Page 285 - Biochemistry PharmD General
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5. Carboxyhemoglobin
• Oxy-hemoglobin can bind to carbon monoxide (CO).
Even normal, non- oxygenated hemoglobin can bind
with CO to form carboxyhemoglobin. [Hb + CO →
HbCO].
• CO has got an affinity of 200 times more than that
of O2 towards Hb. Hemoglobin can bind more readily
to CO than to O2.
• Even if there is a little amount of CO in air, it can
displace oxyHb to form carboxyHb. Due to this there
will be tissue hypoxia because the oxygen binding
capacity is reduced and there is also reduced
O2releasing capacity i.e. it cannot release O2 though
it may be bounded to O2.
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