Ch. 10 - Hemoglobin Metabolism Flashcards
Technique used to describe the structure of hemoglobin
X-ray crystallography
First protein whose structure was dexribed using x-ray crystallography
Hemoglobin
How many heme groups are in a hemoglobin molecule?
4 heme groups
How many polypeptide chains are in a hemoglobin molecule?
2 heterogenous pairs
Approximate concentration of hemoglobin in RBCs
34 g/dL
Molecular weight of Hb
64,000 D
Main function of Hb
To transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues
4 atoms in the heme structure
Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and ferrous iron
Ring of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen atoms in the heme structure
Protoporphyrin IX
What do you call the structure that results when ferrous iron is attached to the carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen ring of the heme structure?
Ferroprotoporphyrin
How many oxygen molecules can 1 heme molecule carry?
1 oxygen molecule
What specific characteristic of heme renders the blood red?
Double bonds
How many helices are there in a globin chain?
8 helices
How many nonhelical segments are present in a globin chain?
7 nonhelical segments
Primary structure of the Hb molecule
Amino acid sequence of the polypeptide chains
Secondary structure of the Hb molcule
Chain arrangements in helices and nonhelices
Tertiary structure of the Hb molecule
Arrangement of the helices into a pretzel-like configuration
Describe the placement of the heme group in the globin chain
The heme group is suspended between the E and F helices. The iron atom is positioned between two histidine radicals, forming a proximal histidine bond with F8 and distal histidine bond with E7.
Which side of the globin chain is hydrophobic?
Inside
Which side of the globin chain is hydrophilic?
Outside
Quaternary structure of Hb
Tetrameric molecule (4 heme groups, 4 polypeptide chains, which may carry 4 oxygen molecules)
Where does heme biosynthesis take place?
Mitochondria and the cytoplasm of bone marrow RBC precursors
What RBC precursors are capable of heme biosynthesis?
Pronormoblasts, basophilic normoblast, polychromatic normoblasts, orthochromic normoblasts and polychromatic erythrocytes
Plasma protein that carries iron in the ferric (Fe3+) form to developing RBCs
Ferritin
What chromosome number are the alpha and zeta genes contained?
Chromosome 16
What chromosome number are the beta, gamma, epsilon and delta genes contained?
Chromosome 11
What genes are contained in chromosome 16?
Alpha and zeta genes
What genes are contained in chromosome 11?
Beta, gamma, epsilon and delta
How many genes are there for the alpha and gamma genes?
4 genes per person
What RBC precursors produce globin chains?
Pronormoblasts, basophilic normoblasts, polychromatic normoblasts, orthochromic normoblasts and polychromatic erythrocytes
Where does globin chain synthesis take place?
Inside RBC precursors
Which globin protein is present in excess in pronormoblasts?
Alpha-globulin
Which globin protein is translated more efficiently during globin biosynthesis?
Beta-globulin
Predominant Hb in postnatal life
Hb A
Globin chains in Hb A
2 alpha and 2 beta chains
Globin chains in Hb A2
2 alpha and 2 delta chains