Beta-globin
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Beta-globin (pronounced: BAY-tuh GLOH-bin) is a type of Globin protein found in red blood cells. It is one of the two types of globin protein in Hemoglobin, the other being Alpha-globin.
Etymology
The term "Beta-globin" is derived from the Greek letter beta, indicating its position in the sequence of globin proteins discovered, and "globin", a term coined in the late 19th century to describe the globular, or spherical, proteins found in biological organisms.
Function
Beta-globin is essential for the transport of oxygen throughout the body. It binds to oxygen in the lungs and releases it in the tissues, a process facilitated by the Heme group, a component of hemoglobin.
Related Terms
- Hemoglobin: The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It is made up of four globin proteins, two alpha-globin and two beta-globin.
- Alpha-globin: The other type of globin protein in hemoglobin.
- Heme: The component of hemoglobin that binds to oxygen. It contains an iron atom, which gives blood its red color.
- Globin: A family of proteins found in hemoglobin and other oxygen-carrying proteins.
- Sickle cell disease: A genetic disorder that affects the shape and function of red blood cells, caused by a mutation in the beta-globin gene.
See Also
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