Characterization and function of isolated hemoglobins from the marine teleost Girella tricuspidata

Five isohemoglobins were characterized from the marine teleost fish, Girella tricuspidata, using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. O2-equilibrium (OEC) studies of the five components separated by column chromatography showed functional heterogeneity with respect to Hill's coefficient n, the O2 affinity, P50, and the Bohr coefficient phi, = delta logp50/delta pH. Recombination and examination of the isolates gave an OEC similar to that of "stripped" hemolysate and similar to a curve synthesized from a model incorporating the OEC parameters of the isoHbs.