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The Structure Function Relationship of Haemoglobin

Introduction

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Haemoglobin is a tetrameric globular protein able to transport small molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body to support life. Its a great example of how a protein's binding affinity to its ligand can change in response to changes in its environment. This is facilitated by small conformational changes that occur in and between subunits in a cooperative manner ultimately allowing oxygen to be picked up in the lungs and delivered to the tissues. This is oxyhaemoglobin. Embedded in each monomer is the haeme prosthetic group with bound (ferrous) iron. Iron makes 6 coordination bonds. Four in the plane of the haeme to 4 nitrogens (blue); one to the proximal Histidine imidizole nitrogen and one reserved for oxygen.

Exploring the Structure

Image:OxyHb.png

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