myoglobin

[co2013]

Active skeletal muscles demand oxygen so the high temp, co2, and acidity gives hemoglobin less affinity for O2 making it available to tissues. So why is it that myoglobin, which is present in muscles, has a HIGHER affinity for oxygen? Wouldn't give up less oxygen to muscles?

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[loveoforganic]

To tie in some other concepts - for the same reason that 2,3-BPG is upregulated in O2 deprivation and fetal hemoglobin has a higher affinity than adult hemoglobin - to get the O2 to where it needs to be.

Myoglobin - higher affinity facilitates uptake of O2 by peripheral tissue from hemoglobin

Fetal hemoglobin - higher affinity facilitates uptake of of O2 by fetal blood from maternal blood

2,3-BPG - upregulation in O2 deprivation facilitates additional unloading in the periphery

 

[co2013]

Ah i see, makes sense. Thanks