Oxygen transport by haemoglobin. A comparison of whole blood, washed erythrocytes and haemoglobin solution.
The properties of haemoglobin oxygen transport were compared under three different conditions: red cell in its natural medium, i.e. plasma (whole blood), washed red cell and haemoglobin A, the former suspended, the latter solved in an iso-osmotic tris buffer. The oxygen haemoglobin affinity (expressed as P50) and the respiratory Bohr effect variations were studied with modified media and unchanged pH and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) concentration. Provided they are refered to intra-erythrocytic pH, none of these values were changed when varying environment. These results suggest that the three major ligands (H+ ions, 2,3-DPG and CO2) interaction with haemoglobin is largely predominant upon other factors which would interfere, and can completely account for oxygen transport by haemoglobin.
D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008024:Ligands; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids; D006454:Hemoglobins; D008024:Ligands; D010100:Oxygen