NCJ Number
130198
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: (May 1991) Pages: 662-672
Date Published
1991
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Potential problems in the clinical chemistry of the various forms of hemoglobin are presented together with the accidental discovery of two novel chemical forms.
Abstract
Human or mouse red blood cells were exposed to excess sodium nitrite to convert the intracellular pigment to methemoglobin. Incubation in Krebs-Ringer-phosphate glucose medium, pH 7.4 at 37 degrees Centigrade under nitrogen and in the presence of various concentrations of methylene blue produced a blood pigment with unique properties. In lysates, the pigment was stable in air and could be maintained in liquid nitrogen for a year without deterioration. In contrast to oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, or carboxyhemoglobin, after separation by isoelectric focusing, the pigment gave a strong signal on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Other hemoglobin give a silent EPR. The pigment was identified as a nitrosylated valency hybrid species. The corresponding species demonstrate similar properties. The unusual stability of these species in air is attributed to the presence of the oxidized subunits in the same tetramer. 1 table, 3 figures, and 29 references (Author abstract modified)