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The Physiological Significance of the Hill Parameter n‘
Author(s) -
BELLINGHAM A. J.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1972.tb00984.x
Subject(s) - oxygen , chemistry , protein subunit , oxygen–haemoglobin dissociation curve , dissociation constant , biophysics , dissociation (chemistry) , oxygene , biochemistry , biology , receptor , organic chemistry , gene
A study of the abnormal haemoglobins with altered oxygen affinity shows that changes in the shape of the oxygen dissociation curve, as measured by the Hill constant ‘n’, have a significant effect on tissue oxygen delivery independent of the effect of the altered oxygen affinity. It is suggested that in the presence of a high oxygen affinity maintenance of subunit interaction is deleterious whereas with a decreased oxygen affinity it is advantageous. This suggestion is supported by the relative incidence of altered oxygen equilibria reported in association with abnormal haemoglobins.