1. Hemoglobin binds to and has a much higher affinity for carbon
monoxide (CO) than for oxygen. CO is colorless and odorless and can
be produced in homes heated by natural gas; victims usually do not
realize they are being poisoned and often die in their sleep.
Describe the likely changes in a CO poisoning victim.
2. You are a physiologist on a space flight to a distant planet.
You discover intelligent humanoid aliens inhabiting the planet, and
they willingly...
Which of the following will decrease the affinity of oxygen for
hemoglobin at low oxygen partial pressures and shift the
oxyhemoglobin saturation curve to the right, resulting in increased
oxygen unloading for active tissues?
Select one:
a. high CO2
b. low H+
c. low temperature
d. high hemoglobin levels
e. low CO2
Explain, how following conditions influence affinity
of hemoglobin and myoglobin to oxygen:
a) falling of pH in blood plasma from pH=7.4 to pH=7.2.
b) falling of partial pressure of CO2 from 6 kPa to 2 kPa
c) Increase in BPG level from 5 mM to 8 mM.
Adult hemoglobin (iron-containing protein) can carry up to four
oxygen molecules per hemoglobin molecule, with the addition of
oxygen proceeding in a step-wise fashion. For the third step, the
value of the equilibrium constant is Keq=5.86 x 10^-4 although the
reaction has a (delta Hº) value of -2.9 kj/mol (Remember that the
system is not at room temperature).
Heme-Fe^2+ -(O2)2 + O2 <----> Heme-Fe^2+ -(O2)3
Keq=5.86 x 10^-4
(a) calculate delta Gº for this process.
(b)From the information provided, calculate...
a. Why does hemoglobin bind so much more readily to a second and
third molecule of oxygen than to the first? b. why is the
deoxyhemoglobin and the oxyhemoglobin so intensely colored? c. How
is carbon dioxide really removed from the cells (it does not bind
to the hemoglobin)?
1. Explain how the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin can affect the
followings:
1.1 Amino acid substitutions that disrupt H-bonding at the
α,β-interface
1.2 Substitution L136P, which destabilizes the subunit
interactions
1.3 Disease in which the individual has increased levels of
fetal hemoglobin
1.4 Consumption of methanol that causes a drop in
blood pH (Metabolic acidosis)
2222You have discovered a unique molecule which binds only to
anthrax spores and when it does, fluoresces at 650 nm. Please
design an inexpensive microchip detector for rapidly screening for
the presence of anthrax. Describe details of your feasibility
study. Assume lab feasibility of your design is successful;
describe your work flow to translate this technology for public
use. (Your answers should be clearly described Use schematics
diagrams if needed)