it has a quarternary structure with four polypeptide chains - each chain has a haem group containing iron - each molecule of haemoglobin can carry four oxygen molecules
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What is oxyhaemoglobin?
In the lungs, oxygen joins with haemoglobin - this is a reversible reaction
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What is association/loading?
When an oxygen molecule joins to haemoglobin
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What is disssociation/unloading?
When oxygen leaves oxyhaemoglobin
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What is affinity for oxygen?
the tendancy a molecule has to bind with oxygen - haemoglobin's affinity for oxygen varies depending on the conditions it's in
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What condition affects the affinity for oxygen?
The partial pressure of oxygen
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What is a dissociation curve?
It shows how saturated the haemoglobin is with oxygen at any given partial pressure
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What is the Bohr effect?
When the dissociation curve shifts to the right - but remains the same shape
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How does size effect dissociation curves?
The larger the surface area;volume ratio of an animal, the further to the right it is - they lose heat quick so have a high metabolic rate to keep warm so have a high demand for oxygen
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How does a low oxygen environment effect dissociation curves?
If animals live in a low oxygen environment the curve is more to the left - they have a higher affinity for oxygen - need to be able to load/unload quickly
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How does high activity levels effect dissociation curves?
If animals are very active the curve is more to the right - the oxygen has a lower affinity for oxygen as it needs to be able to unload the oxygen quickly for use
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