Question

how does van de waals forces, electrostatic covalent bonding, or a combination of these factors bind humic material to hemoglobin? And which specific forces,trasnfers/exchanges, or covalent bonding or a combination of all, is taking place?

Answer 1

Humic material represent a class of organic polymer which constitute organic material of soil.

The interaction between humic material to haemoglobin include possible chemical reaction chain :

1) Autooxidation of fatty acids enhanced by haemoglobin , mathaemoglobin and haemin.

2) use of alternative elctron receptors which lead to formation of H₂S that reacts abiotically with Iron ( from Haemoglobin) rendering iron sulphide .

Humic acid chelates with Iron (Fe) of haemoglobin , the molecule may form supramolecular structure held together by non-covalent bond such as vander waals forces, pi-pi and CH-pi bonds.

The carboxylate and phenolate group gives the humic material the ability to form complexes with ion such as Iron (Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺) , Magnesium (Mg²⁺) , Calcium (Ca²⁺) . These groups are arranged so as to enable formation of chelate complexes. The formation of chelate complexes plays an important role in bioavailability of metal ions.