Erthryocyte biochem Flashcards
when is majority of Hb synthesized in erythropoiesis?
before extrusion of nucleus from normoblast to become reticulocyte
what is the structure of adult Hb?
multi-unit protein that has 2 alpha chains, 2 beta chains, 1 heme molecule that contains an iron atom (to which O2 binds)
hydrophobic
how does O2 bind to Hb?
iron ion undergoes conformational change when bound to O2 in relation to the plane of polyphrin in heme
–> pulls down proximal histidine of Hb and changes its interaction with an associated globin chain
—> distal histidine then stabilizes bound O2
what kind of oxygen dissociation curve (ODC) does myoglobin have?
hemoglobin?
myoglobin: hyberloic curve
hemoglobin: sigmoidal curve
how does Hb bind O2 in cooperative manner?
binding to one molecule of O2 to one heme causes the conformational change (with the proximal histidine being pulled down) in one globin–> causes the conformational change in the next globin—> allowing O2 to readily bind to another heme
how does the lowering of pH in tissues cause the release of O2 from Hb? (also known as Bohr Effect)
which area of the ODC is this reflected on (and what percent saturation)?
histidine in Hb picks up the H+ from tissue–> causes conformational change which favors release of O2
steep part- 66%
how does 2,3- BPG modulate release of O2 from Hb?
signals to Hb to let go of O2 and reduces its affinity for it
why does exercise cause release of O2 from Hb?
what part of curve reflects this?
drop in pO2 from 40-20 mmHg
falls into the range of the very steep part of curve
does fetal Hb have higher or lower affinity for O2 than mother? how is this so?
fetal Hb (HbF) has higher affinity for O2 than HbA (mother’s Hb)
this is due to 2,3 BPG not binding well to HbF
what is the mutated Hb in sickle cell anemia? how does this happen? what are the effects?
HbS
glutamic acid changes to valine in B globin—> causes polymerization–> impedes circulation and can cause hemolytic anemia
what are they currently researching to treat sickle cell anemia? side effects?
hydroxyurea to induce expression of HbF
inflammation and is a toxic chemotherapeutic agent
what two big roles does Fe have?
- role in oxygen transport because it is both a component of Hb (67% of Fe) and myoglobin (5%)
- role in ETC becaise its component of cytochromes
how is Fe regulated in the body?
modulating its absorption (need about 25 mg each day to support Hb production)
how is iron stored (about 27% of total)?
stored in the form of ferritin (protein that binds to ferric iron) in cells of the spleen, BM, liver, and intestines
what is the degradation product of ferritin?
homosiderin
what is the pathway that non-heme iron (Fe3 from plant products) takes to become stored in body?
Fe3 (form that is hard for enterocytes to absorb) converted to Fe2 by ferric reductase (duodenal cytochrome-like B protein (dcytb)) in presence of vit C—>
Fe2 enters enterocyte via divalent transporter-1 (DMT-1)—>
exported out of enterocyte by ferroportin—>
Fe2 is then converted back into Fe3 in the blood by ferroxidase (cerruloplasmin) for transport or storage
what does ferroportin require for its function?
how is it regulated?
when is this regulation high?
what regulates the regulator?
requires hephaestin
regulated by hepcidin- peptide made by liver and binds to ferroportin causing internalization of ferropotin and degrades it in lysosomes
regulation high when iron levels are high—> hepciidin expression up, ferroportin levels down, iron absorption high. vice versa for low iron levels
human homeostatic iron regulator prtoein (HFE)
what is the pathway that heme iron (Fe2) (from animal products) take to be stored in body?
enters enterocyte and oxidized to Fe3 by ferroxidase (cerruloplasmin)—>
stored in form of ferritin
how does transferrin transport Fe3 in the blood to target tissues?
Fe3 gets bound to transferrin—>
transferrin reaches the target tissues thru blood—>
binds to transferrin receptor and undergoes receptor-mediated endocytosis—>
its internalized into endosomes via clathrin coated pits—>
pH in the endosome releases transferrin from its receptor so it can travel thru the cell in the endosome—>
endosome docks onto the mitochondria and tranfers iron via DMT1
what is the cause of hypochromic microlytic anemia?
what is the treatment?
iron deficiency either thru diet, low absorption, GI ulcers, aspirin overuse, excessive menstruation
iron supplement
what is hereditary hemochromatosis (HH)?
what diseases does it cause?
inheritance?
how much body iron do these patients have?
increased absorption of iron due to dysregulation of iron uptake and export by enterocytes that results in accumulation of it in the liver, heart, pancreas
causes cirrohosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, diabetes, arthritis, heart failure
autosomal recessive- mutations in hereditary hemochromatosis gene (HFE)
15 g (normal patient has 3-5 g)
what is RBC production dependent on?
what can deficiencies in these cause?
how is this disease characterized?
what do blood smears show?
folate (folic acid) and vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
megaloblastic anemia due to diminshed synthesis of DNA in developing RBC’s in the BM
characterized by large (mega) erthyrocytes in bone marrow (MCV>100 fL while a normal patient has 80-100 fL), normal Hb, and hyper-segmented neutrophils (has more than 5 lobes)
RBC volume increases and blood smear shows macrocytic, normochromic cells
what is the structure of folate?
has 3 derivatives
has 3 parts:
- pteridine ring
- PABA (another ring)
- glutamate
how is folate metabolized?
first its reduced to DHF by dihydrofolate reductase—>
further reduced to THF again by dihydrofolate reductase—>
THF is active form that’s involved in synthesis of purines and pyrimidine thymine, and serves vital role in DNA synthesis
what does a folic acid deficiency lead to?
decreased DNA synthesis which can lead to megaloblastic microlytic anemia
what foods is folic acid found in?
how is it absorbed?
how is it stored?
liver, eggs, legumes, milk, yeast, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits—> most folate present in DHF form
absorbed in the small intestine (jejunum)—> folic acid is reduced to N5-methyl-THF which is primary circulating form
liver stores 5-10 mg which can last 3-6 months
what is a strong inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase?
what cannot convert into what?
methrotrexate—> antineoplastic (anti-cancer) agent and inhibitor of DNA synthesis (binds enzyme more tightly than DHF)
DHF cant convert into THF