Short answer Instructions- On this exam you must answer a…
Short answer Instructions- On this exam you must answer a single free response question. The question is worth 10 points, be as concise as possible. Treatment of hemoglobin with low concentrations of urea (a chaotropic agent that at high concentrations will completely denature proteins) results in the disruption of the α and β-subunit interfaces. This disruption will cause all four subunits to dissociate resulting in the loss of the normal quaternary structure hemoglobin exhibits, BUT the subunits will retain their tertiary structure and will still function in oxygen binding. Given this information answer the following questions: Will the oxygen-binding curve of hemoglobin in low concentrations of urea be sigmoidal or hyperbolic (simply state “sigmoidal” or “hyperbolic”) (2.5 points)? Will the oxygen-binding curve of hemoglobin in low concentrations of urea have a higher or lower affinity for oxygen relative to hemoglobin under normal conditions (simply state “higher” or “lower”) (2.5 points)? Now state WHY you think hemoglobin has a lower or higher affinity for oxygen when placed in a solution with low concentrations of urea (5 points)?