> See also: > - [[Chemical Equilibria]] # Oxygen Transportation Heme is a coordination complex consisting of Proteins containing a heme prosthetic group are known as hemoproteins. - Examples: Hemoglobin, Myoglobin, Cytochromes Myoglobin contains a single heme group Hemoglobin contains four heme groups The process of an $O_2$ molecule binding reversibly to the heme group of myoglobin is known as **oxygenation**. ![[Pasted image 20231029174028.png|300]] ## Hemoglobin vs Myoglobin ### Hemoglobin Is a Tetramer with Two Conformations In vertebrates, **hemoglobin** is contained within [[Blood Cells|erythrocytes]] (red blood cells) ${\alpha}_2{\beta}_2$ tetramer The $\alpha$ and $\beta$ submits are structurally and evolutionarily related to eachother and to myoglobin ## Bohr Effect ![[Pasted image 20231204185737.png|300]] “Hemoglobin’s oxygen binding affiniy is inversely related both to acidity and to the concentration of carbon dioxide”