The Bohr Effect

• the bohr effect describes the effect that an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide has on the haemoglobin
• 1. Carbon dioxide enters the red blood cells and forms carbonic acid, which dissociates and releases hydrogen ions
• 2. The produced hydrogen ions cause the pH of the cytoplasm to become acid (below 7 )
• 3. as with any protein, changes in the pH can affect the tertiary structure of the haemoglobin. The increased acidity alters the tertiary structure of the haemoglobin and reduces its affinity for oygen.
• 4. the haemoglobin is unable to hold as much oxygen and oxygen is released from the oxyhaemoglobin into the tissues.
• in tissues like contracting muscles that are respiring more, there will be more carbon dioxide. Because of this, there will be more hydrogen ions produced in the red blood cells, making the oxyhaemogbloin release more oxygen.
• Thus, when here is more carbon dioxide, haemoglobin becomes less saturated with oxygen. this is reflected in a change to the haemoglobin dissociation curve, downwards and to the right.
• The Bohr effect results in more oxygen being released where more carbon dioxide is being produced in respiration.