Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biochemistry4h 34m
2. Water3h 23m
3. Amino Acids8h 10m
4. Protein Structure10h 4m
5. Protein Techniques14h 5m
6. Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics13h 38m
7. Enzyme Inhibition and Regulation 8h 42m
8. Protein Function 9h 41m
9. Carbohydrates7h 49m
10. Lipids5h 49m
11. Biological Membranes and Transport 6h 37m
12. Biosignaling9h 45m
Review 1: Nucleic Acids, Lipids, & Membranes2h 47m
Review 2: Biosignaling, Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, & PP-Pathway3h 12m
Review 3: Pyruvate & Fatty Acid Oxidation, Citric Acid Cycle, & Glycogen Metabolism2h 26m
Review 4: Amino Acid Oxidation, Oxidative Phosphorylation, & Photophosphorylation1h 48m

8. Protein Function

Hemoglobin Binding in Tissues & Lungs

Biochemistry

8. Protein Function

Hemoglobin Binding in Tissues & Lungs

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with Biochemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

How is the vast majority of carbon dioxide transported in the blood from the tissues to the lungs?

As diffused gas bubbles of CO₂, just as in carbonated soft drinks.

As bicarbonate ions (HCO₃-).

As carbamate groups bound directly to deoxyhemoglobin.

As carbon monoxide.

As carbon compounds and oxygen radicals.

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that carbon dioxide (CO2) is a byproduct of cellular respiration and needs to be transported from tissues to the lungs for exhalation.

Recognize that CO2 is transported in the blood in three main forms: dissolved in plasma, chemically bound to hemoglobin, and as bicarbonate ions (HCO3-).

Focus on the fact that the majority of CO2 is transported as bicarbonate ions. This process involves the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which catalyzes the reaction of CO2 with water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3).

Carbonic acid (H2CO3) quickly dissociates into bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and hydrogen ions (H+). The bicarbonate ions are then transported in the plasma.

In the lungs, the process is reversed: bicarbonate ions are converted back to CO2, which is then exhaled. This efficient transport mechanism ensures that CO2 is effectively removed from the body.