Crocodiles of the Nile often attack and kill large animals (such as wildebeest)
ID: 3480381 • Letter: C
Question
Crocodiles of the Nile often attack and kill large animals (such as wildebeest) by dragging them under the water and drowning them! Crocodiles can do this because they have the amazing ability to stay under the water for an hour or more. Part of the explanation lies in the structure of crocodile hemoglobin. Bicarbonate ions can bind to crocodile hemoglobin and displace oxygen. Why should the increased affinity of crocodile hemoglobin for bicarbonate ion allow the crocodile to hold its breath for long periods of time? Crocodiles of the Nile often attack and kill large animals (such as wildebeest) by dragging them under the water and drowning them! Crocodiles can do this because they have the amazing ability to stay under the water for an hour or more. Part of the explanation lies in the structure of crocodile hemoglobin. Bicarbonate ions can bind to crocodile hemoglobin and displace oxygen. Why should the increased affinity of crocodile hemoglobin for bicarbonate ion allow the crocodile to hold its breath for long periods of time? Crocodiles of the Nile often attack and kill large animals (such as wildebeest) by dragging them under the water and drowning them! Crocodiles can do this because they have the amazing ability to stay under the water for an hour or more. Part of the explanation lies in the structure of crocodile hemoglobin. Bicarbonate ions can bind to crocodile hemoglobin and displace oxygen. Why should the increased affinity of crocodile hemoglobin for bicarbonate ion allow the crocodile to hold its breath for long periods of time?Explanation / Answer
When crocodile used to have its prey to underwater they utilise lots of the energy to keep the jaws clamped on prey, the oxygen is consumed and the carbon di oxide is produced. the carbon di oxide is converted to the protons and the bicarbonate ions as follows:
CO2 + H2O H2CO3 H+ + HCO3 -
the H+ is an allosteric inhibitor which specifically binds deoxy or T state of the hemoglobin, shifting equilibrium from R state to T state. This is called pH Bohr Effect. In addition to this, the HCO3 - also specifically bind to the deoxy or T state of the crocodile hemoglobin. The shift to deoxy or T state bythe H+ and HCO3 - lowers the Hb affinity for the O2, allowing it for nearly complete O2 unloading and the utilization in crocodile’s blood.
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