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D T Shih

Publications and source records attributed to D T Shih.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Involvement of the distal histidine in the low affinity exhibited by Hb Chico (Lys beta 66----Thr) and its isolated beta chains.

Hemoglobin (Hb) Chico (Lys beta 66----Thr at E10) has a diminished oxygen affinity (Shih, D. T.-b., Jones, R. T., Shih, M. F.-C., Jones, M. B., Koler, R. D., and Howard, J. (1987) Hemoglobin 11, 453-464). Our studies show that its P50 is about twice that of Hb A and that its cooperativity, anion, and Bohr effects between pH 7 and 8 are normal. The Bohr effect above pH 8 is somewhat reduced, indicating a small but previously undocumented involvement of the ionic bond formed by Lys beta 66 in the alkaline Bohr effect. Since the oxygen affinity of the alpha-hemes is likely to be normal, that of the beta-hemes in the tetramer is likely to be reduced by the equivalent of 1.2 kcal/mol beta-heme in binding energy. Remarkably, both initial and final stages of oxygen binding to Hb Chico are of lowered affinity relative to Hb A under all conditions examined. The isolated beta chains also show diminished oxygen affinity. In T-state Hb A, Lys(E10 beta) forms a salt bridge with one of the heme propionates, but comparison with other hemoglobin variants shows that rupture of this bridge cannot be the cause of the low oxygen affinity. X-ray analysis of the deoxy structure has now shown that Thr beta 66 either donates a hydrogen bond to or accepts one from His beta 63 via a bridging water molecule. This introduces additional steric hindrance to ligand binding to the T-state that results in slower rates of ligand binding. We measured the O2/CO partition coefficient and the kinetics of oxygen dissociation and carbon monoxide binding and found that lowered O2 and CO affinity is also exhibited by the R-state tetramers and the isolated beta chains of Hb Chico.

Carbon Monoxide↗
PubMed1991

Was the loss of the D helix in alpha globin a functionally neutral mutation?

Proteins in the globin family are found in a variety of species from bacteria to man. From the many globin sequences known, evolutionary trees have been constructed showing that alpha and beta globins diverged from a common ancestor between 425 and 500 million years ago, after vertebrate species had appeared and roughly when sharks and bony vertebrates diverged. The alpha and beta globins assemble to form tetrameric haemoglobin, alpha 2 beta 2, which can switch between quaternary states having high and low oxygen affinity. This allows the protein to bind oxygen cooperatively and therefore efficiently transport oxygen from the lungs to respiring tissues. The alpha and beta globins have closely related tertiary structures, being alpha-helical proteins with similar haem-binding sites. Most globins consist of eight helices, designated A to H from the N terminus, connected by short nonhelical segments, but all known vertebrate alpha globins lack a D helix. Because the loss of this helix by alpha globin occurred shortly before tetrameric haemoglobin appeared, it might be a functionally important mutation required for a tetramer assembly or allostery. We have now tested this idea by engineering human haemoglobins containing beta subunits without a D helix and alpha subunits with a D helix. Both of these mutations have little effect on the oxygen-binding properties of the molecule. Thus it is possible that deletion of the D helix in the alpha subunit was caused by a neutral mutation.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1991

Functional role of the distal valine (E11) residue of alpha subunits in human haemoglobin.

We have expressed human alpha-globin to a high level in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein, purified it and removed the N-terminal leader sequence by site-specific proteolysis with blood coagulation factor Xa. The apo globin has been refolded and reconstituted with haem and native beta-globin to form fully functional haemoglobin (Hb) with properties identical to those of native human Hb. By site-directed mutagenesis we have altered the distal residues of the alpha subunits and compared the functional properties of these mutant proteins. The rates of various ligands binding to these proteins in the R-state have been reported by Mathews et al. Here, we present the oxygen equilibrium curves of three E11 alpha mutants and the crystal structures of two of these mutants in the deoxy form. Replacing the distal valine residue of alpha-globin with alanine, leucine or isoleucine has no effect on the oxygen affinity of the protein in either quaternary state, in contrast to the equivalent mutations of beta subunits. The crystal structure of the valine E11 alpha----isoleucine mutant shows that the larger E11 residue excludes water from the haem pocket, but causes no significant movement of other amino acid residues. We conclude that the distal valine residue of alpha-globin does not control the oxygen affinity of the protein by sterically hindering ligand binding.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1991

Site-directed mutagenesis in haemoglobin. Functional role of tyrosine-42(C7) alpha at the alpha 1-beta 2 interface.

To clarify the functional role of Tyr-42(C7) alpha, which forms a hydrogen bond with Asp-99(G1) beta at the alpha 1-beta 2 interface of human deoxyhaemoglobin, we engineered two artificial mutant haemoglobins (Hb), in which Tyr-42 alpha was replaced by Phe (Hb Phe-42 alpha) or His (Hb His-42 alpha), and investigated their oxygen binding properties together with structural consequences of the mutations by using various spectroscopic probes. Like most of the natural Asp-99 beta mutants, Hb Phe-42 alpha showed a markedly increased oxygen affinity, a reduced Bohr effect and diminished co-operativity. Structural probes such as ultraviolet-region derivative and oxy-minus-deoxy difference spectra, resonance Raman scattering and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra indicate that, in Hb Phe-42 alpha, the deoxy T quaternary structure is highly destabilized and the strain imposed on the Fe-N epsilon (proximal His) bond is released, stabilizing the oxy tertiary structure. In contrast with Hb Phe-42 alpha, Hb His-42 alpha showed an intermediately impaired function and only moderate destabilization of the T-state, which can be explained by the formation of a new, weak hydrogen bond between His-42 alpha and Asp-99 beta. Spectroscopic data were consistent with this assumption. The present study proves that the hydrogen bond between Tyr-42 alpha and Asp-99 beta plays a key role in stabilizing the deoxy T structure and consequently in co-operative oxygen binding.

Hemoglobins↗
PubMed1990

Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of beta 1 and beta 3 integrins.

The expression and function of integrin subunits was examined by immunohistochemical staining of normal and malignant tissues and by producing specific changes in avian beta subunit cDNA that were subsequently expressed in mammalian cells. Most tissues express only a restricted number of integrins. These include primarily those thought to function as collagen/laminin receptors. With the exception of metastatic melanomas, tumors show a general down regulation of integrins. Structure/function studies of the beta subunit show that the cytoplasmic domain is required for inclusion in adhesion plaques and for promotion of adhesive functions; that the transmembrane domain is required for subunit association, but not proper alpha subunit selection; and that the amino terminal one third of the subunit must remain intact for subunit selection and ligand binding to occur.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Hb Johnstown [beta 109 (G11) Val----Leu]: a new electrophoretically silent variant that causes erythrocytosis.

A high oxygen affinity hemoglobin, previously undescribed, was found in a healthy, asymptomatic patient with mild erythrocytosis and left-shifted hemoglobin-O2 dissociation curve. The hemoglobin variant could not be distinguished from Hb A by any of several electrophoretic methods nor by ion exchange chromatography. It was separated and analyzed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Structural analysis revealed the substitution beta 109 (G11) Val----Leu. The variant was named Hb Johnstown. The amino acid substitution perhaps disrupts alpha 1 beta 1 contacts in the deoxyhemoglobin conformation, thus shifting the equilibrium towards the high affinity oxyhemoglobin conformation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Structure and function of human hemoglobin covalently labeled with periodate-oxidized adenosine triphosphate.

Periodate-oxidized adenosine triphosphate (o-ATP), a ribose ring-opened dialdehyde derivative of ATP, reacts specifically with human deoxyhemoglobin to give a single major covalently modified product after reduction with sodium borohydride. This product, designated di-ATP Hb, was isolated using ion-exchange chromatography and shown to have incorporated two molecules of o-ATP/tetramer. Peptide mapping and x-ray crystallography at 2.8-A resolution indicate that a covalent adduct is formed between the ligand and residues Lys-82 EF6 of each beta chain in the organic phosphate-binding site of the molecule. di-ATP Hb exhibits a significantly decreased oxygen affinity (P50 = 20.8 mm Hg versus 5.8 mm Hg control; 50 mM 2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-(hydroxymethyl)-propane-1,3-diol, pH 7.4, 0.1 M C, 20 degrees C). The subunit cooper-activity of di-ATP Hb is also reduced (nmax = 1.9 versus 2.7 control).

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Structural and functional consequences of amino acid substitutions in hemoglobin as manifested in natural and artificial mutants.

Compiled data for more than 440 natural human hemoglobin mutants with single amino acid substitutions indicate that molecular properties (oxygen binding, structural stability, ease of autooxidization, etc.) of more than half of them are altered in some way and that the mode of alteration is closely related to the region within the hemoglobin molecule in which the substitution takes place. The present study gives a quantitative basis for the correlations. By means of protein engineering, including site-directed mutagenesis, several artificial mutants of human hemoglobin were prepared and their oxygen binding properties were studied to investigate the functional consequences of the amino acid substitutions which have not yet been isolated in natural mutants. These artificial mutants gave straight-forward information regarding the major factors regulating the oxygen affinity of heme and the identification of a Bohr group in the alpha chain. On the other hand the mutants, which were designed to test some hypotheses for the molecular evolution in hemoglobin, did not necessarily give the results predicted from accumulated structure-function data obtained from the study of natural mutants and X-ray crystallographic analyses.

Alligators and Crocodiles↗
PubMed1988

Affinity labeling of hemoglobin with 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate: covalent cross-linking in the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate binding site.

The bifunctional reagent 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS) reacts with hemoglobin to give various products whose properties are dependent on the ligation state of the protein during the reaction. A major product obtained after reaction of (carbonmonoxy)hemoglobin with DIDS was a high oxygen affinity derivative [P50 = 1.4 mmHg, control P50 = 6 mmHg; 50 mM [bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino]tris(hydroxymethyl)methane (Bis-Tris), pH 7.4, 0.1 M Cl-, 25 degrees C] which contained two molecules of DIDS per tetramer resulting from adduct formation at each beta-chain amino terminus. In contrast, a major product of the reaction of deoxyhemoglobin with DIDS consisted of hemoglobin which had incorporated one molecule of DIDS per tetramer and was cross-linked between the beta-chain amino termini. This cross-linked hemoglobin was found to have a greatly decreased O2 affinity (P50 = 28 mmHg). Inhibition of the T to R transition due to the structural constraint produced by cross-linking the beta amino termini is likely to be a major factor in the decreased O2 affinity of this product. The structural and functional properties of this molecule make it a potential candidate for a cell-free blood substitute.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗
PubMed1987

Influence of anions and protons on the Adair coefficients of haemoglobins A and Cowtown (His HC3(146) beta----Leu).

We have measured the contribution of the alkaline Bohr effect of the C-terminal histidine residues of the beta-chains of haemoglobin A by comparing haemoglobin A with haemoglobin Cowtown in which those histidine residues are replaced by leucine. Oxygenation of a stripped 2.5 mM (haem) solution of haemoglobin A yielded 0.19 H+/haem, while oxygenation of a similar solution of haemoglobin Cowtown produced no change of pH. Oxygen equilibria measured at 60 microM-haem in 0.1 M-Hepes buffer gave an alkaline Bohr effect of -0.21 H+/haem for haemoglobin A and only -0.01 H+/haem for haemoglobin Cowtown, even though its Hill's coefficient was greater than 2 throughout the pH range studied. These results prove that the chloride-independent part of the alkaline Bohr effect is due to the C-terminal histidine residues of the beta-chains. Oxygen equilibria measured in 0.095 M-bis-Tris buffers with minimal chloride or with 0.1 M-chloride showed the contribution of those histidine residues to the alkaline Bohr effect to be about 0.2 H+/haem, independent of chloride concentration. Determination of the individual Adair coefficients in the three different buffers indicated that pH and chloride tend to have their greatest effects at the second or third steps of oxygenation when the change of quaternary structure is most likely to occur; between pH 7 and 9, the fourth Adair coefficient is only very slightly affected by pH and not significantly by chloride.

Anions↗
PubMed1987

Modification of hemoglobin with site-directed bifunctional reagents.

Reaction of deoxy-Hb with the periodate-oxidized derivatives of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (o-NAD), phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (o-PRPP), adenosine triphosphate (o-ATP), glucose-1-phosphate (o-glc-1-P) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (o-NADP) led to formation of cross-link adducts in varying yields as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Oxygen equilibrium studies were performed on Hb's cross-linked with o-NAD, o-PRPP and o-ATP. These derivatives were found to have increased oxygen affinity and were cross-linked between the beta chains. Inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) blocked modification by these reagents, suggesting that modification was occurring in the organic phosphate binding site. In addition, it was found that the bifunctional reagent 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS) also led to formation of Hb cross-linked between the beta chains, but resulted in a derivative with a dramatically decreased oxygen affinity, properties making it a potential candidate as an Hb-based cell-free blood substitute.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗
PubMed1987

Hemoglobin Chico [beta 66(E10)Lys----Thr]: a new variant with decreased oxygen affinity.

Hemoglobin Chico was discovered in an asymptomatic 3-year-old boy when a mild anemia was detected by a routine blood count. Affected individuals in three generations are also mildly anemic. The abnormal hemoglobin amounts to about 45% of the total. It separates from Hb A by cellulose acetate electrophoresis at pH 8.5 with a mobility similar to Hb J but does not separate in citrate agar at pH 6.2. Stability in isopropanol is slightly decreased. Its structure differs from the normal by the substitution of a threonyl residue for lysyl residue at position 66(E10) of the beta chain. The P50 of the oxygen equilibrium curve of whole blood at 37 degrees C was 38 torr compared with controls of 27 +/- 2 torr. The P50 binding studies of the isolated Hb Chico revealed a unique right shift of the equilibrium curve with an oxygen binding constant (1/P50) about half of normal. The remaining allosteric properties were essentially normal. This significant decrease in oxygen affinity appears to be due to changes in the heme region which result from the substitution of the normal beta 66 lysyl by the threonyl residue.

Anemia↗
PubMed1986

Hemoglobin Linkoping [beta 36 (C2) Pro----Thr] in a large Finnish family from Astoria, Oregon, USA.

Eleven members of a large Finnish family from Astoria, Oregon were studied because of an erythrocytosis. No abnormality was detected by the usual hemoglobin electrophoretic tests, but an abnormal variant was separated by reverse phase HPLC. All of the affected individuals have an increased oxygen affinity with a P50 for whole blood at 37 degrees C averaging 18 torr. Fifty percent of their hemoglobin was found to have a threonyl residue in place of the normal prolyl residue at position 36 (C2) of the beta globin chain. This abnormality is identical to Hb Linkoping which was recently reported in a Finnish man living in Sweden.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

The pKa values of two histidine residues in human haemoglobin, the Bohr effect, and the dipole moments of alpha-helices.

Studies of abnormal and chemically modified haemoglobins indicate that in 0.1 M-NaCl about 40% of the alkaline Bohr effect of human haemoglobin is contributed by the C-terminal histidine HC3(146) beta. In deoxyhaemoglobin, the imidazole of this histidine forms a salt bridge with aspartate FG1(94) beta, in oxyhaemoglobin or carbonmonoxyhaemoglobin it accepts a hydrogen bond from its own NH group instead. Kilmartin et al. (1973) showed that in 0.2 M-NaCl + 0.2 M-phosphate this change of ligation lowered the pKa of the histidine from 8.0 in Hb to 7.1 in HbCO, but Russu et al. (1980) claimed that in bis-Tris buffer without added NaCl its pKa in HbCO dropped no lower than 7.85, and that in this medium the C-terminal histidine made only a negligible contribution to the alkaline Bohr effect. We have compared the histidine resonances of HbCO A with those of three abnormal haemoglobins: HbCO Cowtown (His HC3(146)beta----Leu), HbCO Wood (His FG4(97)beta----Leu) and HbCO Malmø (His FG4(97)beta----Gln). Our results show that the resonance assigned by Russu et al. to His HC3(146)beta in fact belongs to His FG4(97)beta. Although in Hb the pKa of His HC3(146)beta is 8.05 +/- 0.05 independent of ionic strength, in HbCO its pKa drops sharply with diminishing ionic strength, so that in the buffer employed by Russu et al. it has a pKa of 6.2 and makes a contribution to the alkaline Bohr effect that is 57% larger than in the phosphate buffer employed by Kilmartin et al. (1973). In HbCO A, His FG4(97)beta does not contribute to the Bohr effect, but in HbCO from which His HC3(146)beta has been cleaved (HbCO des-His), His FG4(97)beta is in equilibrium between two conformations with different pKa values. This equilibrium varies with ionic strength and pH, and presumably also with degree of ligation of the haem moiety. In HbCO A, His FG4(97)beta has a pKa of 7.8 compared to the pKa value of about 6.6 characteristic of free histidines at the surface of proteins. This high pKa is accounted for by its interaction with the negative pole at the C terminus of helices F and FG. It corresponds to a free energy change of the same order as that observed in the interaction of histidines with carboxylate ions and confirms the strongly dipolar character of alpha-helices, which manifests itself even when they lie on the surface of the protein.

Carboxyhemoglobin↗
PubMed1985

Involvement of Glu G3(101)beta in the function of hemoglobin. Comparative O2 equilibrium studies of human mutant hemoglobins.

The glutamyl residue at G3(101)beta of normal hemoglobin (Hb A) is one of the alpha 1 beta 2 subunit contacts which are vital to O2 binding properties of the molecule. The O2 equilibrium properties of the four mutants with different substitutions at this site are studied in order to elucidate the role of this residue. Under stripped conditions with minimum chloride the order of O2 affinity is: Hb A (Glu) much less than Hb Rush (Gln) less than or equal to Hb British Columbia (Lys) less than or equal to Hb Potomac (Asp) less than or equal to Hb Alberta (Gly). The first Adair constants, K1, for the mutant hemoglobins are greater than that for Hb A whereas the fourth, K4, are similar, indicating that the allosteric constants (L) of these mutants are greatly reduced. Therefore, the G3(101)beta residue contributes intrinsically to the strengthening of the structural constraints that are imposed upon the deoxy (T) forms but not the oxy (R) form. On addition of 0.1 M Cl- and further addition of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate or inositol hexaphosphate, their O2 affinities and cooperativities are altered, reflecting different responses to anionic ligands. Hb Rush exhibits a stronger chloride effect than Hb A and the other variants and, as a result, an increased Bohr effect and a smaller heat of oxygenation at pH 6.5. These changes are consistent with an increased positive net charge in the central cavity of Hb Rush and subsequent extra anion binding in the deoxy form. The tetramer to dimer dissociation constants are estimated to be greater than normal for Hb British Columbia and less than normal for Hb Alberta. This comparative study of the G3(101)beta mutants indicates that the size and the charge of this residue may influence the switching of two neighboring interchain hydrogen bonds that occurs during oxygenation of normal hemoglobin.

Allosteric Site↗
PubMed1985

Hb Long Island: a hemoglobin variant with a methionyl extension at the NH2 terminus and a prolyl substitution for the normal histidyl residue 2 of the beta chain.

Hb Long Island was found in a diabetic man and his nondiabetic mother as the result of a routine clinical measurement of Hb AIc. It is present in amounts approximately equal to Hb A. Its alpha chains are normal but its beta chains have two alterations compared to the normal. A methionyl residue is attached to the usual NH2-terminal valyl residue. This valyl residue is followed by prolyl residue in place of the usual histidyl residue 2. The remaining sequence of the beta chain is normal. No hemoglobin or abnormal beta chain containing only the prolyl substitution could be detected by several different electrophoretic and HPLC procedures. We postulate that Hb Long Island is the result of a mutation in which a single nucleotide change causes the substitution of a prolyl residue for the normal histidyl residue at position 2 of the beta chain. We further postulate that this abnormal prolyl residue inhibits enzymatic cleavage of the initiator methionyl residue from the abnormal beta chain during posttranslational processing. Although the oxygen affinities of the whole blood, suspended cells, and hemolysate are normal, the affinity of the isolated Hb Long Island is slightly decreased and the effects of organic phosphates are reduced compared to normal. These changes are consistent with the loss of the normal histidyl residue 2 and the extension of the NH2-terminal end of the beta-chain molecule.

Adult↗