title: Is monitoring of respiratory properties of the haemoglobin of the Lugworm Arenicola marina meaningfull?
abstract: Haemoglobin in Arenicola has a high oxygen affinity, with a half saturation oxygen pressure of about 180 Pa at pH 7.4 and 15°C. The oxygen affinity decreases with increasing copper concentration in the blood to about 300 Pa at pH 7.4, 15°C. at a copper concentration of 35 μg ml(-1). Copper exerts only a slight influence on the subunit cooperativity in oxygen binding. The oxygen affinity, subunit cooperativity and the Bohr effect are pH dependent. Copper affects the functioning of the blood by inhibiting oxygen binding to the haemoglobin in the respiratory area and oxygen delivery in the tissues.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg-Texel, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Everaarts