A Change in Hemoglobin's Structure Can Disturb Hemoglobin Function

2502 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Haemoglobin and myoglobin and their structure

A Change in Hemoglobin's Structure Can Disturb Hemoglobin Function

Abstract:

The fact that a molecule?s structure determines its function can be seen through

the oxygen transporter protein, hemoglobin. Hemoglobin can take two forms, oxy state

and deoxy state, and each performs a distinct function for the hemoglobin. In a normal

hemoglobin, the oxygen binds to a heme group during the oxy state and releases oxygen

during the deoxy state. However, when hemoglobin is mutated like in sickle cell anemia,

in which the amino acid glumatic acid is substituted with valine in the sixth position of

beta subunit; the hemoglobin will not function correctly in the deoxy state. This will lead

the hemoglobin to take a sickle shape that will eventually cause sickle cell anemia.

Imagine doing an internship in the emergency department of the hospital,

suddenly, a five year old athlete comes to the ER that is having hard time breathing. The

results from the tests that were done on the athlete show that he could not become like his

idol, Michel Jordan, in basketball because he has sickle cell anemia. During the talk with

one of the doctors that you were working with, you discover that sickle cell anemia is a

hereditary disease that occurs due to the deficiency of the red blood cells. This is caused

by a genetic mutation in the hemoglobin, an oxygen carrier protein, in which one amino

acid is changed to another. This mutation in the structure of the hemoglobin disturbs the

proteins? normal function and eventually leads to sickle cell anemia. Have you wondered

how this small change in the structure of hemoglobin can cause sickle cell anemia, and

3

stop the athlete from playing basketball? Well, this is one of the main topics that w...

... middle of paper ...

...6um%3D

1%26hl%3Den>.

(3)"blood: hemoglobin tetramer." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007. Encyclop�dia

Britannica, Inc. . 27 Jul 2008

.

(4) "Porphyrin." The Free Dictionary. Copyright � 2008 . Farlex, Inc.. 27 Jul 2008

.

(5)DR.JAKUBOWSKI,"CHAPTER5-BINDING."05/16/08.27Jul2008

html>.

6)Voet, Donald. Biochemsitry . 1990. John Wiely ,

7, 8) ?How Does Sickle Cell Cause Disease?." April 11, 2002 . harvard . 27 Jul 2008

.

12

Acknowledgments:

I acknowledge Dr. Peck, Mike, Bless and my professors from the chemistry cluster:

Dean, Tim, and Tobey for always being there for me whenever I needed their help to

spark this project.

Show More
Related

  • Sheep Heart Dissection

    1386 Words  | 3 Pages

    oxygen out of the blood and uses it in the body's cells. The cells use

    Read More

  • Basketball Discourse Community

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    The game of basketball along with football and soccer is one of the most prominent sports in the United States and the World. It’s played at every level from 5 & under to the professional athletes in the NBA and overseas. Every team is made up of virtually the same elements; the guards, big men and coaches. Basketball is not a sport where you can focus solely on yourself, but the focus should be on the team. The sport is very public and easy to see, however there are many things that occur behind closed doors when no one is looking.

    Read More

  • Blood Doping

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    Each year athlete’s ability to perform seems to increase by leaps and bounds. Some reasons for this can be attributed to better training methods, better conditioning techniques, and better over all health of the athlete. While most situations involve one or more of the previously scenarios, some athletes always seem to take it to a step further. They engage in a process called blood doping. This procedure does increase physical performance and athletic ability, but potentially may do more harm than good.

    Read More

  • Essay On Homeostasis

    3427 Words  | 7 Pages

    ...on dioxide, within the body, affecting the pH balance of the blood. This will then affect proteins within the body, being known as enzymes, which can only function if their surrounding environment is in balance. Any alteration to this environment, will prevent the enzymes from functioning effectively.

    Read More

  • Sickle Cell Anemia

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sickle cell anemia occurs when an abnormal form of hemoglobin (HbS) is produced. HbS molecules tend to clump together, making red blood cells sticky, stiff, and more fragile, and causing them to form into a curved, sickle shape. Red blood cells containing HbS can go back and forth between being shaped normally and being sickle shaped until they eventually become sickle shaped permanently. Instead of moving through the bloodstream easily, these sickle cells can clog blood vessels and deprive the body's tissues and organs of the oxygen they need to stay healthy.

    Read More

  • Sports Specialization

    1826 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sports specialization among young people is when a child or teenager trains for and competes in only one sport. They work extremely hard year-round in order to become well-rounded in every aspect of the game. They make sacrifices and put their health in jeopardy in order to become the ultimate participant in their sport. One of the many young athletes who is only participating in and focusing on one sport is fifteen-year-old OJ Mayo from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the young talented athlete who is predicted to be the next LeBron James in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This young athlete provides evidence of striving for perfection in this single sport when reviewing his daily schedule versus that of his siblings. He says, “The other kids go home and sleep. I come back to the gym” (Thompson, 2004). He is obviously putting forth a lot of effort in his sport to become successful at an early age.

    Read More

  • Function and Structure of Hemoglobin and Myoglobin

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    A three-dimensional structure of hemoglobin is determined by X-ray crystallography showed hemoglobin is made up of four polypeptide chains, each of those chains has a very similar three-dimensional structure to the single polypeptide chain in myoglobin. The major type of hemoglobin found in adults (HbA) is made up of two different polypeptide chains: the alpha-chain that consists of 141 amino acids residues, and the beta-chain of 146 residues. Each chain, like that in myoglobin consist of eight alpha-helices and each contains a heme prosthetic group. Therefore, hemoglobin can bind four molecules of oxygen. The four polypeptide chains, two alpha and teo beta, are packed tightly together in a tetrahedral array to form an overall spherically shaped molecule that is held together by multiple noncovalent interactions.

    Read More

  • Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Paper

    890 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body. This diseases causes anemia, which can lead to the destruction of red blood cells. Possible symptoms include fussiness, paleness, frequent infections, poor appetite, failure to grow well and jaundice or enlarged organs. The treatment depends on the type and severity of this disease. Treatment options include: bone marrow transplants, blood transfusions, medications and supplements and possible surgery to remove the spleen and/or gallbladder (Thalassemia, healthline,

    Read More

  • The Different Types of Thalassemia and How is Diagnosed

    2446 Words  | 5 Pages

    Thalassemia is basically a name for similar groups of inherited blood diseases that involve missing or abnormal genes regarding the protein in hemoglobin which is the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. I will discuss the different types of Thalassemia, how Thalassemia is diagnosed, and the treatments available. I will also discuss the complications and side effects of the treatments, the disease’s causes and effects, and how it is more dominant in some parts of the world than others. Thalassemia is a blood disorder which means the body makes fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen throughout the body and having less hemoglobin leads to anemia. Alpha globin and beta globin are the proteins that create Hemoglobin. A defect in the gene that helps control production of alpha or beta goblin leads to Thalassemia. Fewer blood cells leads to anemia, which is the common culprit in Thalassemia.

    Read More

  • Informative Speech On Sickle Cell

    512 Words  | 2 Pages

    Like many disorders, sickle cell disease is inherited. A person who has the disorder must inherit the two genes for sickle hemoglobin from one’s parents. Many people could be carriers for the disease,possess no symptoms, and later pass it on to their own children. Furthermore, when you were conceived, you received a set of genes from your dad(sperm) and another set from your mom(egg). Inside structures, called chromosomes, where DNA is tightly coiled, there contained are

    Read More

  • Sickle Cell Anemia Research Paper

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the hemoglobin responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). This means that, unlike normal hemoglobin in which cells are smooth and round like the letter "O," that can pass through the vessels in our bodies with ease, sickle hemoglobin cells are rigid and form into the shape of a sickle, or the letter "C." The cells are also sticky and hence, cannot travel through small blood vessels. Consequently, they tend to cluster together and cause a blockage in the blood vessels and stop the movement of healthy oxygen-carrying blood.

    Read More

  • The Influence of Basketball

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sports are often identified to have positive influences on many individuals. The sports industry is growing worldwide, especially the basketball industry, which is regarded in second place behind football. The global prevalence of basketball is unquestionable, especially among the young. Basketball is a dynamic team sport that involves a pattern of alternating, active, and skilled movement activities. There are compound demands that require a mixture of individual skills, team plays, strategies, and motivational aspects.

    Read More

  • Pernicious Anemia

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    As we all know oxygen is the main source of life, in the human body Erythrocytes are one of the most important cells, (which transports oxygen to all cells and organs and takes CO2 to be extracted by the lungs), any changed or defect in the DAN or even the shape of it will lead to abnormality to our health. According to Elaine N & Katja H (2008 anatomy and physiology pp 642) Anemia “is a condition in which the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity is too low to support normal metabolism” which has multiple tips like Sickle cell anemia, Aplastic Anemia, Iron-Deficiency anemia and pernicious Anemia.

    Read More

  • Sickle Cell Anemia Essay

    1724 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sickle Cell Disease is a condition where there is not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Another name for sickle cell disease is sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is inherited as a simple recessive condition. In normal red blood cells, the cells are usually flexible and round. However, in sickle cell disease the red cells become rigid and sticky. They are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. Because these cells are irregular, they can get stuck in small blood vessels. The small blood vessels slow or block blood flow. Without enough red blood cells in circulation a person's body cannot get the adequate amounts of oxygen needed to feel energized.

    Read More

  • Thalassemia Essay

    720 Words  | 2 Pages

    The second one is beta thalassemia. This occurs when similar gene defects affect production of the beta globin protein. It happens mostly in people of Mediterranean origin, Chinese, other Asians, and African Americans. You need both alpha- and beta-globin to make hemoglobin. If you have one damaged gene, you may have mild anemia and probably won't need treatment. This is called beta thalassemia minor or beta thalassemia trait. It happens when you get a normal gene from one parent and a thalassemia gene from the other. When both genes are damaged, it means you got a thalassemia gene from each parent. You may have moderate or severe anemia. If you have moderate anemia, you may n...

    Read More

More about A Change in Hemoglobin's Structure Can Disturb Hemoglobin Function

Open Document