Erythrocyte Biochemistry Flashcards
Describe the steps of erythropoiesis (making of RBC’s)
Stem cell (hemocytoblast) —> committed cell (proerthroblast) —>phase 1. Ribosome synthesis (early erythroblast) —> phase 2. Hemoglobin accumulation (late erythroblast) —> (normoblast) —> phase 3. Ejection of nucleus and organelles (reticulocytes)—> Erythrocyte (RBC)
T/F
Majority of hemoglobin synthesis is before the release of the nuclear from the cell in erythropoiesis
True
*small amounts are made in reticulocytes
Describe the adult hemoglobin structure
- tetrameric protein
- 2 alpha-globin chains
- 2 beta-globin chains
- one heme
- holds iron Fe2+ (ferrous)
- holds the oxygen
- is hydrophobic
What are the embryonic hemoglobin cells called? And when are they destroyed?
Hgb Gower 1
Hgb Gower 2
Hgb Portland
*by 8 weeks gestation
What is the name for fetal hemoglobin? When does it peak?
Hgb F (A2, Y2)
-peaks right before birth
What is the name for adult hemoglobin?
Hgb A (A2, B2) —97 % Hgb A2 (A2, S2) — 3%
*after birth gamma (Y) Hgb decreases and alpha (A) increases
What genes are associated with hemoglobin (adult, embryonic, and fetal)
16 and 11
Current research for sickle cell treatment is trying to induce expression of ______. Why?
HbF (fetal hemoglobin)
- upregulated HbF because it doesn’t have Beta component. The mutation for sickle cell is on the B-globin unit, therefore without it there is no sickle cell disease
- using hydroxyurea to induce HbF and address inflammation
*BUT urea is toxic agent
Where is the missense mutation of glu—>Val found in sickle cell anemia
HbS - amino acid #6 in B-globin
What are the traits associated with proximal histidine
- F8
- bound to heme
- Beta chain of hemoglobin
What are the traits of distal histidine
- E7
- stabilizes O2 bound to heme through hydrogen bonding
- beta-chain of hemoglobin
*O2 binds to the iron between the heme and distal histidine
How does Oxygen binding cause a conformational change in hemoglobin
- oxygen binding changes the position of iron in the plane of the heme
- the change pulls down the proximal F8 histidine and changes interaction with associated globin chain
(Slight angle) deoxymyoglobin —-(O2 binding —-> (more straight) oxymyoglobin
*positive cooperatively
What is the concentration of O2 when hemoglobin is 50% saturated
26 Torr
Why is the oxygen dissociation curve sigmoid all for hemoglobin and hyperbolic for myoglobin
-the sigmoidal shape indicates that distinct oxygen binding sites are present in each hemoglobin molecule
T/F
Hemoglobin bind to oxygen is reversible
True
T/F hemoglobin switches between 2 affinity states: low and high
True
Explain positive cooperatively between hemoglobin and oxygen that makes hemoglobin more superior to myoglobin
- the binding of one oxygen to hemoglobin facilitate the binding of oxygen to another heme (makes it easier and easier)
- the conformational change of one globin subunit induces a conformational change in another subunit
The oxygen dissociation curve: modulation by pH illustrates what ?
The Bohr effect
Is the pH of actively respiring tissues higher or lower
Lower
7.4 –> 7.2
How is the binding affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen affected when pH decreases
The binding affinity of Hb for O2 decreases as pH decreases
Which histidine residue picks up H+ ions from tissue
His 146
Cooperativity enhances oxygen delivery by hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is able to deliver more O2 to actively metabolizing tissues as compared to ______ or _____ even if they have optimal O2 affinity
Myoglobin
Or non cooperative protein
What is responsible for reducing oxygen affinity so Hb gives up more O2 to the tissues
2,3 BPG
- signals Hb to let go of O2 so more can be delivered to tissues
- this is the reason why pure Hb binds O2 more tightly vs Hb in RBC’s (bc of 2, 3 BPG presence in RBC)
T/F
Fetuses need Hb that has higher affinity for O2 vs mothers Hb
True
What does not bind well to 2,3 BPG and therefore has a higher affinity for O2
HbF (fetal Hb)
What protein carries iron in the blood
Transferrin
*provides iron to bone marrow for RBC formation
T/F
Macrophages will digest RBC’s and release the iron to go back into the iron cycle
True
Where is iron mainly found in humans
67% in hemoglobin
- 27% storage in ferritin and hemosiderin
- 5%myoglobin
- 1% Fe-proteins