A resonance Raman study of Ambystoma tigrinum hemoglobins: evidence for intraspecies hemepocket variations

Using resonance Raman difference spectroscopy, the Raman-active vibrational modes of hemoglobins from adult, neotenic, and larval forms of the salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum have been compared to each other and to human hemoglobin. The local heme environment of the adult and neotenic proteins were identical and differed from that of the larval protein. Differences were observed in modes sensitive to porphyrin pi electron density and axial ligation. Systematic differences were also observed between human and adult salamander hemoglobins particularly in modes sensitive to the heme vinyl environment. The relationship between these environmental differences, oxygen binding affinity, and the effects of allosteric modulators are discussed.