Understanding the binding affinity of carbon monoxide and oxygen for hemoglobin in marine mammals

Zaahir Santhanam

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) is widely thought to be strictly a toxic gas, as it is well known that CO can reduce oxygen storage and delivery in the body. While this remains true for exposure to large doses, a growing body of research is showing that low to moderate doses of CO can actually provide therapeutic or protective effects (e.g., anti-inflammation), assisting in recovery from low-oxygen conditions (hypoxia) or ischemia (reduced blood flow to tissues). Corollary to this research are papers suggesting that CO is created in vivo in most cells of all organisms on Earth by the degradation of heme, found in hemoproteins, such as hemoglobin. Curiously, deep-diving mammals have been reported to have elevated levels of CO in their blood. These mammals routinely force their tissues to experience conditions of hypoxia and ischemia during dives, making them an excellent model to study the potential protective effects of CO. In this ongoing project, we aim to use a thin-film tonometer to quantify the relative binding affinities of Carbon Monoxide and oxygen to hemoglobin, a key protein in onboard blood storage in four marine mammal species: Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris), California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus), Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas), and Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Understanding CO’s role in oxygen storage is central to understanding marine mammal diving behavior, and can even be used in human medicine to treat respiratory illnesses such as chronic mountain sickness.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Tift

Acknowledgment: A. Pearson, M. Surprenant, and Members of the Tift Lab

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Zaahir Santhanam

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