Haemoglobin

• What is haemoglobin?

  A globular protein with quaternary structure (made of 4 polypeptide chains) found in red blood cells
• What is the function of haemoglobin

  allows movement of oxygen to respiring tissues
• Describe the structure of haemoglobin

  4 polypeptide chains ( 2 beta chains and 2 alpha chains) each containing a haem group
• What is a haem group?

  • a permanent, non protein part of haemoglobin
  • contains iron atom (Fe2+)
  • this can reversibly combine with oxygen
• What is the product of oxygen and haemoglobin?

  oxyhemoglobin
• What 4 factors can affect oxygen-haemoglobin binding (disassociation curve)?

  • PH
  • temperature
  • partial pressure of oxygen
  • partial pressure of carbon dioxide
• What can be concluded about haemoglobin if it is more left on an oxygen disassociation curve?

  higher affinity for oxygen