Mass Transport Of Haemoglobin Flashcards
1
Q
What is haemoglobin?
A
Groups of proteins with a quaternary structure that transport oxygen
2
Q
What is affinity?
A
The ability of haemoglobin to attract or bind oxygen
3
Q
What is saturation of haemoglobin?
A
When haemoglobin is holding the maximum amount of oxygen it can bind
4
Q
What is loading/association?
A
The binding of oxygen to haemoglobin
5
Q
What is unloading/dissociation?
A
When oxygen detaches or unbinds from haemoglobin
6
Q
What is the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve?
A
- oxygen is loaded in regions with a high partial pressure of oxygen (alveoli)
- oxygen is unloaded in regions of low partial pressure of oxygen (respiring tissues)
7
Q
What is cooperative binding?
A
The cooperative nature of oxygen binding to haemoglobin is due to haemoglobin changing shape when the first oxygen bings which makes it easier for further oxygens to bind
8
Q
What is the Bohr effect?
A
- when a high CO2 concentration causes the oxyhaemoglobin curve to shift to the right
- affinity for oxygen decreases since the acidic CO2 changes the shape of the haemoglobin slightly
