3. HEMOGLOBIN
Found exclusively in red blood cells (RBC)
Metallo-globular protein
Composed of heme (a prosthetic group) and 4 globin polypeptide
chains
Function of Hb – transport of respiratory gases
20-30T of RBCs
Carry 270M of Hb
8. Schematic diagram showing structural changes resulting from oxygenation and
deoxygenation of hemoglobin
9. ALLOSTERIC EFFECT
A protein that exhibits changes in ligand (substrate) affinity under
the influence of small molecules (allosteric effectors) → Km decrease
Protein – multisubunits
Effectors – bind to sites that are spartially distinct from the ligand
binding site
E.g. Hb, key enzymes of the metabolic pathway
Homotropic – an allosteric effector affect its own binding affinity
Heterotropic – an allosteric effector is different from the ligand
whose binding is altered
13. Pulls the proximal His F8
F helix, EF corner, FG corner shifted
Conformational changes ->
dissolution of existing non covalent
bonds and formation of new ones at
the heterodimer interfaces
α1
α2
β1
β2
14. POSITIVE COOPERATIVE EFFECT
α 1 β 1 and α 2 β 2 dimers
rotate approximately 15 degrees
with respect to one another
T to R form
Binding of 1st O2 to one subunit
facilitate the serial binding of O2
to remaining subunits
Increasing affinity → Positive
cooperative effect
15. Oxygen-Hb dissociation curve
Flat upper part → blood loads
O2 in spite of a large decrease in
PO2
Steep middle and lower part →
deliver more oxygen to the
tissues in response to small
changes in PO2
P50 → PO2 at which Hb is half
saturated with O2
P50 α 1/affinity
16. Bohr Effect
The release of oxygen from hemoglobin is enhanced when the pH is
lowered or when the hemoglobin is in the presence of an increased
pCO2
The deoxy form of hemoglobin has a greater affinity for protons
than does oxyhemoglobin.
An increase in the concentration of protons → protonated → able to
form ionic bonds (salt bridges) → stabilize the T form of hemoglobin
→ decrease in oxygen affinity
18. 2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate
RBC glycolysis → abundant in RBC
Important negative allosteric effector
Bind to Hb in central cavity
Stabilize T form by forming salt bridges
23. CONCLUSION
Diffusion greatly limits the size of organisms. Circulatory systems
overcome this. Hemoglobin are also required because O2 is only
slightly soluble in blood.
Allosteric effect allows the Hb to get efficient transport of oxygen.