Mostly Biomathematics Lunchtime Seminar

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An Allosteric Model for the Influence of H+ and CO2 on Oxygen-Hemoglobin Binding

Speaker: Heming Huang, Courant

Location: Warren Weaver Hall 1314

Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 12:45 p.m.

Synopsis:

In the physiology of oxygen-hemoglobin binding, an important role is played by the influence of H+ and CO2 on the affinity of hemoglobin for O2. Here we extend the allosteric model of hemoglobin to include these effects. We assume purely allosteric modulation, i.e., that the modulatory effects of H+ and CO2 on oxygen binding occur only because of their influence on the T <-> R transition, in which all four subunits of the hemoglobin molecule participate simultaneously. We assume, moreover, that these modulatory influences occur only through the interaction of H+ and CO2 with the amino group at the N-terminal of each of the four  polypeptide chains of the hemoglobin molecule. We fit the model to experimental data and obtain reasonable agreement with the observed shifts in oxygen-hemoglobin binding that occurs when the concentrations of H+ and CO2 are changed.