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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 277, Issue 17, 14557-14563, April 26, 2002

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Heme Redox Properties of S-Nitrosated Hemoglobin A₀ and Hemoglobin S

IMPLICATIONS FOR INTERACTIONS OF NITRIC OXIDE WITH NORMAL AND SICKLE RED BLOOD CELLS^*

Celia Bonaventura, Céline H. Taboy^§, Philip S. Low^¶, Robert D. Stevens, Céline Lafon^§**, and Alvin L. Crumbliss^§

From the  Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516-9721, the ^§ Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0346, the ^¶ Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1393, and the  Mass Spectrometry Facility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710

Received for publication, August 10, 2001, and in revised form, February 4, 2002

	ABSTRACT

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

S-Nitrosated hemoglobin is remarkably stable and can be cycled between deoxy, oxygenated, or oxidized forms without significant loss of NO. Here we show that S-nitrosation of adult human hemoglobin (Hb A₀) or sickle cell Hb (Hb S) results in an increased ease of anaerobic heme oxidation, while anions cause redox shifts in the opposite direction. The negatively charged groups of the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3 protein also produce an allosteric effect on S-nitrosated Hb. Formation and deoxygenation of a SNO-Hb/Band 3 protein assembly does not in itself cause NO release, even in the presence of glutathione; however, this assembly may play a role in the migration of NO from the red blood cells to other targets and may be linked to Heinz body formation. Studies of the anaerobic oxidation of Hb S revealed an altered redox potential relative to Hb A₀ that favors met-Hb formation and may therefore underlie the increased rate of autoxidation of Hb S under aerobic conditions, the increased formation of Heinz bodies in sickle cells, and the decreased lifetime of red cells containing Hb S. A model for the interrelationships between the deoxy, oxy, and met forms of Hb A₀ and Hb S, and their S-nitrosated counterparts, is presented.

	INTRODUCTION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

The reactivity of heme proteins with nitro and nitroso compounds has been under intense scrutiny since Ignarro et al. (1, 2) reported the ability of some of these compounds to activate an heterodimer enzyme containing a b-type heme, sGC, involved in the relaxation of the endothelium (3, 4). Nitric oxide (NO) has been observed to react with Fe-porphyrin complexes in various oxidation states (Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Fe⁴⁺), and to rapidly bind to the heme of deoxy hemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) with an association rate constant on the order of 10⁷-10⁸ M¹ s¹ (5). NO preferentially binds to the  chain heme groups of deoxy-Hb (Hb-NO)¹ at equilibirum in solution and in red blood cells (5-9). Reaction of NO with oxygenated heme groups results in heme oxidation and nitrate formation. This process, like NO binding to deoxy-Hb, occurs rapidly and with a similar rate constant (10-12). As shown in this report, reactions of NO at the sulfhydryl groups of Hb also promote met-Hb formation.

Several lines of study have shown that S-nitrosated Hb (SNO-Hb) can be formed in vivo and in vitro, and although present at low concentration, may be of importance in blood pressure regulation. Hb contains a highly conserved cysteine residue at position 93 whose reactions with NO may account for its persistence in hemoglobin's evolutionary history. A dynamic cycle of SNO-Hb formation in the lungs and NO release in the tissues was implicated by finding the presence of greater levels of SNO-Hb in aortic relative to venous blood (13). This cycle has, however, been brought into question. Notably, Gladwin and co-workers (14) did not see higher levels of SNO-Hb in aortic blood, even in patients given low levels of NO in breathing gas (4 µM NO delivered to 10 mM heme).

It is now well established that the formation of SNO-Hb is under allosteric control (13). Functional and crystallographic studies demonstrate that the Cys⁹³ residues at which NO is bound in SNO-Hb A₀ are more accessible in the high affinity conformation of oxy (R-state) Hb than in deoxy (T-state) Hb (6, 15, 16). This conformational sensitivity results in a rate dependence for SNO-Hb formation that mirrors the greater relative exposure of Cys⁹³ in conditions that favor the R-state. Allosteric considerations were also invoked to explain the decreased stability of the deoxy form of SNO-Hb (13), but allosteric control of NO release from SNO-Hb in vivo is still under debate (14, 17, 18). In a purified condition, free of red blood cell constituents, SNO-Hb is sufficiently stable to allow oxygen binding studies (7) and oxidation-reduction studies (this report) to be carried out over a period of several hours without significant loss of NO from the SNO-Hb derivative.

Stamler and co-workers (19) recently presented evidence showing that interactions of SNO-Hb with the Band 3 protein on the erythrocyte membrane can facilitate NO release from SNO-Hb. Band 3 protein, also known as anion-exchanger AE1, mediates anion exchange through the erythrocyte membrane and interacts strongly with Hb A₀ (20-22). We show in this report that the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3 protein stabilizes the low affinity conformation of SNO-Hb A₀, as previously reported for unmodified Hb A₀ (22), but that these interactions do not in themselves cause release of NO from the SNO-Hb/Band 3 protein assembly. The release of NO may require a transport pathway and a series of transnitrosation reactions, but this has not been fully resolved.

We previously reported that S-nitrosated forms of Hb A₀ and Hb S have increased oxygen affinity, with increased R-state character that is most evident at low levels of oxygen saturation (7). This finding, in light of the higher solubility of R-state Hb S relative to its T-state, prompted us to suggest that S-nitrosation of Hb S might be viewed as a possible therapeutic approach to inhibition of Hb S polymer formation and alleviation of sickle cell disease (7). As part of a study directed toward exploring this possibility, we report here the redox properties of unmodified and S-nitrosated forms of Hb A₀ and Hb S. As will be shown, the redox properties of Hb S were found to differ from those of Hb A₀. Moreover, S-nitrosation shifts the redox potential of Hb A₀ toward greater ease of oxidation, with smaller effects on Hb S. The shift of SNO-Hb forms of Hb A₀ and Hb S toward the R-state, with higher oxygen affinity and greater ease of oxidation, probably involves a regional conformational alteration of the deoxy-Hb tetramer that prevents His¹⁴⁶ from making its normal contribution to T-state stability. This was previously shown to be the case in Hb in which the SH-groups at Cys⁹³ were modified by N-ethylmaleimide (16, 23). The NO of SNO-Hb thus acts in a similar fashion as other sulfhydryl reagents and increases oxygen affinity and the ease of anaerobic oxidation.

The in vitro studies reported here suggest that oxidative and nitrosative reactions in red blood cells containing Hb S could be appreciably altered. These alterations may help explain the well documented tendency of Hb S to oxidize more quickly than Hb A₀ under aerobic conditions, the shorter lifetime of red blood cells containing Hb S, and the contribution of Hb S to malarial resistance (24, 25).

The biological significance of this work includes the description of possible SNO-Hb reactivity patterns and their relevance to blood pressure regulation. Additional information regarding Band 3·SNO-Hb complex formation complements that of Stamler and co-workers (19) with respect to the mechanism for NO release from SNO-Hb in vivo.

	EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Materials-- Ru(NH₃)₆Cl₃ (Strem Chemical Co., >99%), HEPES (Sigma, >99%), KCl (Fisher Scientific, >99%), EDTA (Sigma), sodium bicarbonate (Sigma), potassium borate (Sigma), potassium nitrite (Sigma), glutathione (Sigma), and L-cysteine (powder, Aldrich) were used as received.

Sample Preparations-- Hemolysates of cells containing native human hemoglobin (Hb A₀) and sickle cell Hb (Hb S) were used to prepare purified Hb by the ammonium sulfate method (26). Samples were stripped of organic phosphates by passage through a mixed bed resin as previously described (6), using TMD-8 resin (Sigma). All samples were subjected to chromatographic purification with a FPLC system (Amersham Biosciences) in which computer assisted ion-exchange liquid chromatography was carried out using Q-Sepharose as an anion exchange column material that allows for fast flow (5 ml/min) of elution buffers. Well separated Hb types (Hbs A, S, F, etc.) were eluted using a linear gradient of 0 to 0.15 M NaCl in 0.05 M Tris buffer at pH 8.3. Samples were stored at 4 °C for a maximum of 4 days. The cytoplasmic domain of band 3 was expressed and purified to >95% as evidenced by a single band on an SDS-PAGE gel using techniques and procedures described elsewhere (27).

Hb samples reacted with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM-Hb) and with 4,4'-dithiodipyridine (PDS-Hb) were prepared as previously described (7). The reaction with NEM was carried out using a 1:3 ratio heme:NEM in 0.05 M bis-Tris, pH 7.2, while PDS was used at a ratio of 3:7 heme:PDS. The PDS was dissolved in ethanol before being added to 0.05 M HEPES buffer at pH 7.5. Both reactions were done at 37 °C, followed by Sephadex G-25 chromatography to separate the Hb from the low molecular weight reagent. Carboxypeptidase A-digested Hb A₀ (CPA-Hb A₀) was prepared by treating the CO derivative of Hb A₀ with carboxypeptidase A (Sigma, Type 1-DPF) at an enzyme to protein ratio of 1:50. The mixture was incubated at 37 °C for 2 h and then dialyzed at 4 °C against 0.05 M Tris buffer, pH 8.3. This enzymatic digestion under the conditions employed removes the C-terminal His and Tyr of the -chains, as verified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The CPA-digested Hb A₀ was subsequently run through a compact G-25 column to put it in the buffer of choice. Photolysis of the CO-Fe bond with repeated evacuation and flushing with nitrogen removed CO prior to use in experiments with the unliganded derivative. S-Nitrosated forms of Hb A₀ and Hb S were prepared and the level of SNO-Hb quantified as previously described, using S-nitrosated cysteine as the NO donor (7). Similar procedures were used to generate S-nitrosated CPA-Hb. In all cases, aliquots of the unmodified protein solutions were used as reference samples. S-Nitrosated forms of Hb A₀ and Hb S were handled carefully at low temperatures and in the absence of ambient light.

Sample concentrations and oxidation states were determined spectrophotometrically using published extinction coefficients (28). Samples containing spectrally detectable levels of hemichrome (29) were discarded. The relative levels of oxidized Hb (met-Hb) and oxygenated Hb (oxy-Hb) were determined by spectral analysis using either a Cary Model 2300 UV/Vis/NIR spectrophotometer or a Hewlett Packard Diode Array UV/Vis spectrophotometer.

Mass Spectrometry-- Mass measurements were made on a Micromass Quattro LC (Altrincham, UK) triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with a pneumatically assisted electrostatic ion source operating at atmospheric pressure and in a positive ion mode. Hb samples in 50% aqueous acetonitrile containing 1% formic acid were analyzed by loop injection into a stream of 50% aqueous acetonitrile flowing at 10 µl/min. Spectra were acquired in the multi-channel analyzer mode from m/z 600-1400 (scan time 5 s). The mass scale was calibrated using the multiply charged envelope of the  chain of Hb A₀ (M_r 15126.38). The raw mass spectra were transformed to a molecular mass scale using a maximum entropy based method (MaxEnt) which uses the MemSys5 program (MaxEnt Solutions Ltd., Cambridge, UK) and is part of the Micromass MassLynx software suite. Transformations were performed from 860 to 1400 m/z using a resolution of 1 atomic mass unit.

Spectroelectrochemical Experiments-- Our spectroelectrochemical technique was slightly modified from our previous reports to facilitate study of nitrosated Hb A₀ and Hb S (30-33). Specifically, to minimize loss of NO from SNO-Hb, our experimental protocol was modified so that the experimental time was kept to a minimum by using larger applied potential increments. Exposure to light was minimized by a shutter and the applied potential was not allowed to fall below about 120 mV (NHE). Addition of 0.5 mM EDTA to the HEPES buffer when studying SNO-Hb A₀ and SNO-CPA-Hb A₀ was found to improve the quality of the data and also minimized loss of NO from SNO-Hb A₀. With these precautions, loss of bound NO was shown to be <5% as determined by ESI-MS, where the cone voltage was set at 33 volts. HEPES was selected as the supporting buffer for its non-complexing nature and stability, as well as the absence of spectral and electrochemical interferences. A stock solution of 2.0 M KCl in 0.05 M HEPES, 0.5 mM EDTA at pH 7.5 was used to prepare the working solutions for the spectroelectrochemistry. Nanopure water was used at all times and all solutions were stored at 4 °C.

For each spectroelectrochemical experiment, a solution containing about 5 mM Ru(NH₃)₆Cl₃ and 0.05 M HEPES (with or without 0.5 mM EDTA) at pH 7.5 with specific concentrations of KCl in a 5-ml pear-shaped flask was connected to a vacuum line for deoxygenation of the solution using a slight vacuum for 15 min followed by purging with N₂ for 15 min (pump-purging). This procedure was repeated twice followed by addition of Hb A₀ and additional pump-purging with gentle swirling to minimize bubbling and ensure the complete removal of oxygen from the working solution. Final concentrations were typically 0.06-0.08 mM in heme.

Spectroelectrochemical experiments were carried out in an anaerobic optically transparent thin layer electrode cell made in-house as described previously (32, 33). A salt bridge was constructed using a Pasteur pipette plugged at the bottom with an agar gel so as to connect the Ag/AgCl reference (Bioanalytical Systems Inc.) electrode to the working electrode. The salt bridge solution was composed of 0.2 M KCl in 0.05 M HEPES (± 0.5 mM EDTA) at pH 7.5 and was degassed and then flushed with N₂ for 1 h. The optically transparent thin layer electrode cell was purged with N₂ for 15 min prior to injecting the protein solution.

A typical increment of 40 to 50 mV was applied to the system starting at approximately +400 mV down to 120 mV (versus NHE). At each applied potential the absorbance was monitored until no change was detected. The back-to-back reduction-oxidation-reduction sweeps were performed to determine the reproducibility of our data, and showed minimal loss of the protein (10%) and gave reproducible results. Nernst plots were then derived from the observed changes in absorbance as previously described (30-34). All Nernst plots represent applied potentials E (mV) relative to NHE.

Oxygen Equilibria-- Oxygen binding measurements were performed tonometrically, using a modified spectrophotometric method based on that of Riggs and Wolbach (26). The S-nitrosated samples were kept in the dark except during spectral analysis (<30 s for data collection with a Hewlett-Packard M diode array spectrophotometer) and very few data points were collected in each set to minimize the time under low oxygen conditions where Hb autoxidation was most pronounced.

	RESULTS

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Spectroelectrochemistry of Hb A₀ and Hb S-- We previously determined that oxygen binding curves (Hill Plots), and oxidation curves (Nernst Plots), have informative differences in regard to how anionic effectors modulate Hb function (31-34). To follow up on this parallel data analysis between oxygen binding and anaerobic oxidation, we used spectroelectrochemical methods to compare the redox behavior of Hb A₀ and Hb S under varied conditions that are comparable with our oxygen binding studies. As described under "Experimental Procedures," use of an optically transparent electrode cell and a cationic mediator allows us to probe both anion effects and effects of SH modifications on the anaerobic oxidation process.

Fig. 1 represents the Nernst plot for sickle cell hemoglobin (Hb S) in the presence and absence of allosteric effectors, chloride and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Hb S is a variant of Hb A₀ with an "external" substitution of Glu⁶  Val. Except at high protein concentrations where the deoxy form polymerizes (giving rise to the adverse effects of sickle cell disease), the oxygen binding curves of Hb S are very similar to those of Hb A₀. Surprisingly, we found that stripped Hb S (freed of exogenous anions) has a more negative E_1/2 than does Hb A₀ (E_1/2 = 70 mV for Hb S in contrast to E_1/2 = 85 mV for Hb A₀; Table I). Anions such as 2,3-diphosphoglycerate shift the redox potential positive for both proteins, as illustrated in Fig. 1 and Table I. Under all conditions examined, the Hb S samples showed negative shifts in redox potentials relative to Hb A₀. The effects of anion binding on the redox potential are mirrored by oxygen affinity shifts that reflect the anionic stabilization of the T-state. As documented below, opposite shifts of the redox potential occur when the SH-groups of Hb A₀ are modified by NO or other SH reagents.

View larger version (15K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1.   Influence of allosteric effectors on the redox properties of Hb S. Nernst plot symbols: , Hb S; , Hb S + 0.2 M KCl; , Hb S + 1 mM 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Conditions: [heme] = 0.06 to 0.08 mM in 0.05 M HEPES, 1 mM Ru(NH3)6Cl3, 20 °C at pH 7.5.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table I Influence of anions and Cys93 modifications on the redox and oxygen affinity of Hb A0, CPA-Hb A0 and Hb S

Stability of SNO-Hb during Spectroelectrochemical Experiments-- Hb specifically derivatized by nitrosation at the Cys⁹³ position was generated as described under "Experimental Procedures." Although the S-NO linkage in S-nitrosated Hb (SNO-Hb) is known to be susceptible to reductive cleavage, we found that SNO-Hb is not degraded by our electrochemical mediator, and that SNO-Hb can undergo a complete redox cycle during the spectroelectrochemical experiment without significant loss of NO. Experimental verification of this statement follows below.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) confirmed that the potentials applied during a spectroelectrochemical experiment did not affect the degree of S-nitrosation of the sample studied. A SNO-Hb A₀ standard sample (0.08 mM in heme) in 0.05 M HEPES, 0.5 mM EDTA at pH 7.5 was prepared. Three separate aliquots of the standard sample were removed and one aliquot was exposed to the Ru(NH₃)₆Cl₃ mediator, another was carried through a complete spectroelectrochemical reduction experiment over the course of about 1 h, and the third was carried through a complete redox cycle (reduction-oxidation-reduction) with about 12 h of experimental manipulation. ESI-MS methods described in more detail elsewhere (7) showed the -chain nitrosation as a 30 mass unit shift from the parent -globin chain, such as is illustrated in Fig. 2 of Ref. 7. Our ESI-MS data obtained here show the same level of nitrosation, within 5%, for the standard sample and each of the aliquots. These results confirm that no significant loss of NO from SNO-Hb A₀ occurred during the course of our experiments.

View larger version (17K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2.   Influence of S-nitrosation on the redox properties of Hb A0 and CPA-Hb. Nernst plot symbols: , Hb A0; , SNO-Hb A0 (90% 93 nitrosylated); , CPA-Hb; and , SNO-CPA-Hb (65% 93 nitrosylated). Conditions: [heme] = 0.06 to 0.08 mM in 0.05 M HEPES, 0.5 mM EDTA, 1 mM Ru(NH3)6Cl3, 20 °C at pH 7.5.

Spectral assays provide an independent confirmation of our ESI-MS results. A solution of the redox mediator, Ru(NH₃)₆Cl_3, was prepared and added to one of two aliquots of a solution containing 0.08 mM SNO-Hb in 0.05 M HEPES, 0.5 mM EDTA buffer at pH 7.5. The two samples (blank and that containing 5 mM Ru(NH₃)₆Cl₃) were incubated for 5 h at 20 °C (expected time necessary to perform a spectroelectrochemical experiment). The degree of S-nitrosation was then determined for both samples by spectral deconvolution as described in detail elsewhere (see Fig. 1 in Ref. 7) (7). Although the treated sample was completely oxidized by the mediator, it showed a negligible loss (~2%) in the degree of S-nitrosation (63% versus 65% of Cys⁹³ derivatized in the control). The control did not show any loss of cysteine-bound NO over the course of the experiment. These results are consistent with a minimal loss of NO due to extended exposure of the sample to the electrochemical mediator.

Spectroelectrochemistry of S-nitrosated Hb A₀ and Hb S-- Preparations of partially S-nitrosated forms of Hb A₀ and Hb S were made using either met- or oxy-Hb A₀ as a starting material. In all experiments of this report the modification of the parent protein was solely that associated with nitrosation at the Cys⁹³ position. In our SNO-Hb preparations there were no internal sulfhydryls modified and no disulfides formed (see "Experimental Procedures"). Fig. 2 shows Nernst plots for Hb A₀ and 90% S-nitrosated Hb A₀. As illustrated, the presence of NO as a modifier of Cys⁹³ prompts a change in the electronic environment of the heme. For Hb A₀, we determined that the percentage of S-nitrosation (with up to 95% of the Cys⁹³ derivatized) correlated with a negative shift in E_1/2 (about 10-40 mV), with a larger negative shift for higher percent derivatization (Table I).

Studies of the redox behavior of S-nitrosated Hb S revealed that this species is only slightly shifted toward more negative potentials in comparison with the non-modified protein. Table I documents the results obtained, along with comparative data on the effects of SH- modification by other reagents as described below. The apparent difference of 6 mV between Hb S and SNO-Hb S is much smaller than the shift that occurs as a result of comparable S-nitrosation of Hb A₀.

Spectroelectrochemistry of Irreversibly SH-modified Hbs-- Stable and irreversible derivatization of the 93 SH- groups of Hb results from reaction with either NEM or PDS. The reaction goes to completion for both NEM and PDS modifiers, with 100% of Cys⁹³ being modified for each reagent. At our reaction conditions only the external Cys⁹³ residues were derivatized, avoiding modification of internal sulfhydryls (see "Experimental Procedures"). These modified Hbs exhibit E_1/2 values that are shifted 30 and 40 mV, respectively, more negative than native Hb A_0. As expected based on previous studies (6), the irreversibly SH-modified forms also show increased O₂ affinity. These results are compared with those associated with NO-induced SH- group modifications in Table I.

Spectroelectrochemistry of R-state-stabilized SNO-CPA-Hb A₀-- Digestion with CPA removes the C-terminal histidine (146) and tyrosine (145) residues from Hb A₀. These amino acids are involved in the formation of a salt bridge that stabilizes the T-state of Hb A₀. The deletion of these amino acids results in a Hb A₀ form that cannot undergo an R to T transition and is locked in the R-state (6). Fig. 2 shows the Nernst plots for normal and S-nitrosated forms of the R-state Hb, CPA-Hb A₀, along with comparable plots for Hb A₀. The results illustrate that the R-state protein is more easily oxidized (Nernst plot shifted to more negative potentials) relative to Hb A₀. Moreover, no redox differences were found between CPA-Hb A₀ and its S-nitrosated counterpart, while as shown in Fig. 2, S-nitrosation of Hb A₀ leads to a shift of the E_1/2 of the protein that favors its oxidation.

Deoxygenated S-nitrosated Hb A₀ exhibits spectral characteristics like those of CPA-Hb A₀ that reflect its R-state character. As presented in Fig. 3 for the nitrosated and non-nitrosated Hb A₀ we observe a slight broadening and shift of the Soret _max for deoxy-Hb A₀ to shorter wavelength upon S-nitrosation. In addition, the molar absorptivity of deoxy SNO-Hb A₀ was estimated to be about 98000 M¹ cm¹, corresponding to a decrease of 15% from the molar absorptivity for the deoxy state of unmodified Hb A₀. These spectral differences, previously noted for R-state chains and dimers of Hb (6), reinforce the idea that modification of Cys⁹³ by nitrosation decreases the ability of the protein to fully attain the normal T-state conformation.

View larger version (19K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 3.   Spectra of Hb A0 (A) and SNO-Hb A0 (B) (65% 93 nitrosylated) as a function of applied potential. Arrows represent direction of spectral changes while sweeping an externally applied potential from +400 to 120 mV. Conditions: [heme] = 0.06 to 0.08 mM in 0.05 M HEPES, 0.5 mM EDTA, 1 mM Ru(NH3)6Cl3, 20 °C at pH 7.5.

Interactions of Hb A₀ and SNO-Hb A₀ with the Cytoplasmic Domain of Band 3 Protein-- As reported in Table I, S-nitrosation increases the oxygen affinity of Hb, while binding of the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3 protein to SNO-Hb decreases its oxygen affinity. These shifts are in accord with previous studies of the effects of S-nitrosation (7) and of Hb/Band 3 protein interactions (22). During these experiments, there was significant heme oxidation and the observed oxygen affinity shifts have to be considered in the context of our earlier report (1) that an increase in level of met-Hb will increase the oxygen affinity of SNO-Hb A₀ and Hb A₀. The observation of enhanced heme oxidation of SNO-Hb A₀ after addition of the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3 protein is consistent with prior reports of increased oxidation of Hb upon interaction with Band 3 protein (35). The decrease in oxygen affinity (despite increased oxidation) that accompanies formation of the SNO-Hb/Band 3 protein assembly confirms earlier reports that the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3 protein can bind to the -chain anion-binding site of Hb A₀ and mimic the effects of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and other anionic allosteric effectors with respect to oxygen affinity (22).

Having determined the nature of the oxygen affinity shifts brought about by interactions between SNO-Hb A₀ and the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3 protein under our experimental conditions, we then sought to determine whether the interactions of Band 3 protein with SNO-Hb A₀ would cause the release of NO. Spectral deconvolution assays were performed to address this question. As in the previous experiments, we noted that mixing the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3 protein with S-nitrosated Hb A₀ (SNO-Hb A₀) increased heme oxidation. However, there was no significant loss of NO from the SNO-Hb A₀/Band 3 protein assembly during an oxy-deoxy-oxy cycle (complete oxygen removal, a 1-h period of incubation at 25 °C after oxygen removal, and re-oxygenation).

The level of derivatization of Cys⁹³ in our preparation of SNO-Hb A₀ was about 60% (±5%) prior to addition of the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3 protein. After the addition experiment the amount of NO released by dithionite addition indicated that 50% (±5%) of the sample was S-nitrosated. When the same study was carried out in the presence of equimolar amounts of glutathione along with the Band 3 protein domain, S-nitrosation was estimated at 30 (±5)% after the sample was passed through a G-25 column to remove any glutathione or nitrite or nitrate that had formed. This greater loss (30% loss with GSH versus 10% loss without GSH) of NO from SNO-Hb was not attributable to Hb's interactions with the Band 3 protein domain, since we previously observed a similar glutathione-dependent decrease in the stability of SNO-Hb A₀ (7). Our results confirm those of Patel and co-workers (17) that GSH is both ineffective and slow in its transnitrosation reactions with SNO-Hb. We find this to be true even in the presence of the Band 3 protein domain. The significant finding from these studies is that formation and deoxygenation of the SNO-Hb A₀/Band 3 protein assembly does not, in itself, cause NO release, and that GSH does not function effectively as a NO receiver for the Hb·Band 3 complex.

Our experimental protocol for spectral deconvolution assays calls for use of a G25 column to remove low molecular weight species prior to the dithionite-induced release of NO from S-nitroso linkages (7). This procedure would have removed any free NO or low molecular weight NO derivatives from the mixture and eliminates the possibility of regenerating NO from any low molecular weight forms (such as nitrite). Moreover, there were no detectable NO-heme adducts present prior to dithionite treatment, indicating that little or no NO was trapped at the heme prior to dithionite treatment. As reported by Spencer et al. (36), GSNO, if formed to a significant extent, could have generated some NO-heme as a result of its interactions with deoxy Hb.

While our study of SNO-Hb interactions with the cytoplasmic domain of Band 3 protein does not rule out transfer of NO from SNO-Hb A₀ to SH- groups on Band 3 protein, it does provide convincing evidence that NO is not effectively released from the protein mixture even in the presence of equimolar glutathione. In the absence of other factors that might influence the reaction in red blood cells, the conformational shifts in purified SNO-Hb induced by deoxygenation in the presence of Band 3 protein, or induced by deoxygenation of the Hb·Band 3 protein complex in the presence of glutathione, do not force the release of NO. Accordingly, the in vivo mechanism for release of NO from SNO-Hb A₀ remains undefined.

	DISCUSSION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Hb is of central importance to human health in its role as a respiratory protein. Another chapter in the study of the human health significance of Hb is beginning, in which the focus is on NO uptake and delivery by Hb A₀ and the role this plays in the control of blood pressure and in oxidative and nitrosative reactions. The significance of this report stems from our exploration of what can and cannot happen once nitrosation of the 93 sulfhydryl group occurs.

Our results address the physiologically significant changes brought about by anions and SH modifiers that alter Hb conformation (allosteric controls) and Hb redox potential (electronic controls). These changes regulate Hb-based NO uptake and delivery as well as its oxygen transport functions. Intriguing differences in the redox potentials of Hb A₀ and Hb S were found that may alter the oxidative and nitrosative reactions in red blood cells containing Hb S. This finding also clarifies a long-standing puzzle regarding the greater ease of aerobic oxidation (autoxidation) of Hb S. It is now clear that although the substitution in Hb S is external, its structural consequences reach to the heme site where a shift in the redox potential of Hb S makes the protein more susceptible to oxidation.

Quantitative studies of the redox (oxidation-reduction) equilibria of respiratory heme proteins were begun by Taylor and Hastings (37) who studied the equilibrium between ferrous and ferric myoglobin. As reviewed elsewhere (6), the oxidation-reduction equilibria of Hb under varied experimental conditions has been the subject of many investigations. Inconsistencies in the earlier data can be attributed to Hb interactions with the oxidizing or reducing agents used in the redox titrations (6, 38-41). Our spectroelectrochemical approach allows us to explore the redox behavior of Hb with higher resolution and reproducibility than previously possible. Significantly, the cationic mediator used in the studies reported here allows us to probe SH-modified Hbs and the anionic control mechanisms operating in these systems.

Earlier studies performed by Antonini and Brunori (6) and Banerjee and Cassoly (42) demonstrated the impact on anaerobic oxidation of chemically modifying the 93 cysteine residue of Hb. These authors, using different SH modifiers, observed a negative shift of about 30 mV in redox potential relative to native Hb. Our results confirm and extend these earlier studies, and show that modification of the 93 SH-group by NO and a number of other thiol reagents results in species more easily oxidized than unmodified Hb A₀. By analogy to the well documented anionic allosteric effectors that stabilize the T-state (31), we propose that these thiosteric modifiers influence the E_1/2 of the protein by stabilizing the protein's R-state. NO, however, holds the distinctive position of being the only thiosteric modifier known to operate in vivo. While the concentration of SNO-Hb in vivo is too low to have a significant effect on oxygen binding, this Hb form could have a considerable influence on NO transport and metabolism.

Figs. 2 and 3 and results shown in Table I demonstrate that S-nitrosation and other chemical modifications of the 93 cysteine of Hb produce shifts toward more negative potential and higher oxygen affinity. The mechanism by which E_1/2 and P₅₀ are shifted seems to be associated with a shift toward the R-state conformation. As a test of this model, we investigated CPA-Hb A₀ and its S-nitrosated derivative. CPA-Hb A₀, from which the C-terminal His and Tyr have been removed by digestion with carboxypeptidase A, has a more negative E_1/2 value relative to Hb A₀, consistent with it being locked in the high O₂ affinity (R-state) conformation (6, 43). The finding that S-nitrosation of CPA-Hb A₀ does not affect its redox potential is in accord with the conclusion that SH modifiers exert their influence by stabilizing the R-state of Hb.

Hypothetically, the formation of the S-nitrosated derivative of oxidized (met) Hb can be associated with either a transnitrosation reaction between met-Hb A₀ and SNO-deoxy-Hb (Equation 1), or a redox process by which one electron is transferred from SNO-deoxy-Hb to an existing met-Hb A₀ molecule (Equation 2). (In the Equations below the heme site of met-Hb reactant is arbitrarily labeled using *.)

(Eq. 1)

(Eq. 2)

Our anaerobic oxidation results show that oxidation of SNO- deoxy-Hb by met-Hb to give SNO-met-Hb (Equation 2) is thermodynamically feasible. The half-potentials are a minimum of 10-15 mV apart, which is sufficient for a thermodynamic electron exchange between the modified and non-modified Hb, and is reasonable in light of the concentrations reported for met-Hb and SNO-deoxy-Hb in vivo ([met-Hb][SNO-Hb]) (44). Moreover, previous work has demonstrated the existence of an internal electron exchange pathway between the -chain heme groups and the SH-groups at position Cys⁹³ (45, 46). This pathway would facilitate the electron exchange mode represented by Equation 2. The rates for electron exchange in Equation 2 have not been determined, and may be much faster than those observed in previous studies of Cu-treated Hb (45, 46).

Paradigm for NO Metabolism and Storage in Vivo-- Our studies of the redox behavior of normal and S-nitrosated forms of Hb A₀ and Hb S show that NO interactions at the SH-groups of Hb have significant effects on the protein's heme groups. Met-Hb is known to be formed as a result of the interactions of NO with oxy-Hb, and we find that NO interactions with the SH-groups also favor met-Hb formation. Accordingly, we suggest a possible paradigm for Hb-based transport, storage, and metabolism of NO in vivo that is shown schematically in Fig. 4. This paradigm, in which met-Hb plays a significant role, is based on results reported herein for SH-modified forms of Hb A₀ (NEM-Hb A₀, PDS-Hb A₀, and SNO-Hb A₀), and CPA-Hb (SNO-CPA-Hb), as well as reports from the literature (3, 6, 17, 36, 42, 48). Possible responses to low oxygen conditions are shown, although the physiological condition is rarely "free" of oxygen, and met-Hb levels are usually low. There are many conditions where erythrocytes are greatly retarded in their flow through the capillaries, creating low oxygen conditions. In diabetes, sickle cell disease, hereditary stomatocytosis, polycythemias, normal thrombotic disorders and infarcts, etc., movement of the red blood cells past obstructions may be so slow that complete deoxygenation can in fact occur. There is no question that evolution adapts to such stress conditions as well as normal physiological function.

View larger version (48K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 4.   Paradigm for NO delivery and storage in vivo as it relates to the Hb A0 cycle. R- and T-states are noted in the gray boxes. Symbolic representations which emphasize the iron oxidation states are as follows: HbFeII-O2, oxy-hemoglobin; SNO-HbII-O2, Cys93-NO modified oxy-hemoglobin; HbFeII, deoxy-hemoglobin; SNO-HbFeII, Cys93-NO modified deoxy-hemoglobin; HbFeIII, met-hemoglobin; SNO-HbFeIII, Cys93-NO modified met-hemoglobin; HbFeII-NO, hemoglobin heme-NO adduct. See text for detailed explanation.

Healthy human adults typically have about 2-3% of their circulating hemoglobin oxidized daily (28), creating a small pool of met-Hb in red blood cells. Spencer et al. (36) reported that the interaction of deoxy-Hb A₀ with S-nitrosated glutathione (GSNO) leads to the formation of NO, met-Hb A₀, and glutathione (GSH) (Equation 3), followed by the formation of a heme-NO adduct (Hb-NO) (Equation 4).

(Eq. 3)

(Eq. 4)

This process could play an important role in increasing the pool of available met-Hb on one hand, and in eliminating excess NO in red blood cells on the other hand. Although met-Hb occurs as a small (generally <1%) fraction of the total Hb (~20 mM in heme in erythrocytes), met-Hb levels are sufficient to be involved in the storage and metabolism of biologically relevant levels of NO. This concept is supported by the stability of met-SNO-Hb in vitro (this work),² its negatively shifted redox potential (this work) and its recognized vasodilatory activity (13).

Fig. 4 represents our model for possible inter-relationships between the deoxy, oxy, and met forms of Hb A₀ and their S-nitrosated counterparts. This scheme illustrates the six pathways that have been studied in vitro and may be involved in the NO biochemistry of hemoglobin in vivo. Cycle A represents the well documented oxygenation cycle that depends on environmental P_O2. Cycle B represents the equilibrium between met- and deoxy-Hb, showing that deoxy-Hb can be oxidized to form met-Hb via a 1 electron reduction of S-nitrosated glutathione (top of the cycle), leading to the formation of NO and glutathione. (Other processes, like the interaction of NO with oxy-Hb, can also produce met-Hb.) The second half of cycle B (going from met-Hb to deoxy-Hb) requires the intervention of a reducing agent. We have shown here that S-nitrosated Hb A₀ has a low enough E_1/2 to reduce met-Hb A₀ to deoxy-Hb A₀, leading to the formation of a stable SNO-met-Hb species (interface between cycles B and D). This electron exchange process at the B/D cycle interface is thermodynamically feasible in vitro and can theoretically lead to reactivation of met-Hb A₀ to deoxy-Hb A₀ and storage of NO as SNO-met-Hb, which has been demonstrated to have vasodilatory properties (13). The reaction depicted in Fig. 4, reaction C, shows a possible route to generate SNO-met-Hb that bypasses any low-level concentration of SNO-deoxy-Hb. The driving force to go "directly" to SNO-met-Hb from SNO-oxy-Hb via path C would be to maintain the low-spin state of the heme, by having iron undergo both an electron exchange and a ligand exchange. We know that the R to T transition of the protein is directly correlated to the spin-state change of the iron, and can therefore influence the unloading of NO from the 93 cysteine in erythrocytes. Reaction F represents a probable oxygen-driven equilibrium between the oxy and deoxy form of the S-nitrosated protein. Significantly, our in vitro experiments show that both SNO-deoxy-Hb A₀ and SNO-met-Hb A₀ are remarkably stable (i.e. do not release NO) if no low molecular weight NO-carriers such as cysteine or glutathione are present in the medium. This observation is important; as it strongly suggests that for NO unloading from SNO-Hb (or the SNO-Hb/Band 3 protein assembly) to occur, an acceptor for a transnitrosation reaction must be present (Fig. 4, reaction G), or possibly an intracellular reductant that releases NO from the SNO complex. We are presently investigating the possibility that electrons travel from the  chain heme site to the SNO site by the internal electron transfer pathway that we have previously documented to exist (46).

High levels of met-Hb have been associated with formation of Heinz bodies that associate with Band 3 protein in red blood cells (35, 47, 49). The reactions of met-Hb may also play a role in NO transport, metabolism, and storage. The results described above reveal that at least three types of NO interactions with Hb favor met-Hb formation. They also show that met-Hb is well suited for storing NO as SNO-Hb. SNO-met-Hb, sequestered at the membrane as a Hb·Band 3 complex may also aid in the delivery of NO to tissues. Notably, the conformation of met-Hb can be adjusted from R toward T by modifying the composition of the protein environment, i.e. by increasing the concentrations of various allosteric effectors such as Cl and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in the protein environment (15, 31). Because NO cannot be accommodated at the Cys⁹³ position in the normal T-state, anion binding to Hb in either its met or deoxy state might be expected to facilitate the release of NO from SNO-met-Hb. However, anion binding is clearly insufficient to cause NO release. Band 3 protein, like small anions, can act as an allosteric effector that shifts Hb toward its T-state, but the association of SNO-Hb with Band 3 protein does not in itself cause the release of NO. The intriguing possibility remains that association of SNO-Hb with Band 3 protein may position NO for release from the red blood cell and facilitate NO-dependent vasoactivity in vivo. However, as noted above, as yet unidentified interactions of SNO-Hb with red blood cell constituents appears to be required for facilitated NO release.

	ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank the Duke University Sickle Cell Center for providing blood samples and G. Ferruzzi, G. Godette, and S. Tesh, Duke University Marine Laboratory, for experimental assistance. We thank Dr. F. Bedioui, ENSCP, for interest and helpful discussions.

	FOOTNOTES

^* This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grants RO1 HL-58248, 1R43 HL-6586, and GM24417, NIEHS Center Grant ESO-1908, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center through financial support of the Duke University Mass Spectrometry Facility.The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

^** Visiting scholar from l'Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Paris (ENSCP).

To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel.: 919-660-1540; Fax: 919-660-1605; E-mail: alc@chem.duke.edu.

Published, JBC Papers in Press, February 7, 2002, DOI 10.1074/jbc.M107658200

² C. H. Taboy, C. Bonaventura, and A. L. Crumbliss, unpublished observations.

	ABBREVIATIONS

The abbreviations used are: Hb-NO, NO bound to heme of Hb; Hb A₀, purified adult human hemoglobin; Mb, myoglobin; Hb S, sickle cell hemoglobin; SNO-Hb (%), S-nitrosated hemoglobin, indicating %Cys⁹³ groups modified; NEM-Hb, Cys⁹³ modified by reaction with N-ethylmaleimide; PDS-Hb, Cys⁹³ modified by reaction with 4,4'-dithiodipyridine; CPA, carboxypeptidase A; CPA-Hb A₀, carboxypeptidase A-digested Hb A₀; SNO-CPA-Hb A₀, carboxypeptidase A-digested Cys⁹³-nitrosated hemoglobin A₀; NHE, normal hydrogen electrode; SH, sulfhydryl; bis-Tris, 2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol.

	REFERENCES

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

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