A spectrophotometric study on the interaction of hemoglobin in a diazo coupling reaction of neonatal bilirubin: I. Interaction of bilirubin and hemoglobin in the Jendrassik-Grof diazo blank reagents

Studies of difference spectra have revealed a dynamic interaction of bilirubin and hemoglobin in the alkaline Jendrassik-Grof diazo blank reagent. The similarity obtained for difference spectra with respect to shape and peak maxima and peak minima of various ferriprotoporphyrin-containing biomolecules, such as hemin, methemoglobin, cyanmethemoglobin, and catalase implicated ferriprotoporphyrin in this interactive process. Further time studies of these mixtures seem to suggest an oxidation-reduction type of reaction, resulting in the formation of ferroprotoporphyrin and presumably the concomitant oxidation of bilirubin.