Dissociation of human carbonmonoxyhemoglobin at high pH

Abstract

This communication presents a study of some of the hydrodynamic properties of the half-molecules of human carbonmonoxyhemoglobin at pH 11.0 and ionic strength 0.25, together with a demonstration that, at this pH, human carbonmonoxyhemoglobin is completely dissociated and the molecular weight of the product is one-half that of the whole molecule. The half-molecules appear to be stable when stored at pH 11 and 3° C., in contrast to their behavior in an acid environment, pH 4.5-6, in which denaturation occurs. The acid denaturation is so rapid at pH values low enough to induce complete dissociation that it has not been possible until now to study the properties of the half-molecules uncomplicated by the presence of the whole molecules. Results of a comparison of some properties of untreated hemoglobin and hemoglobin reconstituted from half-molecules by successive dialyses at pH 11 and pH 7 are also presented.

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