THE FORMATION OF HEMICHROME UPON INTERACT ION OF HEMOGLOBIN WITH POLAR PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE DERIVATIVES

Polar phosphatidylcholine derivatives [1-acyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phos phocholine, 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (platelet-act ivating factor), 1-acyl-2-glutaryl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and 1- acyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine], which are formed in biol ogical structures by enzymatic and free-radical reactions, were studie d as effecters of the conversion of methemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin in to an oxidized low-spin form referred to as hemichrome. It is shown th at all these phosphatidylcholine derivatives act as effecters in the c ourse of the transition of met- and oxyhemoglobin to hemichrome. Among the compounds studied, phosphatidylcholine derivatives containing glu taric and azelaic acids residues have the greatest effect on the rate of hemichrome formation.