microscope observations show a ten-membered ring structure measuring 200 A in diameter. It is proposed that Helisoma hemoglobin consists of a 1.7-10(6) dalton circular assembly of ten 175-200 000 dalton polypeptide chains. The amino acid composition of the pigment is reported. The hemoglobin contains one heme per 18-19 000 g protein. Limited proteolysis of the intact pigment shows 60 000, 40 000 and 17 000-18 500 dalton components when analyzed by sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis. It is likely that the 175-200 000 dalton polypeptide consists of a linear arrangement of 8-12 heme-containing domains, each domain having a molecular weight of 18-19 000.

Amino Acids

Molecular weight of Eudistylia vancouveri chlorocruorin and its subunits.

The chlorocruorin of the marine polychaete Eudistylia vancouveri has a molecular weight of 3.1-10(6) and a sedimentation coefficient (S020, w) of about 57 S at pH 8.0 in the presence of 0.01 M Mg2+. The quaternary structure of this pigment is unaffected by pH between 6.0 and 11.5 in the presence of 0.01 M Mg2+ whereas in 0l01 M EDTA, the pigment begins to dissociate above pH 9.0 into smaller submultiples. The chlorocruorin can be converted into subunits with molecular weights of about 14 000-15 000 and 30 000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis and 14 000-15 000 as measured by gel chromatography of the carboxy-methylated derivative in 8 M urea, 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol, or by sedimentation equilibrium in 6 M guanidine-HCl and 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol. The pigment contains 0.212 +/- 0.008% iron corresponding to 1 g atom iron per 26 300 g chlorocruorin. The amino acid composition of this pigment is reported. The subunit structure of Eudistylia chlorocruorin and the polymeric annelid hemoglobins are similar in many respects.

Amino Acids

Oxygen equilibrium and subunit aggregation of a holothurian hemoglobin.

The hemoglobin of the sea cucumber Cucumaria miniata Brandt has a mol. wt of about 36000 in the oxy- form with a s20,w equal to 2.9 and a subunit molecular weight of 18000 by sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis. This pigment aggregates when deoxygenated to an oligomer with a s20,w equal to 4.7, an aggregation which is reversible upon subsequent oxygenation. The hemoglobin shows a sigmoid binding equilibrium with "n" equal to 1.8 and a decrease in oxygen affinity with an increase in pigment concentration. This hemoglobin is compared with other hemoglobins showing oxygenation-linked subunit aggregation.

Animals