Characterization of the structural and functional changes of hemoglobin in dimethyl sulfoxide by spectroscopic techniques

Circular dichroism (CD), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to explore the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the structure and function of hemoglobin (Hb). The native tertiary structure was disrupted completely when the concentration of DMSO reached 50% (v/v), which was determined by loss of the characteristic Soret CD spectrum. Loss of the native tertiary structure could be mainly caused by breaking the hydrogen bonds, between the heme propionate groups and nearby surface amino acid residues, and by disorganizing the hydrophobic interior of this protein. Upon exposure of Hb to 52% DMSO for ca. 12 h in a D2O medium no significant change in 1652 cm(-1) band of the FTIR spectrum was produced, which demonstrated that alpha-helical structure predominated. When the concentration of DMSO increased to 57%: (1) the band at 1652 cm(-1) disappeared with the appearance of two new bands located at 1661 and 1648 cm(-1); (2) another new band at 1623 cm(-1) was attributed to the formation of intermolecular beta-sheet or aggregation, which was the direct consequence of breaking of the polypeptide chain by the competition of S=O groups in DMSO with C=O groups in amide bonds. Further increasing the DMSO concentration to 80%, the intensity at 1623 cm(-1) increased, and the bands at 1684, 1661 and 1648 cm(-1) shifted to 1688, 1664 and 1644 cm(-1), respectively. These changes showed that the native secondary structure of Hb was last and led to further aggregation and increase of the content of 'free' amide C=O groups. In pure DMSO solvent, the major band at 1664 cm(-1) indicated that almost all of both the intermolecular beta-sheet and any residual secondary structure were completely disrupted. The red shift of the fluorescence emission maxima showed that the tryptophan residues were exposed to a greater hydrophilic environment as the DMSO content increased. GO-binding experiment suggested that the biological function of Hb was disrupted seriously even if the content of DMSO was 20%. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Study on the structure of hemoglobin in organic solvents by in situ STM

In situ STM has been used to study the structure of hemoglobin(Hb) in two kinds of organic media. In hydrophobic organic solvent such as carbon tetrachloride, the structure of Hb is almost the same as in aqueous solution, similar to its native structure. However, when in hydrophilic organic solvent such as dimethylformamide, the two dimers of Hb molecule become separate and unfold to a certain extent.

Direct electron transfer reaction of horse heart hemoglobin at the indium oxide electrode

A direct, quasi-reversible electrochemical reaction of horse heart hemoglobin without further purification was obtained for the first time at the indium oxide electrode when oxygen was removed from the solution and hemoglobin molecules. It was found that removing oxygen from the solution and hemoglobin molecules is an important factor for obtaining the quasi-reversible electrochemical reaction of hemoglobin.

STM OF FOLDED AND UNFOLDED HEMOGLOBIN MOLECULES ELECTROCHEMICALLY DEPOSITED ON HIGHLY ORIENTED PYROLYTIC-GRAPHITE

The structural characterization of folded and unfolded haemoglobin has been performed by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) for the first time. STM images show an oval-shaped pattern for the folded structure of this protein, and moreover two dimers consisting of one haemoglobin molecule can be clearly discerned. The dimensions of a folded molecule were determined as 6.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 nm(3), which are in good agreement with the known size obtained from X-ray analysis. We have found that unfolding of haemoglobin molecules on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) can be achieved by electrochemical deposition. The STM analysis indicates clearly that the tertiary structure of the protein was lost by electrochemical deposition, and most of the haemoglobin molecules were almost fully extended and exhibited a twisted rope-like or a rod-like aggregated structure. Our investigation demonstrates the capability of the electrochemical method in denaturing this redox protein and in preparing stable biological samples for use in STM imaging.

STUDY OF THE ELECTRODE PROCESS OF HEMOGLOBIN AT A POLYMERIZED AZURE A FILM ELECTRODE

The electrochemically polymerized azure A film electrode is reported. The resulting film on a platinum electrode surface was analyzed with electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The heterogeneous electron transfer processes of hemoglobin at the polymerized azure A film electrode have been investigated using in situ UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry. The formal potential (E-degrees') and electron transfer number (n) of hemoglobin were calculated as E = 0.088 V versus NHE (standard deviation +/- 0.5, N = 4) and n = 1.8 (standard deviation +/- 0.5, N = 4). Exhaustive reduction and oxidation electrolysis are achieved in 80 and 380 seconds, respectively, during a potential step between -0.3 and +0.3 V. A formal heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constant (k(sh)) of 3.54(+/- 0.12) X 10(-6) cm/s and a transfer coefficient (alpha) of 0.28(+/- 0.01) were obtained by cyclic voltabsorptometry, which indicated that the poly-azure A film electrode is able to catalyze the direct reduction and oxidation of hemoglobin.

CATALYTIC REDUCTION OF HEMOGLOBIN AT THIONINE CHEMICALLY MODIFIED ELECTRODE AND FIA APPLICATIONS

Thionine-containing chemically modified electrode (cme) was constructed with glassy carbon substrate by potential sweep oxidation, electrodeposition and adsorption procedures, and electrocatalytic reduction of hemoglobin was carried out and characterized at the cme under batch and flow conditions. Comparison of the catalytic response toward hemoglobir obtained at the cme was made mainly in terms of the potential dependence, the detectability and long-term stability. When used in flow injection analysis (FIA) experiments with the detector monitored at a constant potential applied at -0.35 V vs sce, detection limit of 0.15-1.5 pmol level of hemoglobin injected was achieved at the cme, with linear response range over 2 orders of magnitude. All the cme s retained more than 70% of their initial hemoglobin response level over 8 h of continuous service in the flow-through system.

FLOW-INJECTION ANALYSIS OF MYOGLOBIN AND HEMOGLOBIN AT TOLUIDINE BLUE CHEMICALLY MODIFIED ELECTRODE

Electrodeposition of the phenothiazine mediator titrant toluidine blue onto a glassy carbon substrate at an appropriate potential was used to construct a toluidine blue chemically modified electrode (CME) exhibiting electrocatalytic reduction for myoglobin and hemoglobin. The CME catalyzed the hemoprotein electroreduction at the reduction potential of the mediator molecule. When the CME as used as a detector for flow injection analysis at a constant applied potential of -0.30 V vs. a saturated calomel electrode, it gave detection limits of 20 and 50 ng (1.2 and 0.78 pmol) injected myoglobin and hemoglobin, respectively, with a dynamic linear concentration range over 2 orders of magnitude. After a brief equilibration period, the CME retained nearly 90% of its initial myoglobin response over 8 hours of continuous exposure to the flow-through system.

植物血红蛋白基因及植物凝集素基因转化水稻的研究

植物血红蛋白在共生固氮根瘤中主要是对固氮酶进行嫌氧保护，确保固氮酶活性，在植物根中协助氧的运输或作为感觉氧压的信号分子．豆科植物凝集素功能之一是对相应专一的根瘤菌有识别作用，并有利于根瘤菌的聚集和侵染。本论文将非豆科结瘤植物Parasponia andersonii血红蛋白基因及豌豆凝集索基因转入水稻，目的是此二基因表达后，豌豆凝集素可聚集、识别豌豆根瘤菌，并有助于它们的侵染，血红蛋白则可对根瘤菌固氮酶进行嫌氧保护，保障其发挥固氮作用，从而为实现水稻结瘤和固氮打下初步基础。 本论文将带有Parasponia血红蛋白基因的pL305质粒，带有潮霉素磷酸转移酶基因及Parasponia血红蛋白基因的农杆菌双元载体质粒pLX412-Hb用花粉管通道法转化水稻l用pLX412-Hb和带有Bar基因、豌豆凝集素基因、Parasponia血红蛋白基因的质粒pLHB用基因枪法转化水稻幼胚及愈伤组织，带有pLX412-Hb的Agrobactmum tumefaciens LBA4404转化烟草，得到如下结果： 1．用pL305质粒花粉管通道法转化水稻，运作1512朵花，得到707粒种子．将230粒种子萌发，发芽220粒;白化苗4株，成苗206株;计发芽率96%，白化苗率1.7%，成苗率90%。取120株提取DNA以Parasponia血红蛋白基因为探针进行点杂交，有6株为阳性结果，阳性率5%．再取4株DNA点杂交阳性植株DNA，以Parasponia血红蛋白基因为探针进行Southem杂交，有3株有阳性结果，阳性率为75%，照此推算转化植株约占总植株的4%．目前，这些转基因植株已开花结实。 2．用pLX412-Hb质粒花粉管通道法转化水稻，运作743朵花，得到340粒种子。将120粒种子萌发，发芽117粒，白化苗3株，成苗111株;计发芽率97. 5%，白化苗率2. 5%，成苗率92. 5%．取30株提取DNA以Parasponia血红蛋白基因为探针进行点杂交，有4株为阳性结果，阳性率13%。再取4株DNA点杂交呈阳性的植株DNA，以Parasponia血红蛋白基因为探针进行Southern杂交，有2株有阳性结果，阳性率为50%，照此推算转化植株约占总植株的7%。目前部分转基因植株巳开花结实． 3.用pLX412 - Hb质粒基因枪法转化水稻幼胚及愈伤组织，抗性筛选得到15株再生植株，以Parasponia血红蛋白基因为探针进行点杂交，有14株为阳性结果，阳性率93%．取7株DNA点杂交呈阳性的植株DNA，以Parasponia血红蛋白基因为探针进行Southern杂交，都为阳性结果，阳性率为100%，照此推算转化植株约占总植株的93%．目前，部分转基因植株已开花结实． 4．用pLX412 -Hb质粒通过Agrobacterrum tumeFaciens LBA4404转化烟草，抗性筛选得到的再生植株以Parasponia血红蛋白基因为探针进行Southern杂交，结果为阳性． 5．用pLHB基因枪法转化的愈伤组织，抗性筛选得到已分化出绿芽点的愈伤组织，以Parasponia血红蛋白基因为探针或以豌豆凝集素基因为探针进行Southern杂交，杂交结果均为阳性． 6．最近国外巳发现大麦有血红蛋白基因．本论文以大麦血红蛋白cDNA为探针对未转基因的水稻进行Southern杂交，结果有阳性带。说明水稻有与大麦血红蛋白基因高度同源序列。以Parasponia血红蛋白基因为探针时杂交结果为阴性，说明水稻血红蛋白基因与Parasponiaa血红蛋白基因核苷酸序列相差较大． 7．提取Southern杂交证明有Parasponia血红蛋白基因整合的水稻根及叶总RNA，以Parasponia血红蛋白基因cDNA为探针进行RNA点杂交，结果根总RNA为阳性，叶总RNA为阴性。初步证明Parasponia血红蛋白基因在水稻根中表达。 8．提取未转基因的水稻根及叶RNA，以大麦血红蛋白基因cDNA为探针进行RNA点杂交，结果：根总RNA为阳性结果，叶总RNA为阴性结果．初步证明水稻血红蛋白基因在水稻根中表达。 总之，本论文证明已将Parasponia血红蛋白基因整合进水稻植株染色体，将豌豆凝集素基因、Parasponia血红蛋白基因整合进水稻愈伤组织染色体，初步证明水稻有血红蛋白基因，内外源血红蛋白基因都有组织特异性表达，从而为本研究的战略设想奠定初步基础。

两个固氮相关的植物基因对烟草和水稻的转化及其表达

豆科植物凝集素基因和血红蛋白基因在对根瘤菌的识别作用和类菌体在低氧分压下的共生固氮中起重要作用。本文的目的是试图将这两个基因转移到非豆料植物烟草和水稻，使其能识别根瘤菌，探讨非豆科植物的共生和联合固氮的可能性。 构建了含有豌豆凝集素（P－Lec）基因、Parasponia andersonii血红蛋白基因、gus基因及植物选择标记潮霉素磷酸转移酶基因（hpt）的两个植物表达载体pCBHL和pCBHUL;同时，还构建了含有P－Lec基因、gus基因及植物选择标记PPT乙酰转移酶基因（bar）的植物表达载体pBBUL。在pCBHL中，CaMV35S启动子调控P－Lec基因的表达，而在pCBHUL和pBBUL中，该基因由玉米Ubiquitin 1启动子调控。 用农杆菌法将pCBHL导入烟草，得到53株再生植株，PCR检测表明转化频率为88％。用基因枪法分别将pCBHUL和pBBUL导入水稻幼胚或幼胚诱导的愈伤组织。转pCBHUL的材料共得到40株再生植株，经分子检测有18株分转基因植株，转化频率为0.9%。转pBBUL的幼胚愈伤组织经PPT筛选，只得到能分化出小芽的抗性愈伤组织。 PCR检测、Southern杂交表明P-Lec基因和Paraspoina血红蛋白基因都已经整合到转基因烟草及水稻的基因组中，转基因水稻植株中两个外源目的基因的拷贝数较高。Western杂交分析转基因植物中P-Lec基因的表达情况，结果表明该基因在转基因的烟草和水稻叶片中得到正确地表达。同时，GUS组织化学染色表明转基因烟草的嫩茎和幼根，转基因水稻的嫩叶和幼根中都有gus基因的表达。转基因烟草中外源基因的表达频率高于转基因水稻。T1代转基因烟草幼根的蛋白原位免疫杂交显示P-Lec正确定位于正在生长的幼根根毛的顶端，与对照豌豆中的P-Lec基因表达部位相一致。关于Parasponia血红蛋白基因，以前本实验室对转基因烟草和水稻的研究表明有转录水平的表达，国外实验室证实转基因烟草中有转译表达。 上述结果有可能为进一步研究转基因非豆科植物与根瘤菌的相互作用奠定一定的基础。