Summary
Hemolysates from 16 species of Amazon fish were analyzed by gel electrofocusing. The change in iso-eletric point upon deoxygenation provided a reliable estimate of the Bohr effect. Certain species of fish had single hemoglobin components whose pl Increased significantly upon deoxygenation. similar to man. Other fish had hemoglobins whose isoelectric points were unaffected by deoxygenation. Six species of fish had at least two hemoglobin components, one of which had a reduced isoelectric point upon deoxygenation indicating a reversed Bohr effect, whereas the other(s) had an increased Isoelectric point on deoxygenation, as occurs with the normal alkaline Bohr effect. A close correlation was found between the change in Isoelectric point with deoxygenation and the Bohr effect determined by oxygen equilibrium measurements.