Myoglobin oxygen dissociation by multi-wavelength spectroscopy. Schenkman, Kenneth A., David R. Marble, David H. Burns, Eric O. Feigl. Departments of Bioengineering and Physiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53792, Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2K6
APStracts 3:0410A, 1996.
Multi-wavelength optical spectroscopy was used to determine the oxygen binding characteristics for equine myoglobin. Oxygen binding relationships as a function of oxygen tension were determined for temperatures of 10, 25, 35, 37 and 40 degrees C, at pH 7.0. In addition, dissociation curves were determined at 37 degrees C for pH 6.5, 7.0 and 7.5. Equilibration was achieved with a myoglobin solution, at the desired temperature and pH, and 16 oxygen-nitrogen gas mixtures of known oxygen fraction. Correction for the inevitable presence of metmyoglobin was made using a three component least squares analysis, and by correcting the end-point oxymyoglobin spectra for the presence of metmyoglobin. A P50 for myoglobin of 2.39 mmHg was determined at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C. The myoglobin dissociation curve was well fit by the Hill equation: Saturation = PO2/(PO2 + P50).

Received 13 March 1996; accepted in final form 21 August 1996.
APS Manuscript Number A252-6.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 19 September 1996