hemoglobin complex

Definition

Target type: cellularcomponent

An iron-containing, oxygen carrying complex. In vertebrates it is made up of two pairs of associated globin polypeptide chains, each chain carrying a noncovalently bound heme prosthetic group. [GOC:jl, ISBN:0198506732]

Hemoglobin is a tetrameric protein found in red blood cells, responsible for oxygen transport throughout the body. It consists of four subunits: two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. Each subunit is composed of a globin protein chain and a heme molecule. The heme group contains a central iron atom that binds to oxygen reversibly. The cellular component of the hemoglobin complex is a complex assembly of protein chains and heme molecules, organized into a specific structure that allows for efficient oxygen binding and release. The globin chains, alpha and beta, fold into a specific three-dimensional structure, forming a pocket where the heme group is embedded. This pocket provides a hydrophobic environment that promotes oxygen binding to the iron atom in the heme. The arrangement of the four subunits in the tetrameric structure is also critical for efficient oxygen transport. The binding of one oxygen molecule to one subunit increases the affinity of the other subunits for oxygen, leading to cooperative binding. This cooperative binding allows hemoglobin to efficiently load oxygen in the lungs where oxygen concentration is high and release it in the tissues where oxygen concentration is low. In summary, the cellular component of the hemoglobin complex involves the precise arrangement of globin chains, heme groups, and the interactions between subunits, enabling oxygen binding and release with high efficiency.'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (2)