The Bohr effect The Bohr effect Learning outcome
The Bohr effect
The Bohr effect Learning outcome: n To describe and explain the effects of raised carbon dioxide concentrations on the haemoglobin dissociation curve. n To learn how carbon dioxide is transported in blood.
What determines the loading and unloading of oxygen by haemoglobin? The amount of oxygen that haemoglobin carries is affected by: 1) 2) High p. C 02 The partial pressure of oxygen and The partial pressure of carbon dioxide The presence of a high partial pressure of carbon dioxide causes haemoglobin to release oxygen. This is called the Bohr effect Haemoglobin releases oxygen
The Bohr effect 1. 2. 3. Inside the red blood cells are many molecules of an enzyme called CO 2 carbonic anhydrase *. It catalyses the reaction between CO 2 and H 2 O. CO 2 + H 2 O ® H 2 CO 3 carbon dioxide water carbonic acid 4. Red cell During respiration, CO 2 is produced. This diffuses into the blood plasma and into the red blood cells. The resulting carbonic acid then dissociates into HCO 3 - + H+. (Both reactions are reversible). plasma H 2 O * H 2 CO 3 HCO 3 - + H+. HCO 3 -
The Bohr effect (continued) 5. Haemoglobin very readily combines with hydrogen ions forming haemoglobinic acid. 6. As a consequence haemoglobin releases some of the oxygen it is carrying. 7. By removing hydrogen ions from the solution, haemoglobin helps to maintain the p. H of the blood close to neutral. It is acting as a buffer.
The Bohr effect Three Oxygen Dissociation curves illustrating the Bohr Effect. Increased carbon dioxide in the blood causes a right-shift in the curves, such that the haemoglobin more easily unloads the oxygen it is carrying.
Why is the Bohr effect useful? n High concentrations of carbon dioxide are found in actively respiring tissues, which need oxygen. Due to the Bohr effect, these high carbon dioxide concentrations cause haemoglobin to release its oxygen even more readily than it would do otherwise.
How is carbon dioxide transported? n Carbon dioxide is mostly carried as hydrogencarbonate ions in blood plasma, but also in combination with haemoglobin in red blood cells (carbamino-haemoglobin) and dissolved as carbon dioxide molecules in blood plasma.
Carbon dioxide transport About 5% of the CO 2 produced simply dissolves in the blood plasma. About 85% of the CO 2 produced by respiration diffuses into the red blood cells and forms carbonic acid under the control of carbonic anhydrase. The carbonic acid dissociates to produce hydrogencarbonate ions (HCO 3 -) The HCO 3 - diffuses out of the red blood cell into the plasma Some CO 2 diffuses into the red blood cells but instead of forming carbonic acid, attaches directly onto the haemoglobin molecules to form carbaminohaemoglobin. Since the CO 2 doesn’t bind to the haem groups the Haemoglobin is still able to pick up O 2.
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