Bohr effect
Bohr Effect
The Bohr Effect (pronounced: bore effect) is a physiological phenomenon first described by Danish physiologist Christian Bohr in 1904. It refers to the shift in the oxygen dissociation curve caused by changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide or pH of the blood.
Etymology
The term "Bohr Effect" is named after Christian Bohr, who first described this phenomenon in his studies of hemoglobin and oxygen binding.
Definition
The Bohr Effect is the regulation of hemoglobin's oxygen-binding affinity by hydrogen ions and carbon dioxide. In other words, it is the tendency of certain factors to stabilize the hemoglobin molecule in its deoxygenated (T-state) or oxygenated (R-state) form.
Mechanism
The Bohr Effect occurs when the pH of blood decreases (becomes more acidic), causing hemoglobin to release more oxygen. Conversely, when the pH of blood increases (becomes more basic), hemoglobin binds more oxygen. This is due to the fact that hemoglobin proteins are sensitive to pH changes. When carbon dioxide levels in the blood increase, it reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which dissociates to release hydrogen ions, lowering the pH of the blood.
Related Terms
- Hemoglobin: The protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
- Oxygen dissociation curve: A graph that plots the proportion of hemoglobin in its saturated (oxygen-laden) form on the vertical axis against the prevailing oxygen tension on the horizontal axis.
- Carbon Dioxide: A colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration. It is naturally present in air and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.
- pH: A measure of hydrogen ion concentration; a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bohr effect
- Wikipedia's article - Bohr effect
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