Cation effects on haemoglobin aggregation: balance of chemisorption against physisorption of ions

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Parsons, Drew F
Duignan, Timothy T
Salis, Andrea
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2017
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

A theoretical model of haemoglobin is presented to explain an anomalous cationic Hofmeister effect observed in protein aggregation. The model quantifies competing proposed mechanisms of non-electrostatic physisorption and chemisorption. Non-electrostatic physisorption is stronger for larger, more polarizable ions with a Hofmeister series Li+ > K+ > Cs+. Chemisorption at carboxylate groups is stronger for smaller kosmotropic ions, with the reverse series Li+ > K+ > Cs+. We assess aggregation using second virial coefficients calculated from theoretical protein-protein interaction energies. Taking Cs+ to not chemisorb, comparison with experiment yields mildly repulsive cation-carboxylate binding energies of 0.48 kBT for Li+ and 3.0 kBT for K+. Aggregation behaviour is predominantly controlled by short-range protein interactions. Overall, adsorption of the K+ ion in the middle of the Hofmeister series is stronger than ions at either extreme since it includes contributions from both physisorption and chemisorption. This results in stronger attractive forces and greater aggregation with K+, leading to the non-conventional Hofmeister series K+ > Cs+ ≈ Li+.

Journal Title

Interface Focus

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

7

Issue

4

Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Classical physics

Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Biology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics

non-electrostatic cation interaction

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Parsons, DF; Duignan, TT; Salis, A, Cation effects on haemoglobin aggregation: balance of chemisorption against physisorption of ions, Interface Focus, 2017, 7 (4), pp. 20160137

Collections