In: Biology
Describe how subunit cooperativity works in the binding of O2 to hemoglobin in the lungs and the release of O2 in the tissues. Include in your response the benefit of subunit cooperativity.
when one molecule binds to the oxygen it changes the shape and 3 heme becomes more likely to attach to the oxygen molecules.Likewise when the oxyhaemoglbin is saturated and there is removal of oxygen molecule this would result cause change in the structure and three molecules are also likely to be dissociated.
Always oxygen travels from high partial pressure to the low partial pressure.As RBC containing the oxygen molecule are at high partial pressure whereas the tissues have low partial pressure and so the oxygen is dissociated from the hemoglobin and given to the tissues .As one oxygen dissociates it makes other oxygen to dissociate.
In alveoli the partial pressure of oxygen is high and it is fully saturated with hemoglobin.hemoglobin will pick up oxygen molecule and will become gully saturated with oxygen molecule.in tissue the partial pressure of oxygen would be low so unloading of oxygen molecule will take place and is taken up by tissues.