3.4 Mass Transport in Animals

Question 1

What is meant by haemoglobin having a quaternary structure?

Answer 1

Multiple polypeptide chains

Question 2

How many polypeptide chains are found in haemoglobin?

Answer 2

Four

Question 3

What does each chain of haemoglobin have associated?

Answer 3

Haem group with Fe

Question 4

What is meant by loading/associating?

Answer 4

When oxygen binds to haem groups

Question 5

What is meant by unloading/dissociation?

Answer 5

When oxygen unbinds from haem groups

Question 6

What is meant by the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen?

Answer 6

How readily haemoglobin will bind with oxygen

Question 7

What is meant by the saturation of haemoglobin?

Answer 7

How many binding sites are occupied by oxygen

Question 8

Why is the dissociation curve of haemoglobin S shaped?

Answer 8

First oxygen binding changes tertiary structure of haemoglobin
Cooperative bonding

Question 9

How does increased respiration effect the dissocation curve of haemoglobin?

Answer 9

Shifts to right
More carbon dioxide produced reduces blood pH
Reduces the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen