Background: The developing fetus has a different kind ofhemoglobin than most normal adults. Fetal hemoglobin (hemoglobin F)consists of two ? chains and two ? chains, whereas adult hemoglobin(hemoglobin A) consists of two ? chains and two ? chains. Fetalhemoglobin is synthesized beginning at the third month of gestationand continues up through birth. After birth, hemoglobin F synthesisdeclines and synthesis of hemoglobin A increases (synthesis of the? chain declines, and synthesis of the ? chain increases). By thetime the baby is six months old, 98% of its hemoglobin ishemoglobin A.
Question: The ? chain differs slightly in structure from the ?chain and has fewer Lys and His residues than the ? chain. Thismeans that hemoglobin F has fewer positive charges in its centralcavity than does hemoglobin A. Given this information, explain whyhemoglobin F has a higher affinity for oxygen than does hemoglobinA.
Background: The developing fetus has a different kind ofhemoglobin than most normal adults. Fetal hemoglobin (hemoglobin F)consists of two ? chains and two ? chains, whereas adult hemoglobin(hemoglobin A) consists of two ? chains and two ? chains. Fetalhemoglobin is synthesized beginning at the third month of gestationand continues up through birth. After birth, hemoglobin F synthesisdeclines and synthesis of hemoglobin A increases (synthesis of the? chain declines, and synthesis of the ? chain increases). By thetime the baby is six months old, 98% of its hemoglobin ishemoglobin A.
Question: The ? chain differs slightly in structure from the ?chain and has fewer Lys and His residues than the ? chain. Thismeans that hemoglobin F has fewer positive charges in its centralcavity than does hemoglobin A. Given this information, explain whyhemoglobin F has a higher affinity for oxygen than does hemoglobinA.
