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EFFECTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE ON DPG CONCENTRATIONS IN THE ERYTHROCYTE
Author(s) -
Dinman B. D.,
Eaton J. W.,
Brewer G. J.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1970.tb49791.x
Subject(s) - annals , library science , chemistry , medicine , art , classics , computer science
For many years 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) has been known to be generated in the erythrocyte by a shunt in the Embden-Myerhof pathway. Levels of DPG are very high in the eythrocyte compared to its concentration in other tissues.’ Because its function was unknown, DPG could have been characterized as “a substance in search of a function.” Conversely, the greatly decreased oxygen affinity of intact red cells as compared to purified hemoglobin was “a function in search of an explanation.” Now it appears that the “substance” and the “function” have come together. The pioneering work of Chanutin and Curnish2 and of Benesch and coworkers3 has shown that DPG complexes with reduced hemoglobin. This binding of DPG markedly decreases the oxygen affinity of the hemoglobin as compared with that of purified hemoglobin. Similarly, it has been noted that the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is shifted toward the right in various types of hypoxia such as anemia and chronic pulmonary disease,4-6 and altitude.’ It has been subsequently demonstrated that this right shift is associated with marked elevations in red cell DPG concentrations.8 In view of the leftward (Haldane) shift of the oxyhemoglobin curve induced by CO, possible interactions of the right shift associated with DPG alterations constituted an appropriate subject for inquiry. This is in keeping with the best tradition associated with CO research, i.e., the manipulation of this toxic gas in order to gain some insights into the inner workings of that remarkable tetrapyrrole, hemoglobin. Methods