haemoglobin

• What is the function of red blood cells?

  To transport oxygen in the blood
• What type of structure does hemoglobin have?

  Quaternary structure
• How many polypeptide chains does hemoglobin contain?

  Four polypeptide chains
• What is the role of heme groups in hemoglobin?

  They bind oxygen due to iron content
• What is myoglobin's function compared to hemoglobin?

  Stores oxygen at low partial pressures
• What are the key phrases related to the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve?

  • Affinity
  • Saturation
  • Loading (Association)
  • Unloading (Dissociation)
• What does the term 'affinity' refer to in hemoglobin's function?

  Ability to attract or bind oxygen
• What does 'saturation' mean in the context of hemoglobin?

  Maximum amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin
• What is 'loading' or 'association' in hemoglobin function?

  Oxygen binding to hemoglobin
• What does 'unloading' or 'dissociation' refer to?

  Oxygen detaching from hemoglobin
• How is the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve described?

  As a sigmoid curve
• What happens to hemoglobin at high partial pressures of oxygen?

  It becomes almost completely saturated
• What is the saturation level of hemoglobin at low partial pressures of oxygen?

  About 50% saturation
• Why is lower affinity for oxygen at low partial pressures advantageous?

  It unloads oxygen where needed
• What occurs at high partial pressures of oxygen regarding hemoglobin's affinity?

  Hemoglobin has a high affinity for oxygen
• What is cooperative binding in hemoglobin?

  First oxygen binding eases subsequent bindings
• What is the Bohr effect?

  Effect of carbon dioxide on hemoglobin's affinity
• What happens to blood pH when carbon dioxide levels are high?

  Blood becomes more acidic
• What does a rightward shift in the oxyhemoglobin curve indicate?

  Decreased affinity for oxygen
• What is the significance of a leftward shift in the oxyhemoglobin curve?

  Increased affinity for oxygen
• How does fetal hemoglobin differ from adult hemoglobin?

  Fetal hemoglobin has a higher affinity for oxygen
• Why does fetal hemoglobin need a higher affinity for oxygen?

  To extract oxygen from maternal blood
• Why do llamas have a leftward shifted hemoglobin curve?

  To adapt to high altitudes with low oxygen
• What advantage does a rightward shifted curve provide for doves?

  More readily unload oxygen for metabolism
• How do earthworms adapt to low oxygen environments?

  By having hemoglobin with higher affinity
• What are the key points about hemoglobin's role in oxygen transport?

  • Hemoglobin is a quaternary protein.
  • It binds oxygen in high partial pressure areas.
  • It unloads oxygen in low partial pressure areas.
  • Cooperative binding enhances oxygen loading.
  • The Bohr effect influences oxygen unloading.
• How do different types of hemoglobin adapt to their environments?

  • Fetal hemoglobin: Higher affinity for oxygen.
  • Llama hemoglobin: Higher affinity for low oxygen.
  • Dove hemoglobin: Lower affinity for rapid oxygen unloading.
  • Earthworm hemoglobin: Higher affinity for underground oxygen.
• What is the structure of haemoglobin?

  Quaternary structure with 4 polypeptide chains
• How many alpha and beta chains does haemoglobin have?

  2 alpha and 2 beta chains
• What does each haem group in haemoglobin contain?

  A ferrous ion (Fe$^{2+}$)
• How many oxygen atoms can haemoglobin carry?

  Carrying a total of 8 oxygen atoms
• Why do haemoglobins vary across different organisms?

  Due to differences in extreme environments
• What happens to haemoglobin in low oxygen environments?

  It allows oxygen to attach easily
• What is oxyhaemoglobin?

  Haemoglobin combined with oxygen
• What is the role of haemoglobin in the body?

  Associate with oxygen and dissociate to tissues
• How does haemoglobin change its affinity for oxygen?

  It changes in certain conditions
• What occurs when the first oxygen molecule binds to haemoglobin?

  It changes the protein shape for more binding
• What is positive cooperativity in haemoglobin?

  Binding of one oxygen increases binding of others
• What does the oxygen dissociation curve illustrate?

  The relationship between oxygen saturation and PO$_{2}$
• What happens at higher partial pressure of oxygen?

  Increases affinity for oxygen in haemoglobin