Developmental expression of human hemoglobins mediated by maturation of their subunit interfaces

• Published in: Protein science Vol. 19; no. 8; pp. 1595 - 1599
• Main Authors: Manning, Lois R., Popowicz, Anthony M., Padovan, Julio, Chait, Brian T., Russell, J. Eric, Manning, James M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.08.2010; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: development; For the Record; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; globin gene clusters; hemoglobin; Hemoglobins - chemistry; Hemoglobins - genetics; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Humans; Multigene Family; Protein Conformation; Protein Subunits - chemistry; Protein Subunits - genetics; Protein Subunits - metabolism; subunit interfaces
• ISSN: 0961-8368; 1469-896X
• DOI: 10.1002/pro.441

Different types of human hemoglobins (Hbs) consisting of various combinations of the embryonic, fetal, and adult Hb subunits are present at certain times during development representing a major paradigm of developmental biology that is still not understood and one which we address here. We show that the subunit interfaces of these Hbs have increasing bonding strengths as demonstrated by their distinct distribution of tetramers, dimers, and monomers during gel filtration at very low‐Hb concentration. This maturation is mediated by competition between subunits for more favorable partners with stronger subunit interactions. Thus, the protein products of gene expression can themselves have a role in the developmental process due to their intrinsic properties.