Question

describe the structure of hemoglobin. how many oxygen molecules does each hemoglobin carry? where are senescent blood cells and hemoglobin broken down? what are the breakdown products of hemoglobin? how can the excessive breakdown of RBC's cause jaundice?

Answer 1

Hemoglobin is a pigment, which gives red color to whole blood. This molecule consists of a protein known as globin, which consists four polypeptide chains and a ring like non protein pigment known as heme is bound to each of the four chains.

At the center of the heme ring is an iron ion, which combines with one oxygen molecule, that permits each hemoglobin molecule to bind four oxygen molecules.

The spleen contains immune cells from which macrophages phagocytose the senescent red blood cells. They degrade the hemoglobin into amino acids, bilirubin and iron. The iron moves toward the blood with transferrin, which is captured and stored by the spleen and the liver or can be used in the formation of new red blood cells in the red bone marrow.

Hemoglobin are broken down into subunits of heme, an iron containing portion and a protein globin. The heme decomposes into iron and a greenish pigment known as biliverdin. Biliverdin is converted to an orange pigment bilirubin.

Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and the whites of the eyes caused by increased amounts of bilirubin level in the blood. Bilirubin is a by-product of the breakdown and destruction of red blood cells in the body. The hemoglobin molecule, which is released into the blood by and split with the heme portion that undergoes a chemical conversion to bilirubin. The liver metabolizes and excretes the bilirubin in the form of bile. However, if there is a disorder in this normal metabolism and the production of bilirubin. Jaundice in these cases is caused by rapid increase in the breakdown and destruction of the red blood cells, this process is called as hemolysis.