Dimensions in solution of pyridoxylated apohemoglobin.

Human apohemoglobin was labeled at Val-beta 1 with pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate. Correlation times were evaluated from steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and lifetime measurements upon quenching with KI. Multiple correlation times were present in the system with a major component of 23.3 ns and a minor component of less than 0.1 ns. The initial depolarization produced by these fast motions occurred in a cone with a semiangle near 33 degrees. The sedimentation velocity and circular dichroism spectra of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate labeled apohemoglobin were very similar to those of unlabeled apohemoglobin. Addition of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate did not modify these parameters. Energy transfer of fluorescence was measured between the label, pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate, positioned at Val-beta 1, as donor, and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate, bound inside the heme pocket, as acceptor. A quantum yield of 0.21 was measured for labeled apohemoglobin with a standard of pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate. Quenching of the lifetime and of the emission of the donor in the presence of acceptor was measured at 390 nm upon excitation at 313 nm. From these parameters, and on assumption of a random orientation of the fluorophores, an average distance of about 25 A was estimated between the two probes. Numerical correction for 85% saturation of the donor with acceptor produced distances near 23 A for the quenching of emission intensity and near 19 A for the quenching of lifetimes. In the tridimensional model of deoxyhemoglobin, the distance between Val-beta 1 and the nearest iron is about 22 A. Transfer to acceptors positioned in the alpha subunits was negligible. Taking into account the dimensions of the probes, it appears that removal of heme and the consequent loss of helical structure of the system did not produce an expansion of the beta subunits.