DISSOCIATION OF HUMAN CARBONMONOXYHEMOGLOBIN AT HIGH pH

Abstract

Study of some of the hydrodynamic properties of the half-molecules of human carbonmonoxyhemoglobin at pH 11.0 and ionic strength 0.25 demonstrates that, at this pH, human carbonmonoxyhemoglobin is completely dissociated and the molecular weight of the product is 1/2 that of the whole molecule. The half-molecules appear to be stable when stored at pH 11 and 3[degree] C, in contrast to their behavior in an acid environment, pH 4.5-6, in which denaturation occurs. Results of a comparison of some properties of untreated hemoglobin and hemoglobin reconstituted from half-molecules by successive dialyses at pH 11 and pH 7 are discussed.