Question

Discuss the impact to hemoglobin structure/function from exercise, high altitude, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, 2, 3 BPG, etc.

Answer 1

Haemoglobin is an allosteric enzyme which transports oxygen from lungs to tissues. The impact of different terms as mentioned in question is follows-

1. Exercise- During exercise there is a huge demand of oxygen for vasodilation by NO and ATP release. But in athletes number of RBCs increases for fast oxygen transport.

2. High Altitude- On the high altitude oxygen level decreases hence again body increases number of RBCs to carry more oxygen. Therefore people living on high altitudes have red beauty.

3. Carbon monooxide- CO has 210 times more affinity rather than oxygen hence it displaces oxygen binding, excessive CO results high suffocating death.

4. CO2- CO2 affects Hb in 2 ways first accumulation of CO2 causes Carbamino formation which binds with carboxyhemoglobin. Second more CO2 causes high acidity which again decreases affinity of oxygen with haemoglobin.

5. 2, 3 BPG- During glycolysis there is formation of 2, 3 BPG. More 2,3 BPG causes right side dissociation curve.