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Multiple Choice

In the tissues, the oxyhemoglobin releases oxygen from which part of hemoglobin?

Oxygen binds to the iron atom at the center of the heme group. In hemoglobin, the ferrous iron (Fe2+) within the heme binds O2 reversibly; when O2 is released at tissues, it leaves from that iron site and diffuses into cells. The porphyrin ring merely holds and stabilizes the iron, while the globin protein influences overall shape and affinity, and the carbohydrate portions don’t participate in oxygen binding. So the site from which O2 is released is the iron in the heme groups.

Oxygen binds to the iron atom at the center of the heme group. In hemoglobin, the ferrous iron (Fe2+) within the heme binds O2 reversibly; when O2 is released at tissues, it leaves from that iron site and diffuses into cells. The porphyrin ring merely holds and stabilizes the iron, while the globin protein influences overall shape and affinity, and the carbohydrate portions don’t participate in oxygen binding. So the site from which O2 is released is the iron in the heme groups.