Effect of ionizing radiation on haemoglobin: the oxy-derivative of haemoglobin Iwate

It is well established that exposure of oxyhaemoglobin to ionizing radiation results in remarkably selective electron addition to the (FeO2) unit, giving a novel species, (FeO2)-, in which the extra electron is largely localized on iron and dioxygen. This work has now been extended to haemoglobin (Hb.) Iwate. The haemoglobin M. Iwate used is a mutant haemoglobin having only Fe(III) alpha-chains by oxy beta-chains (alpha 2 Met beta 2 oxy). The haem iron atoms in the alpha-chains are coordinated in the fifth site by a proximal tyrosine in place of histidine. This unit is a high-spin Fe(III) with axial symmetry and prominent electron spin resonance (ESR) features in the g = 6 and g = 2 regions. On exposure to 60Co gamma-rays at 77 K, efficient electron addition occurred at both types of iron centre, giving Fe(II) and (FeO2)- units. The former was monitored by the decrease of the g = 6 feature for Fe(III) and the latter by the growth of g-features at 2.254 (gx), 2.149 (gy) and 1.967 (gz). These values are close to those for the FeO2- centre formed in the beta-chains of normal oxyhaemoglobin. On annealing above 77 K, two changes occurred: first there was a small but clear increase in gx and gy, followed by a marked reduction in gx and gy giving g-values close to those for the centre formed directly in the alpha-chains of the normal protein. Finally, this intermediate species gave a centre having gx = 2.310, gy = 2.180 and gz = 1.935. These values are typical of low-spin Fe(III) haemoglobin and are assigned to the protonated complex, Fe(III)O2H. Ultimately at ca. room temperature, this was converted into the high-spin, met-form, with a gain in the g = 6 feature. These results established that the beta-chain centre in Hb. Iwate behave in the same way as isolated beta-chains. They also confirm that electron addition to the oxy-units is facile, even in the presence of Fe(III) units in each tetramer. The results also confirm that electron capture to give (FeO2)- units is not followed by internal electron-transfer to give Fe(II) from the Fe(III) centres in the alpha-chains.