What is carbaminohemoglobin?

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Multiple Choice

What is carbaminohemoglobin?

Carbaminohemoglobin is formed when carbon dioxide binds to the amino groups on the globin portion of hemoglobin, mainly at the N-termini of the alpha and beta chains. This is a reversible way CO2 is transported in blood, complementing dissolved CO2 and bicarbonate. The binding occurs more readily when hemoglobin is in the deoxygenated state, which helps tissues offload CO2 and promotes oxygen release in tissues (the Bohr effect). In the lungs, CO2 is released as Hb becomes oxygenated again. This differs from the other options: carbon monoxide binds to the heme iron (not CO2), and sulfhemoglobin is a different pigment that doesn’t carry CO2 in this form.

Carbaminohemoglobin is formed when carbon dioxide binds to the amino groups on the globin portion of hemoglobin, mainly at the N-termini of the alpha and beta chains. This is a reversible way CO2 is transported in blood, complementing dissolved CO2 and bicarbonate. The binding occurs more readily when hemoglobin is in the deoxygenated state, which helps tissues offload CO2 and promotes oxygen release in tissues (the Bohr effect). In the lungs, CO2 is released as Hb becomes oxygenated again.

This differs from the other options: carbon monoxide binds to the heme iron (not CO2), and sulfhemoglobin is a different pigment that doesn’t carry CO2 in this form.

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