Crystallization of the Altitude Adapted Hemoglobin of Guinea Pig

Title: Crystallization of the Altitude Adapted Hemoglobin of Guinea Pig

Volume: 16 Issue: 4

Author(s): Elmar Jaenicke and Bruno Pairet

Affiliation:

Keywords: Altitude, adaptation, hemoglobin, guinea pig, Cavia porcellus

Abstract: Hemoglobin is the versatile oxygen carrier in the blood of vertebrates and a key factor for adaptation to live in high altitudes. Several structural changes are known to account for increased oxygen affinity in hemoglobin of altitude adapted animals such as llama and barheaded goose. Guinea pigs are adapted to live in high altitudes in the Andes and consequently their hemoglobin has an increased oxygen affinity. However, the structural changes responsible for the adaptation of guinea pig hemoglobin are unknown. Here we report the crystallization of guinea pig hemoglobin in the presence of 2.6 M ammonium sulfate and a preliminary analysis of the crystals. Crystals diffract up to a resolution of 2.0 Å. They are orthorhombic with space group C 2 2 21 and cell dimensions a = 84.08 Å, b = 90.21 Å and c = 83.44 Å.

Cite this article as:

Jaenicke Elmar and Pairet Bruno, Crystallization of the Altitude Adapted Hemoglobin of Guinea Pig, Protein & Peptide Letters 2009; 16 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986609787847983