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Question
What are the major transport mechanisms for CO2? Explain.
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Solution
Plasma and red blood cells transport carbon dioxide. This is because they are readily soluble in water.(1) Through plasma :About 7% of CO2 is carried in a dissolved state through the plasma. Carbon dioxide combines with water and forms carbonic acid.
Since the process of forming carbonic acid is slow, only a small amount of carbon dioxide is carried this way.(2) Through RBCs :About 20 – 25% of CO2 is transported by the red blood cells as carbaminohaemoglobin. Carbon dioxide binds to the amino groups on the polypeptide chains of haemoglobin and forms a compound known as carbaminohaemoglobin.(3) Through sodium bicarbonate :About 70% of carbon dioxide is transported as sodium bicarbonate. As CO2 diffuses into the blood plasma, a large part of it combines with water to form carbonic acid in the presence of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic anhydrase is a zinc enzyme that speeds up the formation of carbonic acid. This carbonic acid dissociates into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions (H+).
Plasma and red blood cells transport carbon dioxide. This is because they are readily soluble in water.
(1) Through plasma :
About 7% of CO2 is carried in a dissolved state through the plasma. Carbon dioxide combines with water and forms carbonic acid.
Since the process of forming carbonic acid is slow, only a small amount of carbon dioxide is carried this way.
(2) Through RBCs :
About 20 – 25% of CO2 is transported by the red blood cells as carbaminohaemoglobin. Carbon dioxide binds to the amino groups on the polypeptide chains of haemoglobin and forms a compound known as carbaminohaemoglobin.
(3) Through sodium bicarbonate :
About 70% of carbon dioxide is transported as sodium bicarbonate. As CO2 diffuses into the blood plasma, a large part of it combines with water to form carbonic acid in the presence of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic anhydrase is a zinc enzyme that speeds up the formation of carbonic acid. This carbonic acid dissociates into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions (H+).
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