FTIR investigation of the conformational properties of the cyanide bound human hemoglobin

Infrared spectra at 4 cm⁻¹ resolution of the cyanide ligated human methemoglobin (Hb-CN) were examined in the C---N stretching region. The FTIR spectra of hemoglobin ligated with the various isotopomeric forms of the cyanide ion support the existence of three conformational states for Hb-CN. In potassium phosphate buffer at pH of 7.5, the three bands were observed at 2116, 2122 and 2127 cm⁻¹ for natural abundance Hb-CN. These bands shift to 2086, 2091 and 2095 cm⁻¹ for Hb-¹²C¹⁵N and 2073, 2077 and 2081 cm⁻¹ for Hb-¹³C¹⁴N. Two extra bands have been identified in the IR spectra of solid Hb-CN in KBr pellets. The peaks persist in the pH range between 3.5 and 10.5 with small changes in frequency and intensity. The appearance of several C---N stretching bands is consistent with C---N vibrators residing in different environment and support the hypothesis that Hb-CN assumes multiple conformers under the conditions studied.