http://mrpuffsbio-chemscience.weebly.com/transportation.html Go to the class weebly site listed above.

Follow the link to the Mini Hemoglobin presentation (Khan Academy) and answer the questions provided below.

Hemoglobin
What is the function of hemoglobin? How many heme groups comprise a single hemoglobin molecule? How many molecules of oxygen can a hemoglobin molecule bind to? Describe cooperative binding of oxygen.

What causes the hemoglobin molecules to dump oxygen in tissues? The allo root of the word allosteric inhibition means OTHER. This describes the binding sites of carbon dioxide and protons (H+) as being OTHER than the heme binding sites used for oxygen. What two molecules are responsible for binding to the hemoglobin and changing its affinity for the oxygen molecule? Write the equation that describes how carbon dioxide acidifies your blood. There is an enzyme found within our red blood cells that is responsible for combining carbon dioxide with water to produce the H+ (proton) and the bicarbonate ion. What is it called?

http://mrpuffsbio-chemscience.weebly.com/transportation.html The information provided in this video describes how carbon dioxide and carbonic acid is more abundant in tissues that are working hard. It describes in detail how this environment changes the ability of hemoglobin to bind to oxygen. In an acidic environment, will it be MORE difficult, or EASIER for oxygen to bind to hemoglobin? The regular processes ongoing in our tissues require oxygen, but produce carbon dioxide. An increase in metabolic activity within a tissue would therefore produce more carbon dioxide (and an acidic environment). Since carbon dioxide allosterically inhibits (or interferes with) the binding of oxygen, the hemoglobin molecules within the RBCs more readily give up oxygen within the tissues that are working the hardest.
Example: If you start sprinting down the street in a race with your friend, the muscles in your legs are being exerted, meaning they will start to produce more carbon dioxide gas than normal because they are burning up fuel faster. This causes a local increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide within these tissues. This increased carbon dioxide creates an environment in which hemoglobin more easily releases oxygen. The end result of this is that RBCs more readily dump oxygen within tissues that are working hardest. Think about specific examples of organs or tissues in your body might. When might they be working harder than normal? Consider how this affects hemoglobins affinity for oxygen. Does this make sense to you?

Organ/Tissue Heart Brain Digestive tract

Activity