Arctic adaptation in reindeer. The energy saving of a hemoglobin.
Previous results [(1988) Arct. Med. Res. 47, 83-88] have shown that hemoglobin from reindeer is characterized by a low overall heat of oxygenation. This particular aspect has been investigated further in a series of precise oxygen equilibrium experiments. The results obtained show a peculiar dependence of the temperature effect on the fractional saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen, which could be regarded as a very interesting case of molecular adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.
Giardina
B
B
Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, II University of Rome, Italy.
Brix
O
O
Nuutinen
M
M
el Sherbini
S
S
Bardgard
A
A
Lazzarino
G
G
Condò
S G
SG
D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids / Q000097:blood; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012053:Reindeer / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
D002712:Chlorides; D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids; D006454:Hemoglobins; D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate; D010100:Oxygen