Haemoglobin Flashcards

1
Q

What is haemoglobin?

A

A large protein with a quaternary structure: it is 4 polypeptide chains and 4 iron ion prosthetic groups which travels in blood to carry oxygen

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2
Q

Structure of haemoglobin

A

4 polypeptide chains
2 alpha glob in 2 beta globin
4 iron haem groups

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3
Q

Where does oxygen bind to in haemoglobin?

A

4 iron prosthetic groups

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4
Q

Loading and unloading of oxygen to haemoglobin

A

Haemoglobin + 4 oxygen to form oxy haemoglobin
A reversible reaction so oxy haemoglobin can unload all 4 oxygen

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5
Q

Loading

A

Oxygen binds to iron in haemoglobin

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6
Q

Unloading

A

Oxygen unbinds from oxyhaemoglobin

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7
Q

What does the loading of oxygen onto haemoglobin depend upon?

A

The affinity haemoglobin has for oxygen

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8
Q

What affects the affinity haemoglobin has to oxygen?

A

The partial pressure of oxygen in the area

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9
Q

Trend for oxygen loading onto haemoglobin

A

Where there is a high partial pressure for oxygen, oxygen will unload onto haemoglobin more so higher affinity
So haemoglobin has a high % saturation to oxygen

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10
Q

Where does oxygen mostly load onto haemoglobin?

A

In the alveoli in the lungs because a high partial pressure of oxygen
Oxygen diffuses into blood from alveoli into blood

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11
Q

Trend for oxygen unloading from haemoglobin

A

Where there is a low partial pressure for oxygen, oxygen will unload from haemoglobin
So less affinity
And lower % saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen

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12
Q

Where does oxygen unload from haemoglobin?

A

In respiring tissues where oxygen has been used in respiration so has a low partial pressure of oxygen into cells

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12
Q

Affinity for oxygen in lungs

A

High

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13
Q

Affinity for oxygen in respiring tissues

A

Low

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14
Q

Partial pressure of oxygen

A

A measure of oxygen concentration in a given volume caused by oxygen molecules colliding which exerts pressure

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15
Q

Dissociation curve

A

Shows the % saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen on y axis
Partial pressure of oxygen on x axis
Thus overall affinity oxygen has to haemoglobin at various pO2

16
Q

Shape of a dissociation curve

17
Q

Why is the dissociation curve or haemoglobin not linear but S shaped?

A

Due to the structure of haemoglobin and the 4 binding sites of oxygen: as more oxygen binds, tithe affinity for oxygen decreases

18
Q

Steep S shaped part of dissociation curve ?

A

When 1 oxygen binds to a haem group, the shape of haemoglobin (tertiary structure) alters to make it easier for more O2 to bind BECAUSE OTEHR BINDING SITE IS UNCOVERED
thus for a small increase in pO2, the % saturation increases rapidly

19
Q

Bohr effect

A

The partial pressure of CO2 increasing in a cell can decrease affinity of oxygen to haemoglobin
Due to increase in acidity of the blood as concentration of CO2 increases

20
Q

Effect of increasing pCO2

A

Haemoglobin unloads easily
So at a given partial pressure of oxygen, there is a lower % saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen

21
Q

Effect of increasing pCO2 on the graph

A

Shifts right

22
Q

Effect of decreasing pCO2

A

There is higher affinity for oxygen so oxygen doesn’t unload from haemoglobin easily

23
Q

Effect of decreasing pCO2 on the graph

A

Shifts left so for any given pO2, the % saturation haemoglobin has of oxygen is higher (so lower affinity)

24
What factors can affect the type of haemoglobin in an organism (thus affinity for O2)
Oxygen level in environments Activity levels Size
25
Animals which live in environments with low oxygen levels?
Haemoglobin has high affinity for oxygen compared to living in normal pO2 environments So it can bind to any available oxygen so high % saturation for a given pO2
26
Effect on the graph of living in low pO2 environments
Shifts left so for a given partial pressure, higher affinity for oxygen for given pO2
27
Animals with high activity levels?
Have high activity have a higher demand for oxygen thus need a lower affinity for oxygen at a given pO2 so more oxygen unloaded to respiring tissues
28
Effect on the graph of animals with high activity levels
Shifts right for a given partial pressure, the % saturation of oxygen is lower
29
Animals that are smaller effect?
Higher sa:vol ratio so lose heat MORE More metabolic rate to maintain body temp so higher demands for O2 So for a given pO2, the affinity to oxygen is lower
30
Co operative binding of haemoglobin
When 1 oxygen binds to haemoglobin, tertiary structure of haemoglobin alters to uncover second binding site So affinity haemoglobin has to oxygen increases so more oxygen can bind easier