Analysis of Dimeric αβ Subunit Exchange between PEGylated and Native Hemoglobins (α2β2 Tetramer) in an Equilibrated State by Intramolecular ββ-Cross-Linking

Various chemical modifications of hemoglobin (Hb) including PEGylation have been investigated to produce red blood cell substitutes. Some of those modifications are designed on the premise that the α₂β₂ tetrameric structure of Hb is fundamentally stable and that it rarely dissociates into two αβ dimers in a physiological condition. However, in the present work using the "clipping" method we detected and quantitatively analyzed the considerable degree of exchange reaction of αβ subunits between β93Cys-bis-PEGylated and native Hbs through dissociation into αβ dimers and restructuring to α₂β₂ tetramer in a physiological condition. The equilibrium constant ( K_eq) of subunit exchange reactions increased from 0.82 to 2.86 with increasing molecular weight of PEG from 2 to 40 kDa, indicating that longer PEG chains enhanced such exchange reaction. The results suggest that the exchange might occur for other modified Hbs even at a practically high concentration for use as a red blood cell substitute.