Hofmann O M, Brittain T
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Hemoglobin. 1998 Jul;22(4):313-9. doi: 10.3109/03630269809071526.
The ratio of oxygen to carbon monoxide binding to the three fully saturated human embryonic hemoglobins has been determined. The embryonic hemoglobins exhibit significantly lower values of carbon monoxide binding than any previously reported mammalian fetal or adult hemoglobins. The possible protective role of this with regards to carbon monoxide intoxication is discussed. These data are combined with previous parameters yielding a significant correlation between oxygen affinity and carbon monoxide binding. A possible molecular origin of this correlation is discussed.
