Iron structure and function Flashcards
What did Robert Boyle demonstrate?
Robert Boyle (1627-1691) demonstrated that an animal placed in an airtight chamber could not survive. He concluded that “there is in the air…a vital quintessence”
Who showed that blood contained more oxygen and carbon monoxide that could be explained by simple solution in a pure liquid; (something helps oxygen to be in solution)?
Sir Humphrey Davy (1799)
What did Gustav Magnus fo?
He demonstrated that arterial blood contained more oxygen and less carbon dioxide than venous blood.
Who first described the term “hemoglobin” and when?
In 1862, Felix Hoppe-Scyler
Who separated heme from globin and when?
In the second half of the 19th century
Teichman
Who established the structure of heme
Kuster (1912)
What is a prosthetic group?
heme is the prosthetic group of hemoglobin) – prosthetic group is a nonprotein group forming part of or combined with a protein (not composed of AAs
Who got a novel prize for the synthesis of heme in the lab?
Hans Fisher
who presented the first data demonstrating the sigmoid shape of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve and when
In 1904, Christian Bohr
Who got a nobel prize for doing an X ray analysis of Hgb which resulted in suggesting that a marked structural change accompanies the reaction of Hgb with oxygen?
M. F. Perutz
What is hemoglobin?
- Oxygen-binding protein; present in all living organisms
- Hgb is 90% of a dry RBC
- Allows for the consumption of ~250ml of oxygen per seconds in a normal adult at rest
How much do tha alpha and beta subunits of heme differ in terms of protein sequence in humans?
50%
How do plants and human hgb differ in terms of protein sequence? Do they work in similar ways?
80%
But still work in similar ways and have a similar structure
How does the O2 carrying capacity increase with Hgb?
- The solubility coefficient αO2 for human plasma is 0.03ml x liter x mmHg (low). BUT Human Hb binds 1.34 ml of oxygen per gram of protein (70x increase).
Name 2 alternate types of O2-binding proteins and their function/location
1) Hemocyanin
a. Copper-based molecule that binds oxygen
b. Present in invertebrates (mollusks)
2) Hemorythrin
a. Iron-based (non-heme)
b. Present in sipunculids and brachiopods
c. Purple: molecule is oxygenated
Which animal doesnt have hemoglobin? Why?
Antarctic ice fish
Temperature very low in Antarctic sea; oxygen a lot more soluble in cold temperature. Carries O2 in plasma
Physiological adaptations:
- Big CV system (larger blood vessels; larger hearts; larger cardiac outputs)
What are the advantages of Hgb being in RBCs rather than directly in plasma?
Inclusion of Hb in RBCs reduces oncotic pressure and high blood viscosity
RBCs provide a cellular microenvironment where metabolites and other effectors of O2 affinity to Hb can be regulated
Describe Hgb structure
- Vertebrate Hbs are tetrameric molecules with a molecular weight of approximately 64,500 Da;
- They are composed by two α-like and two β-like chains forming two αβ-pairs;
- Each subunit contains one O2 binding heme group. Thus, each Hb molecule binds four molecules of O2.
Alpha and beta chains consist of 7 and 8 helical segments, respectively
Each alpha and beta chain binds to a single molecule of heme which lies in a hypo hydrophobic pocket (protects heme iron from oxidation)
Sickle cell anemia is a mutation on which subunit?
beta chains