Functional properties of hemoglobin in human red cells. I. Oxygen equilibrium curves and DPG binding.

Oxygen equilibrium curves (OEC) for human red blood cells (RBC) have revealed a large asymmetry with an nmax value reached at approximately 90% saturation. This contrasts with the symmetrical shape of the OEC for diluted HbA solutions. We prepared resealed red blood cells (RRBC) through controlled hemolysis and resealing in order to obtain a low Hb concentration (approximately equal to 60 g/L) and DPG/Hb4 molar ratio ranging from 0.2 to 4. When the DPG/Hb4 was close to unity, OEC still showed a large asymmetry. On the contrary, the OEC became symmetrical when DPG/Hb4 was either negligible or 3-4 fold the normal value. The asymmetrical OEC for intact RBC can be fitted with a theoretical model taking into account the variations of free DPG concentration during oxygenation. We conclude that the asymmetrical shape of OEC observed in intact fresh RBC is not due to the high protein concentration present in the RBC but to a functional heterogeneity of Hb due to the changes of the free 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) concentration during oxygenation.