Research

Thesis Research

I am currently studying a structural affector of sickle hemoglobin polymerization. In particular I am measuring the effects of CO and O2 liganded HbS on the HbS nucleation rates. I will relate this to previous results obtained on mixtures of hemoglobin species, i.e. HbS and HbA. I will use the information gained from these meaurements to create a theory that can explain why some therapuetic approaches to Sickle cell disease may be more effective then others. For example, there is currently a market for Sickle Cell Anemia drugs that are allosteric effectors of hemoglobin. This means the compound shifts the binding curve of hemoglobin, causing it to retain more ligands (bound Oxygen) as it passes through the circulation. Does this create different amounts of partial liganded species? How does this effect the homeostasis of the oxygen delivery system? In other words, you may have caused some cells to have a lower probability to Sickle, however, you may also have caused other cells to be more likely to Sickle due to homeostasis.