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Differential prooxidative effect of adult and fetal hemoglobin
Author(s) -
Valenzuela Alfonso,
Guerra Ricardo,
Lazcano Laura,
Canãs Patricio
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(86)80278-2
Subject(s) - methemoglobin , hemoglobin , fetus , fetal hemoglobin , heme , chemistry , radical , superoxide , medicine , biochemistry , endocrinology , biology , pregnancy , genetics , enzyme
Human fetal hemoglobin assayed in a peroxidizing system shows an increased prooxidative effect when compared to human adult hemoglobin. This effect is related only to the oxyhemoglobin form since both fetal and adult methemoglobins did not show any prooxidative effect. The prooxidative effect of the oxyhemoglobin form is ascribed to its increased sensitivity to form Superoxide free radicals when transformed to the methemoglobin form. It is proposed that the structure of the heme pocket of fetal oxyhemoglobin enhances free radical release when compared to adult oxyhemoglobin. This difference may be important in some hematological disorders presented by the newborn.