Organic phosphate binding to hemoglobin in intact human erythrocytes determined by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectroscopy was used to estimate the percent of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and ATP bound to hemoglobin in intact human erythrocytes at 37 degrees C. Binding was assessed by comparing the chemical shifts (delta) of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and of ATP observed in intact cells with the delta values of these organic phosphates determined in model solutions closely simulating intracellular conditions, in which percent binding was directly evaluated by membrane ultrafiltration. The results showed that the percent of bound 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in intact cells varied with pH, the state of oxygenation, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration. The values ranged from 33% in cells incubated with glucose in air at an intracellular pH of 7.2 to 100% in cells incubated with inosine in N2 at a pH of 6.75. At the same 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration, a greater percentage of the compound appeared to be bound in erythrocytes than in the closely simulated model system. ATP was not significantly bound to hemoglobin under any condition examined, but appeared to be strongly complexed to Mg2+ inside the erythrocyte. The binding percentages for both 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and ATP in intact cells estimated by 31P NMR spectroscopy were lower than those calculated by others from individual association constants determined for the binding of different ligands to hemoglobin.