Download MendeleyAn order-disorder transition plays a role in switching off the root effect in fish hemoglobins.
Vergara, A., Vitagliano, L., Merlino, A., Sica, F., Marino, K., Verde, C., di Prisco, G., Mazzarella, L.(2010) J Biological Chem 285: 32568-32575
- PubMed: 20610398
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.143537
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
3NFE, 3NG6 - PubMed Abstract:
The Root effect is a widespread property among fish hemoglobins whose structural basis remains largely obscure. Here we report a crystallographic and spectroscopic characterization of the non-Root-effect hemoglobin isolated from the Antarctic fish Trematomus newnesi in the deoxygenated form. The crystal structure unveils that the T state of this hemoglobin is stabilized by a strong H-bond between the side chains of Asp95α and Asp101β at the α(1)β(2) and α(2)β(1) interfaces. This unexpected finding undermines the accepted paradigm that correlates the presence of this unusual H-bond with the occurrence of the Root effect. Surprisingly, the T state is characterized by an atypical flexibility of two α chains within the tetramer. Indeed, regions such as the CDα corner and the EFα pocket, which are normally well ordered in the T state of tetrameric hemoglobins, display high B-factors and non-continuous electron densities. This flexibility also leads to unusual distances between the heme iron and the proximal and distal His residues. These observations are in line with Raman micro-spectroscopy studies carried out both in solution and in the crystal state. The findings here presented suggest that in fish hemoglobins the Root effect may be switched off through a significant destabilization of the T state regardless of the presence of the inter-aspartic H-bond. Similar mechanisms may also operate for other non-Root effect hemoglobins. The implications of the flexibility of the CDα corner for the mechanism of the T-R transition in tetrameric hemoglobins are also discussed.
Organizational Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples I-80126, Italy.
