Structure-Based Phylogenetic Analysis of the Lipocalin Superfamily

Lipocalins constitute a superfamily of extracellular proteins that are found in all three kingdoms of life. Although very divergent in their sequences and functions, they show remarkable similarity in 3-D structures. Lipocalins bind and transport small hydrophobic molecules. Earlier sequence-based phylogenetic studies of lipocalins highlighted that they have a long evolutionary history. However the molecular and structural basis of their functional diversity is not completely understood. The main objective of the present study is to understand functional diversity of the lipocalins using a structure-based phylogenetic approach. The present study with 39 protein domains from the lipocalin superfamily suggests that the clusters of lipocalins obtained by structure-based phylogeny correspond well with the functional diversity. The detailed analysis on each of the clusters and sub-clusters reveals that the 39 lipocalin domains cluster based on their mode of ligand binding though the clustering was performed on the basis of gross domain structure. The outliers in the phylogenetic tree are often from single member families. Also structure-based phylogenetic approach has provided pointers to assign putative function for the domains of unknown function in lipocalin family. The approach employed in the present study can be used in the future for the functional identification of new lipocalin proteins and may be extended to other protein families where members show poor sequence similarity but high structural similarity.

Structures of substrate- and nucleotide-bound propionate kinase from Salmonella typhimurium: substrate specificity and phosphate-transfer mechanism

Kinases are ubiquitous enzymes that are pivotal to many biochemical processes. There are contrasting views on the phosphoryl-transfer mechanism in propionate kinase, an enzyme that reversibly transfers a phosphoryl group from propionyl phosphate to ADP in the final step of non-oxidative catabolism of L-threonine to propionate. Here, X-ray crystal structures of propionate- and nucleotide-bound Salmonella typhimurium propionate kinase are reported at 1.8-2.0 angstrom resolution. Although the mode of nucleotide binding is comparable to those of other members of the ASKHA superfamily, propionate is bound at a distinct site deeper in the hydrophobic pocket defining the active site. The propionate carboxyl is at a distance of approximate to 5 angstrom from the -phosphate of the nucleotide, supporting a direct in-line transfer mechanism. The phosphoryl-transfer reaction is likely to occur via an associative S(N)2-like transition state that involves a pentagonal bipyramidal structure with the axial positions occupied by the nucleophile of the substrate and the O atom between the - and the -phosphates, respectively. The proximity of the strictly conserved His175 and Arg236 to the carboxyl group of the propionate and the -phosphate of ATP suggests their involvement in catalysis. Moreover, ligand binding does not induce global domain movement as reported in some other members of the ASKHA superfamily. Instead, residues Arg86, Asp143 and Pro116-Leu117-His118 that define the active-site pocket move towards the substrate and expel water molecules from the active site. The role of Ala88, previously proposed to be the residue determining substrate specificity, was examined by determining the crystal structures of the propionate-bound Ala88 mutants A88V and A88G. Kinetic analysis and structural data are consistent with a significant role of Ala88 in substrate-specificity determination. The active-site pocket-defining residues Arg86, Asp143 and the Pro116-Leu117-His118 segment are also likely to contribute to substrate specificity.

The putative role of some conserved water molecules in the structure and function of human transthyretin

Human transthyretin (hTTR) is a multifunctional protein that is involved in several neurodegenerative diseases. Besides the transportation of thyroxin and vitamin A, it is also involved in the proteolysis of apolipoprotein A1 and A beta peptide. Extensive analyses of 32 high-resolution X-ray and neutron diffraction structures of hTTR followed by molecular-dynamics simulation studies using a set of 15 selected structures affirmed the presence of 44 conserved water molecules in its dimeric structure. They are found to play several important roles in the structure and function of the protein. Eight water molecules stabilize the dimeric structure through an extensive hydrogen-bonding network. The absence of some of these water molecules in highly acidic conditions (pH <= 4.0) severely affects the interfacial hydrogen-bond network, which may destabilize the native tetrameric structure, leading to its dissociation. Three pairs of conserved water molecules contribute to maintaining the geometry of the ligand-binding cavities. Some other water molecules control the orientation and dynamics of different structural elements of hTTR. This systematic study of the location, absence, networking and interactions of the conserved water molecules may shed some light on various structural and functional aspects of the protein. The present study may also provide some rational clues about the conserved water-mediated architecture and stability of hTTR.

Rapid NMR Assignments of Proteins by Using Optimized Combinatorial Selective Unlabeling

A new approach for rapid resonance assignments in proteins based on amino acid selective unlabeling is presented. The method involves choosing a set of multiple amino acid types for selective unlabeling and identifying specific tripeptides surrounding the labeled residues from specific 2D NMR spectra in a combinatorial manner. The methodology directly yields sequence specific assignments, without requiring a contiguously stretch of amino acid residues to be linked, and is applicable to deuterated proteins. We show that a 2D N-15,H-1]HSQC spectrum with two 2D spectra can result in approximate to 50% assignments. The methodology was applied to two proteins: an intrinsically disordered protein (12kDa) and the 29kDa (268 residue) -subunit of Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase, which presents a challenging case with spectral overlaps and missing peaks. The method can augment existing approaches and will be useful for applications such as identifying active-site residues involved in ligand binding, phosphorylation, or protein-protein interactions, even prior to complete resonance assignments.

Insulin analog preparations and their use in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Standard or 'traditional' human insulin preparations such as regular soluble insulin and neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin have shortcomings in terms of their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties that limit their clinical efficacy. Structurally modified insulin molecules or insulin 'analogs' have been developed with the aim of delivering insulin replacement therapy in a more physiological manner. In the last 10 years, five insulin analog preparations have become commercially available for clinical use in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: three 'rapid' or fast-acting analogs (insulin lispro, aspart, and glulisine) and two long-acting analogs (insulin glargine and detemir). This review highlights the specific pharmacokinetic properties of these new insulin analog preparations and focuses on their potential clinical advantages and disadvantages when used in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The fast-acting analogs specifically facilitate more flexible insulin injection timing with regard to meals and activities, whereas the long-acting analogs have a more predictable profile of action and lack a peak effect. To date, clinical trials in children and adolescents have been few in number, but the evidence available from these and from other studies carried out in adults with type 1 diabetes suggest that they offer significant benefits in terms of reduced frequency of nocturnal hypoglycemia, better postprandial blood glucose control, and improved quality of life when compared with traditional insulins. In addition, insulin detemir therapy is unique in that patients may benefit from reduced risk of excessive weight, particularly during adolescence. Evidence for sustained long-term improvements in glycosylated hemoglobin, on the other hand, is modest. Furthermore, alterations to insulin/insulin-like growth factor I receptor binding characteristics have also raised theoretical concerns that insulin analogs may have an increased mitogenic potential and risk of tumor development, although evidence from both in vitro and in vivo animal studies do not support this assertion. Long-term surveillance has been recommended and further carefully designed prospective studies are needed to evaluate the overall benefits and clinical efficacy of insulin analog therapy in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Probabilistic Modeling of Rosette Formation

英文摘要: Rosetting, or forming a cell aggregate between a single target nucleated cell and a number of red blood cells (RBCs), is a simple assay for cell adhesion-mediated by specific receptor-ligand interaction. For example, rosette formation between sheep RBC and human lymphocytes has been used to differentiate T cells from B cells. Rosetting assay is commonly used to determine the interaction of Fc gamma-receptors (Fc gamma R) expressed on inflammatory cells and IgG-coated on RBCs. Despite its wide use in measuring cell adhesion, the biophysical parameters of rosette formation have not been well characterized. Here we developed a probabilistic model to describe the distribution of rosette sizes, which is Poissonian. The average rosette size is predicted to be proportional to the apparent two-dimensional binding affinity of the interacting receptor-ligand pair and their site densities. The model has been supported by experiments of rosettes mediated by four molecular interactions: Fc gamma RIII interacting with IgG, T cell receptor and coreceptor CD8 interacting with antigen peptide presented by major histocompatibility molecule, P-selectin interacting with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1), and L-selectin interacting with PSGL-1. The latter two are structurally similar and are different from the former two. Fitting the model to data enabled us to evaluate the apparent effective two-dimensional binding affinity of the interacting molecular pairs: 7.19x10(-5) mu m(4) for Fc gamma RIII-IgG interaction, 4.66x10(-3) mu m(4) for P-selectin-PSGL-1 interaction, and 0.94x10(-3) mu m(4) for L-selectin-PSGL-1 interaction. These results elucidate the biophysical mechanism of rosette formation and enable it to become a semiquantitative assay that relates the rosette size to the effective affinity for receptor-ligand binding.

Stabilizing to disruptive transition of focal adhesion response to mechanical forces

Strong mechanical forces can, obviously, disrupt cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions, e.g., cyclic uniaxial stretch induces instability of cell adhesion, which then causes the reorientation of cells away from the stretching direction. However, recent experiments also demonstrated the existence of force dependent adhesion growth (rather than dissociation). To provide a quantitative explanation for the two seemingly contradictory phenomena, a microscopic model that includes both integrin-integrin interaction and integrin-ligand interaction is developed at molecular level by treating the focal adhesion as an adhesion cluster. The integrin clustering dynamics and integrin-ligand binding dynamics are then simulated within one unified theoretical frame with Monte Carlo simulation. We find that the focal adhesion will grow when the traction force is higher than a relative small threshold value, and the growth is dominated by the reduction of local chemical potential energy by the traction force. In contrast, the focal adhesion will rupture when the traction force exceeds a second threshold value, and the rupture is dominated by the breaking of integrin-ligand bonds. Consistent with the experiments, these results suggest a force map for various responses of cell adhesion to different scales of mechanical force. PMID: 20542514

Developing A Microfluidic-Based System To Quantify Cell Capture Efficiency

Micro-fabrication technology has substantial potential for identifying molecular markers expressed on the surfaces of tissue cells and viruses. It has been found in several conceptual prototypes that cells with such markers are able to be captured by their antibodies immobilized on microchannel substrates and unbound cells are flushed out by a driven flow. The feasibility and reliability of such a microfluidic-based assay, however, remains to be further tested. In the current work, we developed a microfluidic-based system consisting of a microfluidic chip, an image grabbing unit, data acquisition and analysis software, as well as a supporting base. Specific binding of CD59-expressed or BSA-coupled human red blood cells (RBCs) to anti-CD59 or anti-BSA antibody-immobilized chip surfaces was quantified by capture efficiency and by the fraction of bound cells. Impacts of respective flow rate, cell concentration, antibody concentration and site density were tested systematically. The measured data indicated that the assay was robust. The robustness was further confirmed by capture efficiencies measured from an independent ELISA-based cell binding assay. These results demonstrated that the system developed provided a new platform to effectively quantify cellular surface markers effectively, which promoted the potential applications in both biological studies and clinical diagnoses.

Molecular mechanism of sulfated carbohydrate recognition: structural and biochemical studies of the cysteine-rich domain of mannose receptor

Mannose receptor (MR) is widely expressed on macrophages, immature dendritic cells, and a variety of epithelial and endothelial cells. It is a 180 kD type I transmembrane receptor whose extracellular region consists of three parts: the amino-terminal cysteine-rich domain (Cys-MR); a fibronectin type II-like domain; and a series of eight tandem C-type lectin carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs). Two portions of MR have distinct carbohydrate recognition properties: Cys-MR recognizes sulfated carbohydrates and the tandem CRD region binds terminal mannose, fucose, and N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc). The dual carbohydrate binding specificity allows MR to interact with sulfated and nonsulfated polysaccharide chains, and thereby facilitating the involvement of MR in immunological and physiological processes. The immunological functions of MR include antigen capturing (through binding non-sulfated carbohydrates) and antigen targeting (through binding sulfated carbohydrates), and the physiological roles include rapid clearance of circulatory luteinizing hormone (LH), which bears polysaccharide chains terminating with sulfated and non-sulfated carbohydrates.

We have crystallized and determined the X-ray structures of unliganded Cys-MR (2.0 Å) and Cys-MR complexed with different ligands, including Hepes (1.7 Å), 4SO_4-N-Acetylgalactosamine (4SO_4-GalNAc; 2.2 Å), 3SO_4-Lewis^x (2.2 Å), 3S04-Lewis^a (1.9 Å), and 6SO_4-GalNAc (2.5 Å). The overall structure of Cys-MR consists of 12 anti-parallel β-strands arranged in three lobes with approximate three fold internal symmetry. The structure contains three disulfide bonds, formed by the six cysteines in the Cys-MR sequence. The ligand-binding site is located in a neutral pocket within the third lobe, in which the sulfate group of ligand is buried. Our results show that optimal binding is achieved by a carbohydrate ligand with a sulfate group that anchors the ligand by forming numerous hydrogen bonds and a sugar ring that makes ring-stacking interactions with Trpll7 of CysMR. Using a fluorescence-based assay, we characterized the binding affinities between CysMR and its ligands, and rationalized the derived affinities based upon the crystal structures. These studies reveal the mechanism of sulfated carbohydrate recognition by Cys-MR and facilitate our understanding of the role of Cys-MR in MR recognition of its ligands.

Sterochemically modified polyamides for recognition in the minor groove of DNA

The design of synthetic molecules that recognize specific sequences of DNA is an ongoing challenge in molecular medicine. Cell-permeable small molecules targeting predetermined DNA sequences offer a potential approach for offsetting the abnormal effects of misregulated gene-expression. Over the past twenty years, Professor Peter B. Dervan has developed a set of pairing rules for the rational design of minor groove binding polyamides containing pyrrole (Py), imidazole (Im), and hydroxypyrrole (Hp). Polyamides have illustrated the capability to permeate cells and inhibit transcription of specific genes in vivo. This provides impetus to identify structural elements that expand the repetoire of polyamide motifs with recognition properties comparable to naturally occurring DNA binding proteins. Through the introduction of chiral amino acids, we have developed chiral polyamides with stereochemically regulated binding characteristics. In addition, chiral substituents have facilitated the development of new polyamide motifs that broaden binding site sizes targetable by this class of ligands.

Developmentally regulated transcription factors in Drosophila melanogaster

During early stages of Drosophila development the heat shock response cannot be induced. It is reasoned that the adverse effects on cell cycle and cell growth brought about by Hsp70 induction must outweigh the beneficial aspects of Hsp70 induction in the early embryo. Although the Drosophila heat shock transcription factor (dHSF) is abundant in the early embryo, it does not enter the nucleus in response to heat shock. In older embryos and in cultured cells the factor is localized within the nucleus in an apparent trimeric structure that binds DNA with high affinity. The domain responsible for nuclear localization upon stress resides between residues 390 and 420 of the dHSF. Using that domain as bait in a yeast two-hybrid system we now report the identification and cloning of a nuclear transport protein Drosophila karyopherin-α3(dKap- α3). Biochemical methods demonstrate that the dKap-α3 protein binds specifically to the dHSF's nuclear localization sequence (NLS). Furthermore, the dKap-α3 protein does not associate with NLSs that contain point mutations which are not transported in vivo. Nuclear docking studies also demonstrate specific nuclear targeting of the NLS substrate by dKap-α3.Consistant with previous studies demonstrating that early Drosophila embryos are refractory to heat shock as a result of dHSF nuclear exclusion, we demonstrate that the early embryo is deficient in dKap-α3 protein through cycle 12. From cycle 13 onward the transport factor is present and the dHSF is localized within the nucleus thus allowing the embryo to respond to heat shock.

The pair-rule gene fushi tarazu (ftz) is a well-studied zygotic segmentation gene that is necessary for the development of the even-numbered parasegments in Drosophila melanogastor. During early embryogenesis, ftz is expressed in a characteristic pattern of seven stripes, one in each of the even-numbered parasegments. With a view to understand how ftz is transcriptionally regulated, cDNAs that encode transcription factors that bind to the zebra element of the ftz promoter have been cloned. Chapter Ill reports the cloning and characterization of the eDNA encoding zeb-1 (zebra element binding protein), a novel steroid receptor-like molecule that specifically binds to a key regulatory element of the ftz promoter. In transient transfection assays employing Drosophila tissue culture cells, it has been shown that zeb-1 as well as a truncated zeb-1 polypeptide (zeb480) that lacks the putative ligand binding domain function as sequencespecific trans-activators of the ftz gene.

The Oct factors are members of the POU family of transcription factors that are shown to play important roles during development in mammals. Chapter IV reports the eDNA cloning and expression of a Drosophila Oct transcription factor. Whole mount in-situ hybridization experiments revealed that the spatial expression patterns of this gene during embryonic development have not yet been observed for any other gene. In early embryogenesis, its transcripts are transiently expressed as a wide uniform band from 20-40% of the egg length, very similar to that of gap genes. This pattern progressively resolves into a series of narrower stripes followed by expression in fourteen stripes. Subsequently, transcripts from this gene are expressed in the central nervous system and the brain. When expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this Drosophila factor functions as a strong, octamer-dependent activator of transcription. The data strongly suggest possible functions for the Oct factor in pattern formation in Drosophila that might transcend the boundaries of genetically defined segmentation genes.

Interaction between single molecules of Mac-1 and ICAM-1 in living cells: An atomic force microscopy study

The interaction between integrin macrophage differentiation antigen associated with complement three receptor function (Mac-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), which is controlled tightly by the ligand-binding activity of Mac-1, is central to the regulation of neutrophil adhesion in host defense. Several "inside-out" signals and extracellular metal ions or antibodies have been found to activate Mac-1, resulting in an increased adhesiveness of Mac-1 to its ligands. However, the molecular basis for Mac-1 activation is not well understood yet. In this work, we have carried out a single-molecule study of Mac-1/ICAM-1 interaction force in living cells by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our results showed that the binding probability and adhesion force of Mac-1 with ICAM-1 increased upon Mac-1 activation. Moreover, by comparing the dynamic force spectra of different Mac-1 mutants, we expected that Mac-1 activation is governed by the downward movement of its alpha 7 helix. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Functional evaluation of noncovalent interactions in neuroreceptors and progress toward the expansion of unnatural amino acid methodology

This dissertation primarily describes chemical-scale studies of G protein-coupled receptors and Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channels to better understand ligand binding interactions and the mechanism of channel activation using recently published crystal structures as a guide. These studies employ the use of unnatural amino acid mutagenesis and electrophysiology to measure subtle changes in receptor function.

In chapter 2, the role of a conserved aromatic microdomain predicted in the D3 dopamine receptor is probed in the closely related D2 and D4 dopamine receptors. This domain was found to act as a structural unit near the ligand binding site that is important for receptor function. The domain consists of several functionally important noncovalent interactions including hydrogen bond, aromatic-aromatic, and sulfur-π interactions that show strong couplings by mutant cycle analysis. We also assign an alternate interpretation for the linear fluorination plot observed at W6.48, a residue previously thought to participate in a cation-π interaction with dopamine.

Chapter 3 outlines attempts to incorporate chemically synthesized and in vitro acylated unnatural amino acids into mammalian cells. While our attempts were not successful, method optimizations and data for nonsense suppression with an in vivo acylated tRNA are included. This chapter is aimed to aid future researchers attempting unnatural amino acid mutagenesis in mammalian cells.

Chapter 4 identifies a cation-π interaction between glutamate and a tyrosine residue on loop C in the GluClβ receptor. Using the recently published crystal structure of the homologous GluClα receptor, other ligand-binding and protein-protein interactions are probed to determine the similarity between this invertebrate receptor and other more distantly related vertebrate Cys-loop receptors. We find that many of the interactions previously observed are conserved in the GluCl receptors, however care must be taken when extrapolating structural data.

Chapter 5 examines inherent properties of the GluClα receptor that are responsible for the observed glutamate insensitivity of the receptor. Chimera synthesis and mutagenesis reveal the C-terminal portion of the M4 helix and the C-terminus as contributing to formation of the decoupled state, where ligand binding is incapable of triggering channel gating. Receptor mutagenesis was unable to identify single residue mismatches or impaired protein-protein interactions within this domain. We conclude that M4 helix structure and/or membrane dynamics are likely the cause of ligand insensitivity in this receptor and that the M4 helix has an role important in the activation process.

Models of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex of Photosystem II

In the five chapters that follow, I delineate my efforts over the last five years to synthesize structurally and chemically relevant models of the Oxygen Evolving Complex (OEC) of Photosystem II. The OEC is nature’s only water oxidation catalyst, in that it forms the dioxygen in our atmosphere necessary for oxygenic life. Therefore understanding its structure and function is of deep fundamental interest and could provide design elements for artificial photosynthesis and manmade water oxidation catalysts. Synthetic endeavors towards OEC mimics have been an active area of research since the mid 1970s and have mutually evolved alongside biochemical and spectroscopic studies, affording ever-refined proposals for the structure of the OEC and the mechanism of water oxidation. This research has culminated in the most recent proposal: a low symmetry Mn₄CaO₅ cluster with a distorted Mn₃CaO₄ cubane bridged to a fourth, dangling Mn. To give context for how my graduate work fits into this rich history of OEC research, Chapter 1 provides a historical timeline of proposals for OEC structure, emphasizing the role that synthetic Mn and MnCa clusters have played, and ending with our Mn₃CaO₄ heterometallic cubane complexes.

In Chapter 2, the triarylbenzene ligand framework used throughout my work is introduced, and trinuclear clusters of Mn, Co, and Ni are discussed. The ligand scaffold consistently coordinates three metals in close proximity while leaving coordination sites open for further modification through ancillary ligand binding. The ligands coordinated could be varied, with a range of carboxylates and some less coordinating anions studied. These complexes’ structures, magnetic behavior, and redox properties are discussed.

Chapter 3 explores the redox chemistry of the trimanganese system more thoroughly in the presence of a fourth Mn equivalent, finding a range of oxidation states and oxide incorporation dependent on oxidant, solvent, and Mn salt. Oxidation states from Mn^II₄ to Mn^IIIMn^IV₃ were observed, with 1-4 O^2– ligands incorporated, modeling the photoactivation of the OEC. These complexes were studied by X-ray diffraction, EPR, XAS, magnetometry, and CV.

As Ca²⁺ is a necessary component of the OEC, Chapter 4 discusses synthetic strategies for making highly structurally accurate models of the OEC containing both Mn and Ca in the Mn₃CaO₄ cubane + dangling Mn geometry. Structural and electrochemical characterization of the first Mn₃CaO₄ heterometallic cubane complex— and comparison to an all-Mn Mn₄O₄ analog—suggests a role for Ca²⁺ in the OEC. Modification of the Mn₃CaO₄ system by ligand substitution affords low symmetry Mn₃CaO₄ complexes that are the most accurate models of the OEC to date.

Finally, in Chapter 5 the reactivity of the Mn₃CaO₄ cubane complexes toward O- atom transfer is discussed. The metal M strongly affects the reactivity. The mechanisms of O-atom transfer and water incorporation from and into Mn₄O₄ and Mn₄O₃ clusters, respectively, are studied through computation and ¹⁸O-labeling studies. The μ3-oxos of the Mn₄O₄ system prove fluxional, lending support for proposals of O^2– fluxionality within the OEC.

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of protein conformation: I. Ribonuclease S. II. Hemoglobin

Fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance techniques have been used to study conformational processes in two proteins labeled specifically in strategic regions with covalently attached fluorinated molecules. In ribonuclease S, the ϵ-amino groups of lysines 1 and 7 were trifluoroacetylated without diminishing enzymatic activity. As inhibitors bound to the enzyme, changes in orientation of the peptide segment containing the trifluoroacetyl groups were detected in the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. pH Titration of one of the histidines in the active site produced a reversal of the conformational process.

Hemoglobin was trifluoroacetonylated at the reactive cysteine 93 of each β chain. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the fluorine moiety reflected changes in the equilibrium position of the β chain carboxy terminus upon binding of heme ligands and allosteric effectors. The chemical shift positions observed in deoxy- and methemoglobin were pH dependent, undergoing an abnormally steep apparent titration which was not observed in hemoglobin from which histidine β 146 had been removed enzymatically. The abnormal sharpness of these pH dependent processes is probably due to interactions between several ionizing groups.

The carbon monoxide binding process was studied by concurrent observation of the visible and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of trifluoroacetonylated hemoglobin at fractional ligand saturations throughout the range 0-1.0. Comparison of the ligand binding process observed in these two ways yields evidence for a specific order of ligand binding. The sequence of events is sensitive to the pH and organic phosphate concentration of the medium, demonstrating the delicately balanced control system produced by interactions between the hemoglobin subunits and the effectors.