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Decomposition of hydroxylamine by hemoglobin.

D A Bazylinski1, R A Arkowitz, T C Hollocher

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254.

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
|December 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary

Hydroxylamine (NH2OH) oxidizes human hemoglobin (Hb) to methemoglobin (Hb+) via a pH-dependent process. This reaction, involving a Hb/Hb+ cycle, results in NH2OH decomposition and Hb+ formation.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Chemical Kinetics

Background:

  • Human hemoglobin (Hb) is a critical protein for oxygen transport.
  • Methemoglobin (Hb+) is an oxidized form of Hb with impaired oxygen-binding capacity.
  • Hydroxylamine (NH2OH) is a reactive compound with known interactions with biological molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the reaction kinetics between hydroxylamine and human hemoglobin under anaerobic conditions.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of hemoglobin oxidation by hydroxylamine and the subsequent decomposition of hydroxylamine.
  • To determine the influence of pH and cyanide on these reactions.

Main Methods:

  • Spectrophotometric analysis of hemoglobin and methemoglobin.
  • Kinetic studies under anaerobic conditions at controlled pH and temperature (25°C).
  • Use of cyanide as a trapping agent for methemoglobin.

Main Results:

  • Hydroxylamine oxidizes Hb to Hb+, with the rate being pH-dependent and showing complex kinetics with respect to NH2OH concentration.
  • The oxidation reaction exhibits premature termination at certain pH values.
  • Hydroxylamine is decomposed by Hb+ into nitrogen gas (N2) and ammonium (NH4+), with cyanide inhibiting this process.

Conclusions:

  • The reaction proceeds via a hemoglobin/methemoglobin redox cycle, where Hb is oxidized by NH2OH.
  • The decomposition of NH2OH is a dismutation reaction catalyzed by Hb+.
  • The findings support a previously proposed mechanism involving Hb/Hb+ cycling in NH2OH decomposition.

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