Fevers in young children are a particular concern because oxygen is less effectively transported by hemoglobin at high temperature. How might this be explained? The hemoglobin becomes denatured and cannot transport the oxygen. The oxygen becomes denatured and cannot bind to the hemoglobin. Oxygen has too much thermal energy to be bound by hemoglobin. Oxygen evaporates at high temperature and is not available for binding with hemoglobin.

Question

Biology

Tess Mcclure

24 March, 16:20

Fevers in young children are a particular concern because oxygen is less effectively transported by hemoglobin at high temperature. How might this be explained? The hemoglobin becomes denatured and cannot transport the oxygen. The oxygen becomes denatured and cannot bind to the hemoglobin. Oxygen has too much thermal energy to be bound by hemoglobin. Oxygen evaporates at high temperature and is not available for binding with hemoglobin.

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Rory · Answer 1

The hemoglobin becomes denatured and cannot transport the oxygen

Explanation:

Hemoglobin is a protein that binds with oxygen reversibly, in lungs and carries it all around the body as oxyhemoglobin and delivers oxygen to tissues. It comprises of four protein chains, two alpha and two beta chains, each containing a heme group that contains iron.

Temperature plays a huge role in binding oxygen to hemoglobin. It affects the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. High temperatures decreases the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. The hemoglobin molecule becomes denatured and this in turn decreases its ability to bind to oxygen and transport it all over the body. During denaturation, the hemoglobin molecule loses its tertiary protein structure.