Chemical Modifications That Inhibit Gelation of Sickle Hemoglobin

Abstract

Substitution of the N-terminal amino groups with pyridoxal compounds inhibits gelation and increases the solubility of deoxy sickle hemoglobin (Hb S). Pyridoxylation of the alpha chains has considerably more effect than that of the beta chains. The increase in minimum gelling concentration of Hb S that results from modification of the alpha N-termini is the same as that produced by dilution of Hb S with an equal amount of Hb A.