Liquid–liquid separation in solutions of normal and sickle cell hemoglobin

AUTOR(ES)

Galkin, Oleg

FONTE

National Academy of Sciences

RESUMO

We show that in solutions of human hemoglobin (Hb)—oxy- and deoxy-Hb A or S—of near-physiological pH, ionic strength, and Hb concentration, liquid–liquid phase separation occurs reversibly and reproducibly at temperatures between 35 and 40°C. In solutions of deoxy-HbS, we demonstrate that the dense liquid droplets facilitate the nucleation of HbS polymers, whose formation is the primary pathogenic event for sickle cell anemia. In view of recent results that shifts of the liquid–liquid separation phase boundary can be achieved by nontoxic additives at molar concentrations up to 30 times lower than the protein concentrations, these findings open new avenues for the inhibition of the HbS polymerization.

Documentos Relacionados

• Stability and Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Mixed Saturated Lipid Bilayers
• Observation of liquid–liquid phase separation for eye lens γS-crystallin
• Extraction and Separation of Molybdenum by Using Homogeneous Liquid-Liquid Microextraction via Flotation Assistance
• Effect of polyethylene glycol on the liquid–liquid phase transition in aqueous protein solutions
• Supersaturation in sickle cell hemoglobin solutions.