A comparison of the behaviour of human adult and foetal haemoglobins on oxidation.

The measurements of oxidation-reduction potentials at pH 7.0 and ionic strength of 0.1 revealed only a slight difference between human adult (HbA) and foetal haemoglobin (HbF) (161 and 145 mV), which disappeared on increasing the ionic strength to 2.1. Kinetic data for the reactions with potassium ferricyanide and sodium nitrite of both haemoglobins in oxy- and carbonmonoxi-forms are presented at different excessive molar concentrations of oxidizing agents, in different environments at pH 7.0 and temperature ranging from 10--30 degrees C. The rate of HbF oxidation was considerably higher with both agents, despite vast differences in the reaction mechanisms.