Refolding of Acid-Unfolded Globin to Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is oxygen carrier protein within erythrocyte in blood. Apoprotein of this, globin, is synthesized in the cytosol but it's cofactor, heme, is synthesized in the mitochondria. It has not been known very well how globin receives the heme from mitochondria and folds to hemoglobin. In this folding process, the initial structure of globin seems to be very important. A small volume of globin at acid pH was added rapidly into the bulk of an egg phosphatidylcholine $60\%$ liposome, containing hemins, at neutral pH according to the Rapid Dilution method. It was observed that an acid-induced unfolding structure of globin is initially needed to receive hemins from the lipid bilayer of liposomes. Also, this conclusion was confirmed with the absorption spectrum of the refolded globin separated by centrifugation.