Chemical Physics Letters, Vol.390, No.1-3, 59-64, 2004
Kinetic studies of differences between alpha and beta-chains of human hemoglobin: an approach for determination of the chain affinity to oxygen
A new approach is proposed to provide ultimate answers to such problem as the affinity difference between individual alpha- and beta-subunits in different conformational forms of tetrameric hemoglobin. The approach is based on determination of the bimolecular association rate constant for O-2 rebinding and the apparent quantum yield of photodissociation from single flash photolysis experiment. The potential of the approach is demonstrated with alpha- and beta-subunits within human hemoglobin in the R-state. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.