beta-lactoglobulin under high pressure studied by small-angle neutron scattering.

We used small-angle neutron scattering to study the effects of the high hydrostatic pressure on the structure of beta-lactoglobulin. Experiments were carried out at pH 7 on the dimeric form of the protein in a pressure range going from 50 MPa to 300 MPa. These measurements allow the protein size and the interactions between macromolecules to be studied during the application of pressure. Increasing pressure up to 150 MPa leads to a swollen state of the protein that gives rise to an increase of the radius of gyration by about 7%. Within this pressure range, we also show that the interaction between macromolecules weakens although it remains repulsive. The measurements show an aggregation process occurring above 150 MPa. From the spectra analysis, it appears that the aggregation occurs mainly by association of the dimeric units.

13C-NMR spectrum field and temperature dependence of 13CO bound to hemoglobin.

13Carbon monoxide (CO), when bound to hemoglobin, yields (13)C NMR resonances (CO-Fe resonances). 100% CO liganded tetrameric hemoglobin ((13)C-labelled CO) was prepared for (13)C-NMR observation. The information about exchange kinetics between the four subunits (2alpha and 2B), were derived by changing the temperature (in the range 275-313K) and the observation frequency (4.7T, 9.4T and 18.8T). The first results confirmed previous observations of slow exchange between free and bound (2alpha and 2B together) CO. Besides, the exchange between alpha and B subunits were found slow at the NMR timescale, even under 313K and 4.7T conditions. Furthermore, intermediate temperatures (283-303K) allowed the observation of broad unresolved lines at 9.4T, corresponding both to CSA contribution and exchange linebroadening. Finally, low temperatures (less than 277K, at 9.4T) provided four relatively broad - but clearly distinguishable lines - indicating that a slow exchange rate was reached between four Fe-CO geometries on the subunits. This also indicated that two main Fe-CO orientations were different, even between similar chains (alpha1-alpha2 and B1-B2).