Hemoglobin/Myoglobin Flashcards
1
Q
What are hemoglobin’s two conformational states?
Where do they occur?
A
Tense (T) - occur in low oxygen concentration (respiratory tissues) and result in low oxygen affinity
Relaxed (R) - high oxygen concentration (lungs) and result in high oxygen affinity
2
Q
Where are how does the T to R transition take place?
A
- in areas of high O2 concentration (lungs)
once at least 2 subunits bind to oxygen…
the iron atom moves into plane with the rest of the heme…
this triggers a shift in relative positions of the A/B dimers
3
Q
What are two important allosteric regulators of Hb conformation?
How do they effect it?
A
H+ Concentration - low pH, high H+ areas (respiring tissues) decrease Hb O2 affinity
2,3 BPG - binds to central pocket of Hb to stabilize T state and decrease O2 affinity
