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Biomedical subjects

E Bucci

Publications and source records attributed to E Bucci.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Internal motions of band 3 of human erythrocytes.

Band 3 was labeled with N-[[(iodoacetyl)amino]ethyl]-5-naphthylamine-1-sulfonate either exofacially in the intact washed erythrocytes or endofacially by treating inside-out vesicles. Exo labeling resulted in the labeling of several other proteins, besides band 3, which could not be removed from the membrane. Therefore, the exo-labeled band 3 was extracted and purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose in Triton X-100. The endo labeling also resulted in the labeling of several other proteins. In this case, washing with NaOH removed all labeled material except band 3 from the vesicles. The lifetime of bound N-[(acetylamino)ethyl]-5-naphthylamine-1-sulfonate was heterogeneous, suggesting the positioning of the label in different environments either because different sites were labeled or because of positional freedom of the label at the same point of attachment. The main fraction of emission intensity had a lifetime near 20 ns, as expected for a hydrophobic environment. The rest showed a lifetime of about 3 ns in the exo-labeled band 3 and 9 ns in the endo-labeled band 3. Both lifetimes appeared to be independent of temperature between 5 and 25 degrees C, suggesting shielding of the probe from the solvent. Quenching phenomena must be responsible for both the 3- and 9-ns lifetimes, not due to residual heme, as proven by the persistence of such quenching in the Triton X-100 extracted protein. The correlation times indicated the presence of a short component, between 2 and 4 ns in the different systems, probably due to the presence of a flexible portion in the structure of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte↗

Anion Bohr effect of human hemoglobin.

The pH dependence of oxygen affinity of hemoglobin (Bohr effect) is due to ligand-linked pK shifts of ionizable groups. Attempt to identify these groups has produced controversial data and interpretations. In a further attempt to clarify the situation, we noticed that hemoglobin alkylated in its liganded form lost the Bohr effect while hemoglobin alkylated in its unliganded form showed the presence of a practically unmodified Bohr effect. In spite of this difference, analyses of the extent of alkylation of the two compounds failed to identify the presence of specific preferential alkylations. In particular, the alpha 1 valines and beta 146 histidines appeared to be alkylated to the same extent in the two proteins. Focusing our attention on the effect of the anions on the functional properties of hemoglobin, we measured the Bohr effect of untreated hemoglobin in buffers made with HEPES [N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid], MES [2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid], and MOPS [3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid], which being zwitterions do not need addition of chlorides or other anions for reaching the desired pH. The shape acquired by the Bohr effect curves, either as pH dependence of oxygen affinity or as pH dependence of protons exchanged with the solution, was irreconcilable with that of the Bohr effect curves in usual buffers. This indicated the relevance of solvent components in determining the functional properties of hemoglobin. A new thermodynamic model is proposed for the Bohr effect that includes the interaction of hemoglobin with solvent components. The classic proton Bohr effect is a special case of the new theory.

Acetates↗

Circular dichroism kinetics of acid denaturation of hemoglobin and of its beta-subunits.

Human hemoglobin and its isolated beta-subunits were denatured by addition of HCl so as to reach final pH values ranging from 2.0 to 3.2. The beta-subunits were alkylated in both the beta 93 and beta 112 cysteines; this treatment makes the beta-subunits monomeric. The kinetics of acid denaturation of the two proteins was followed spectropolarimetrically in the millisecond time range, measuring the changes in circular dichroism at 225 nm. At all pH values, in both systems, the decay of ellipticity could be simulated by two exponentials. The initial ellipticity values of the solutions, obtained by extrapolation at zero time, were those expected for the native proteins. The rates of denaturation were lower in the hemoglobin system than in the isolated monomeric beta-subunits. The data suggest that in the tertiary structure of hemoglobin and beta IAA there are different domains which unfold at different rates upon exposure to acid.

Circular Dichroism↗

Standardization of factor VIII: establishment and use of secondary standards.

Two secondary standards for use in routine assays of Factor VIII in therapeutic concentrates and in patients, plasmas, respectively, have been established in a multicenter collaborative study. In order to assess the effect of the adoption of these preparations as common Secondary Standards a comparative assay has been performed: one sample of a Factor VIII concentrate of intermediate purity and one plasma sample have been tested in two laboratories for Factor VIII:C activity using as reference, among others, the common working standard. Analysis of the results shows that with the plasma sample the differences of the estimates obtained with any of the references in our two laboratories were not statistically significant (P greater than 0.3), while with the concentrate sample the differences were always statistically significant (P less than 0.005). The study shows that the adoption of common working standards (besides the uniformity in assay method, reagents and basic equipment) is not sufficient to eliminate interlaboratory variation in the measurement of Factor VIII:C.

Antigens↗

Solvent regulation of oxygen affinity in hemoglobin. Sensitivity of bovine hemoglobin to chloride ions.

Under physiological conditions of pH (7.4) and chloride concentration (0.15 M), the oxygen affinity of bovine hemoglobin is substantially lower than that of human hemoglobin. Also, the Bohr effect is much more pronounced in bovine hemoglobin. Numerical simulations indicate that both phenomena can be explained by a larger preferential binding of chloride ions to deoxyhemoglobin in the bovine system. Also, they show that the larger preferential binding may be produced by a decreased affinity of the anions for oxyhemoglobin, thereby stressing the potential relevance of the oxy conformation in regulating the functional properties of the protein. The conformation of the amino-terminal end of the beta subunits appears to regulate the interaction of hemoglobin with solvent components. The pronounced sensitivity of the oxygen affinity of bovine hemoglobin to chloride concentration and to pH suggests that in bovine species these are the modulators of oxygen transport in vivo.

Animals↗

Specialized functional domains in hemoglobin: dimensions in solution of the apohemoglobin dimer labeled with fluorescein iodoacetamide.

The fluorescence characteristics of 8-anilino-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (ANS) coupled to apohemoglobin and to apohemoglobin labeled with fluorescein iodoacetamide (FIA) at beta-93 have been compared. The quenching of emission of ANS produced by FIA was measured both with steady-state and with time-resolved techniques. In this system the emission of ANS in the beta-heme pockets was totally quenched by FIA at beta-93. Steady-state measurements indicated a 57% efficiency of energy transfer between ANS in the alpha-heme pockets and FIA at beta-93. Time resolution showed that the initial (unquenched) lifetime of ANS was 18.2 ns. In the presence of FIA two new components were generated with lifetimes of 2.0 and 6.6 ns. Assuming a random orientation of the probes, the distances inferred from these measurements were near 4.6 and 3.6 nm for the time-resolved and near 48 A for the steady-state measurements. In the tridimensional model of hemoglobin the distance between the iron atom of the alpha 1 chains and the SH group of the beta 1 chains at position 93 is 3.6 nm in oxyhemoglobin and 4.1 nm in deoxyhemoglobin. To these distances 0.5-1.0 nm may be added to allow for the dimensions of the probes. Thus it appears that removal of the heme fails to produce any important enlargement of the molecule. On the contrary, the data suggest a slight shrinking of apohemoglobin, which may be consistent with a collapse of the heme pocket when heme is removed. The rest of the molecule does not seem to be greatly affected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates↗

Fluorescence studies of internal rotation in apohemoglobin alpha-chains.

The molecular dynamics of the apo alpha-chain of human hemoglobin have been examined using three different fluorescent probes, as well as by circular dichroism. All of these criteria are consistent with a significant loss of organized structure and molecular rigidity for the apo derivative. The apo alpha-chain thus contrasts with the apo beta-chain, which retains considerable rigidity and organized structure.

Apoproteins↗

Iron electronic structure in oxyhemoglobin and carboxypeptidase digested derivatives.

Mössbauer experiments were performed on the oxy- derivatives of human hemoglobin and its products of digestion with carboxypeptidases. The hemoglobins were chemically enriched to 95% in 57Fe, and were free from hemochrome impurities. Spectra were taken at low temperatures in the presence and absence of a 5.0 T magnetic field. It was observed that the enzymatic digestions which remove residues at least 16 A from the iron of the nearest heme appear to modify the electronic environment of the metal.

Carboxypeptidase B↗

Solvent perturbation evidence for a two-state system regulated by calcium in sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase.

Perturbation of sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase with the nonionic detergent C12E8 is modulated by the amount of free Ca2+ present in the solvent prior to the addition of detergent. CD measurements show that the enzyme exists in solution in two different conformations that react differently with the detergent. They probably represent the free enzyme, and its complex with Ca2+. On this assumption, titrations with increasing amounts of Ca2+ produced data superimposable on curves obtained measuring Ca2+ bound to sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles.

Animals↗

Dimensions in solution of pyridoxylated apohemoglobin.

Human apohemoglobin was labeled at Val-beta 1 with pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate. Correlation times were evaluated from steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and lifetime measurements upon quenching with KI. Multiple correlation times were present in the system with a major component of 23.3 ns and a minor component of less than 0.1 ns. The initial depolarization produced by these fast motions occurred in a cone with a semiangle near 33 degrees. The sedimentation velocity and circular dichroism spectra of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate labeled apohemoglobin were very similar to those of unlabeled apohemoglobin. Addition of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate did not modify these parameters. Energy transfer of fluorescence was measured between the label, pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate, positioned at Val-beta 1, as donor, and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate, bound inside the heme pocket, as acceptor. A quantum yield of 0.21 was measured for labeled apohemoglobin with a standard of pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate. Quenching of the lifetime and of the emission of the donor in the presence of acceptor was measured at 390 nm upon excitation at 313 nm. From these parameters, and on assumption of a random orientation of the fluorophores, an average distance of about 25 A was estimated between the two probes. Numerical correction for 85% saturation of the donor with acceptor produced distances near 23 A for the quenching of emission intensity and near 19 A for the quenching of lifetimes. In the tridimensional model of deoxyhemoglobin, the distance between Val-beta 1 and the nearest iron is about 22 A. Transfer to acceptors positioned in the alpha subunits was negligible. Taking into account the dimensions of the probes, it appears that removal of heme and the consequent loss of helical structure of the system did not produce an expansion of the beta subunits.

Apoproteins↗

Neohemoglobins as blood substitutes.

The brackets in fig 5, show a cluster of cross-linked human and bovine hemoglobins whose oxygen affinity is lower than that of untreated human SFH. Also, they have a stabilized tetrameric structure, and the combination of these characteristics makes these compounds very promising as oxygen carriers in cell-free blood substitutes.

Animals↗