Conformational dependence of hemoglobin reactivity under high viscosity conditions: the role of solvent slaved dynamics

The concept of protein dynamic states is described, where the protein dynamics is being organized hierarchically with respect to solvent slaving. The results support a model for allostery in human adult hemoglobin (HbA) in which the ligand-binding-induced transition from the deoxy T state to the high -affinity R state proceeds through a progression of T state intermediates.