Question

How many molecules of oxygen are attached with haemoglobin in man?

Answer 1

• Erythrocytes can transport oxygen to other tissues because of the presence of haemoglobin in them.
• This haemoglobin is a protein made up of heme and globin.
• The heme is the major component responsible for the binding of haemoglobin to oxygen.
• In man, haemoglobin has four polypeptide groups that have one heme prosthetic group attached to each one of them.
• This heme binds to the oxygen molecules.
• Hence, in man, each haemoglobin molecule can attach to four oxygen molecules.