The Role of Haemoglobin (OCR A Level Biology)

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The Role of Haemoglobin

Transport of oxygen

  • The majority of oxygen transported around the body is bound to the protein haemoglobin in red blood cells
    • Red blood cells are also known as erythrocytes
  • Each molecule of haemoglobin contains four haem groups, each able to bond with one molecule of oxygen
    • This means that each molecule of haemoglobin can carry four oxygen molecules, or eight oxygen atoms in total

Molecular structure of haemoglobin

Haemoglobin proteins are made up of four subunits, each of which contains a region called a haem group to which oxygen can bind

  • When oxygen binds to haemoglobin, oxyhaemoglobin is formed

Oxygen + Haemoglobin rightwards harpoon over leftwards harpoon Oxyhaemoglobin

4O2 + Hb rightwards harpoon over leftwards harpoon Hb4O 2

  • The binding of the first oxygen molecule results in a conformational change in the structure of the haemoglobin molecule, making it easier for each successive oxygen molecule to bind; this is cooperative binding
  • The reverse of this process happens when oxygen dissociates in the tissues

Carbon dioxide transport

  • Waste carbon dioxide produced during respiration diffuses from the tissues into the blood 
  • There are three main ways in which carbon dioxide is transported around the body
    • A very small percentage of carbon dioxide dissolves directly in the blood plasma and is transported in solution
    • Carbon dioxide can bind to haemoglobin, forming carbaminohaemoglobin
    • A much larger percentage of carbon dioxide is transported in the form of hydrogen carbonate ions (HCO3-)

Formation of hydrogen carbonate ions

  • Carbon dioxide diffuses from the plasma into red blood cells
  • Inside red blood cells carbon dioxide combines with water to form H2CO3

CO2 + H2O  ⇌  H2CO3

    • Red blood cells contain the enzyme carbonic anhydrase which catalyses the reaction between carbon dioxide and water
    • Without carbonic anhydrase this reaction proceeds very slowly
    • The plasma contains very little carbonic anhydrase hence H2CO3 forms more slowly in plasma than in the cytoplasm of red blood cells
  • Carbonic acid dissociates readily into H+ and HCO3- ions 

H2CO3  ⇌  HCO3 + H+

  • Hydrogen ions can combine with haemoglobin, forming haemoglobinic acid and preventing the H+ ions from lowering the pH of the red blood cell
    • Haemoglobin is said to act as a buffer in this situation
  • The hydrogen carbonate ions diffuse out of the red blood cell into the blood plasma where they are transported in solution

Transport of Carbon Dioxide, downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notes

Carbon dioxide can be transported in the form of hydrogen carbonate ions

The Chloride shift

  • The chloride shift is the movement of chloride ions into red blood cells that occurs when hydrogen carbonate ions are formed
  • Hydrogen carbonate ions are formed by the following process
    • Carbon dioxide diffuses into red blood cells 
    • The enzyme carbonic anhydrase catalyses the combining of carbon dioxide and water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3)

CO2 + H2O ⇌ H2CO3 

    • Carbonic acid dissociates to form hydrogen carbonate ions and hydrogen ions

H2CO3 ⇌ HCO3- + H+

 

  • Negatively charged hydrogen carbonate ions formed from the dissociation of carbonic acid are transported out of red blood cells via a transport protein in the membrane
  • To prevent an electrical imbalance, negatively charged chloride ions are transported into the red blood cells via the same transport protein
    • If this did not occur then red blood cells would become positively charged as a result of a buildup of hydrogen ions formed from the dissociation of carbonic acid

Examiner Tip

Be sure to learn the differences between the Bohr shift and chloride shift; the Bohr shift occurs when a high partial pressure of carbon dioxide causes haemoglobin to release oxygen into respiring tissues while the chloride shift is the movement of chloride ions into red blood cells.

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Lára

Author: Lára

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.