The structure of haemoglobin

Abstract

The paper describes the first steps in an attempt to solve the structure of a haemoglobin molecule by X-ray analysis, using a direct method. It is based on an extensive series of absolute measurements of the diffraction by various shrinkage stages of a haemoglobin crystal, and estimates based on many crystalline forms of the general dimensions of the haemoglobin molecule. The methods used are described here and applied to a direct determination of the electron density in one particular direction in the molecule. The extension of the methods to the subsequent problem of obtaining a picture of the molecule as projected on a plane will, it is hoped, form the subject of a subsequent paper.