Biomaterial Database

Hemoglobin: Structure, Function and Allostery. 2020

Mostafa H Ahmed, and Mohini S Ghatge, and Martin K Safo

Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA.

This chapter reviews how allosteric (heterotrophic) effectors and natural mutations impact hemoglobin (Hb) primary physiological function of oxygen binding and transport. First, an introduction about the structure of Hb is provided, including the ensemble of tense and relaxed Hb states and the dynamic equilibrium of Hb multistate. This is followed by a brief review of Hb variants with altered Hb structure and oxygen binding properties. Finally, a review of different endogenous and exogenous allosteric effectors of Hb is presented with particular emphasis on the atomic interactions of synthetic ligands with altered allosteric function of Hb that could potentially be harnessed for the treatment of diseases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008024	Ligands	A molecule that binds to another molecule, used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, e.g., an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme. Ligands are also molecules that donate or accept a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with the central metal atom of a coordination complex. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Ligand
D010100	Oxygen	An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight [15.99903; 15.99977]. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration.	Dioxygen,Oxygen-16,Oxygen 16
D006402	Hematologic Diseases	Disorders of the blood and blood forming tissues.	Blood Diseases,Hematological Diseases,Blood Disease,Disease, Blood,Disease, Hematologic,Disease, Hematological,Diseases, Blood,Diseases, Hematologic,Diseases, Hematological,Hematologic Disease,Hematological Disease
D006454	Hemoglobins	The oxygen-carrying proteins of ERYTHROCYTES. They are found in all vertebrates and some invertebrates. The number of globin subunits in the hemoglobin quaternary structure differs between species. Structures range from monomeric to a variety of multimeric arrangements.	Eryhem,Ferrous Hemoglobin,Hemoglobin,Hemoglobin, Ferrous
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000494	Allosteric Regulation	The modification of the reactivity of ENZYMES by the binding of effectors to sites (ALLOSTERIC SITES) on the enzymes other than the substrate BINDING SITES.	Regulation, Allosteric,Allosteric Regulations,Regulations, Allosteric