Structure and Functions of haemoglobin

What is Haemoglobin?

Haemoglobin is an oxygen carrying pigment, which is present in red blood cells. It has two parts. One is
called haem which is a prosthetic group. And the other is goblin protein.

Haem containing proteins are present in aerobic animals and are concerned with the transport of
oxygen. Haem part is same in all the animals. The difference is in the globin chains that have different
amino acids in different animals.

Here in this post you will learn about structure of haemoglobin i.e. its amino acids chains and haem part
as well as different functions of haemoglobin.

Structure of haemoglobin:
Haem:

Haem has one central iron, which is attached to four pyro rings. The iron is in the forum of ferric ion. The
pyro rings are connected by methylene bridges.

Globin:

Globin is the part that is the protein and consists of four chains. In human, there are two alpha chains
and other two may be beta, delta, gamma or epsilon depending on the type of haemoglobin.

Important Functions of haemoglobin:

There are many functions of haemoglobin. Here i am going to list the most important ones:

Haemoglobin as oxygen carrier:

The main function of haemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all the tissues of the body. This is
due to the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen. When haemoglobin comes in contact with oxygen, it
combines with it and form oxy-haemoglobin. This is a week bond. When blood reaches to tissues, where
oxygen is deficient, the bond is broken and oxygen diffuses out to tissues.

Haemoglobin as carbon dioxide carrier:

Some of carbon dioxide is transported from tissues to lungs through haemoglobin. Although the
majority of it is transported via plasma but still it carries some of CO2 to lungs.

Colour of blood:
The red colour of blood is due to haemoglobin. When red blood cells are separated from the blood, the
red colour disappears. This means that the red colour of blood is due to red blood cells. Hence the name
red blood cells are given to it. And as we know that haemoglobin is present inside red blood cells,
therefore it gives red coloration to RBCs

Buffering action:

Haemoglobin also acts as a buffer. Buffer means to resist change in ph. Blood has 7.4 ph. and it remains
in the narrow range. Because, if it changes the life of the person may be endangered; therefore,
haemoglobin plays very important role in keeping the pH of blood constant.

Erythrocyte metabolism:

Haemoglobin plays an important role in the modulation of erythrocyte metabolism.

Interaction with drugs:

Not only for oxygen, but haemoglobin act a very important role the transport of various drugs to their
site of action.

Physiological active catabolites:

Haemoglobin is a source of various physiological active catabolites.

These are some of the important functions of haemoglobin. There are many other functions. And may
be there would be many other functions, which would be still unknown. A lot of research work has been
done in this field and still there are many mysteries to be solved.