Hematology Exam 6 (All about hemoglobin) Flashcards
What is the basic structure of hemoglobin?
Tetramer composed of 4 polypeptide (Globin) chains and 4 heme groups
What is the basic structure of heme?
Protoporphyrin ring bound to ferrous (Fe2+) iron
How many oxygen molecules can each iron atom on heme bind?
1
List the heme precursors in order from succinyl-CoA and glycine to heme (ferroprotoporphyrin IX) AND where they are formed (mitochondria or cytosol?)
- Succinyl CoA + Glycine (mitochondria)
- Aminolevulinic acid (mitochondria)
- Porphobilinogen (cytosol)
- Hydroxymethylbilane (cytosol)
- Uroporphyrinogen III (cytosol)
- Coproporphyrinogen (cytosol)
- Protoporphyrinogen IX (mitochondria)
- Protoporphyrin IX (mitochondria)
- Heme (mitochondria)
What globin genes are present on chromosome 16? 11? How many of each?
Alpha chain –> 4 genes total, 2 on each chromosome 16 (genotype is aa/aa)
Beta chain –> 2 genes total, 1 on each chromosome 11 (genotype is B/B)
What type of iron does transferrin carry? what type of iron is it reduced to?
Transferrin carries FERRIC (Fe3+) iron
Reduced to FERROUS (Fe2+) iron to form heme
How many molecules of oxygen can hemoglobin carry?
4 molecules of oxygen – 1 per globin chain
Where does heme synthesis take place?
Mitochondria and cytoplasm of RBC precursors (Does not occur in adult RBC)
What is the globin chain composition of HGB A? What is the percentage found in adults?
2 alpha, 2 beta (95% in normal adults)
What is the globin chain composition of HGB F? What is the percentage found in adults?
2 alpha, 2 gamma (<3.5% in adults)
What is the globin chain composition of HGB A2? What is the percentage found in adults?
2 alpha, 2 delta (1-2% in adults)
What is the major hemoglobin at birth? What is the major hemoglobin after 6 months?
HGB F at birth; HGB A after 6 months
List the names of the 3 embryonic hemoglobins
Gower 1, Gower 2, Portland
What is the regulation of production of heme?
Negative feedback, so more heme = less ALA synthase produced and hypoxia = more EPO = increased RBC production
What is the shape of the hemoglobin oxygen dissociation curve?
Sigmoidal curve (S-shape)
What is a shift to the left on the hemoglobin oxygen dissociation curve?
Increased affinity for O2 because O2 levels are low in the body.
What is a shift to the right on the hemoglobin oxygen dissociation curve?
Decreased affinity for O2 because O2 levels are high/sufficient.
Compare the pO2 in lungs vs tissues
Lungs: high pO2, high O2 saturation
Tissues: low pO2, low O2 saturation
What is 2,3-BPG and what is its affect on hemoglobin/oxygen?
2,3-BPG controls hemoglobin affinity for oxygen.
Deoxyhemoglobin (tense form) = stabilized by 2,3-BPG when oxygen levels are low (INC BPG, LOW O2)
Oxyhemoglobin (relaxed form) = no 2,3-BPG bound because oxygen affinity is high and favors binding of oxygen (DECR BPG, HIGH O2)
When is 2,3 BPG high?
When oxygen levels are low (low oxygen affinity) - tensed state
When is 2,3 BPG low?
When oxygen levels are high (high oxygen affinity) - relaxed state
Oxygen affinity vs oxygen delivery
Oxygen affinity = favors binding of oxygen
Oxygen delivery = does not favor binding of oxygen, wants to deliver it to tissues
What are some causes of shifts to the left (HIGH OXYGEN AFFINITY)
DECREASED 2,3 BPG
DECREASED body temp
INCREASED pH (alkalosis)
Presence of HGB variants with high affinity for O2
What are some causes of shifts to the right (LOW OXYGEN AFFINITY) – Shift to the right, wont hold tight
INCREASED 2,3 BPG
INCREASED Body temp
DECREASED pH (acidosis)
Presence of HGB variants with low affinity for O2
Is oxygen affinity/pO2 higher in the lungs or the tissues?
LUNGS, tissues have low pO2 with low affinity
Shift to the left = _________ affinity and _______ delivery
Increased affinity, decreased delivery
Shift to the right = _______ affinity and ______ delivery
Decreased affinity, increased delivery
BRIEFLY list the order in which CO2 travels in tissues
CO2 enters RBC –> becomes H2CO3 (carbonic acid) –> becomes HCO3- (bicarbonate) after releasing H+ –> that H+ binds oxyHGB –> oxygen released into tissues
BRIEFLY list the order in which CO2 travels in lungs
O2 diffuses in cells –> binds deoxyHGB –> H+ released and binds HCO3- (bicarbonate) –> becomes H2CO3 (carbonic acid) –> becomes H2O and CO2 –> CO2 diffuses out of cell and exhaled by lungs
Define dyshemoglobins
Hemoglobins that are unable to properly transport oxygen
What are the 3 dyshemoglobins?
Methemoglobin, sulfhemoglobin, and carboxyhemoglobin
Describe methemoglobin
Heme bound to FERRIC iron so it cannot bind oxygen. High levels turn blood a BROWN color and can turn skin blue –> treat with IV methylene blue to reduce ferric iron to ferrous iron
Describe sulfhemoglobin
Hemoglobin bound to sulfur instead of iron –> turns blood a GREEN color and can form after use of certain drugs or sulfur chemicals
Describe carboxyhemoglobin
Heme bound to carbon monoxide –> binds 240X tighter than oxygen –> huge shift to the left turns blood CHERRY RED color. Treat with oxygen (seen with people in house fires)