Abstract
The hemoglobin of the sea snakeMicrocephalophis gracilis was purified and the primary structure of the α and β chains determined. This is the first sea snake hemoglobin structure characterized, and apparently also the first complete structure of any snake hemoglobin (an α chain of a viper was known), allowing judgments of reptilian variants. Variations between the sea snake form and other reptilian forms are large (52–65 differences for the α chains), of similar order as those between the sea snake and avian (56–65 differences) or human (58 differences) forms. Functionally, 19 residues at α/β contact areas and 7 at heme contacts are exchanged in relation to the human α and β chains. Four positions of the sea snake hemoglobin contain residues thus far unique to this form. However, all replacements appear compatible with conserved overall functional properties.
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Islam, a., Persson, B., Zaidi, Z.H. et al. Sea snake (Microcephalophis gracilis) hemoglobin: Primary structure and relationships to other forms. J Protein Chem 9, 533–541 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01025006
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01025006