Acetaldehyde-dependent changes in hemoglobin and oxygen affinity of human erythrocytes

In the presence of acetaldehyde, metabolizing human erythrocytes accumulate an altered hemoglobin product showing chromatographic similarity to hemoglobin AIa or AIb. The adduct is stable to overnight dialysis with an intracellular half-life of about 5.5 days. Adduct formation is accompanied by proportional changes in cell oxygen affinity (decrease in P50 of 3 mm Hg/mM adduct). Little unaltered hemoglobin remains after overnight incubation in 15 mM acetaldehyde, with significant adduct formation and marked reduction of cell ATP occurring after prolonged incubation in as little as 0.5 mM acetaldehyde.