1. Oxygen saturation curves for myoglobin and hemoglobin
Oxygen saturation curves for myoglobin and hemoglobin. The saturation curve for myoglobin shows the typical rapid oxygen concentration–dependent saturation of this monomeric oxygen-binding protein. The other 2 curves show the typical sigmoidal saturation curves for cooperative oxygen binding exhibited by fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and adult hemoglobin (HbA). Also indicated in the diagram are the typical oxygen concentrations in peripheral tissues and the lungs. Note that whereas myoglobin can be fully oxygen saturated in the tissues, hemoglobin requires much higher oxygen tension to become fully saturated, which only occurs in the lungs. The position of HbF saturation to the left of HbA (ie, at lower oxygen tension) reflects the fact that fetal hemoglobin binds oxygen with higher affinity than adult hemoglobin and this is so that the fetus can acquire oxygen from the maternal circulation. Reproduced with permission of the medical biochemistry page, LLC.
Source: Biological Building Blocks of Cells and Tissues, Integrative Medical Biochemistry Examination and Board Review
Citation: King MW. Integrative Medical Biochemistry Examination and Board Review; 2014 Available at: Accessed: November 01, 2017
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