The Oxygen Equilibrium of Hemoglobin and Its Structural Interpretation

Abstract

It is shown that the data on the oxygen equilibrium of Hb indicate that the 4 hemes of the molecule are arranged at the corners of a square; each heme is connected with 2 others in such a way as to give rise to an interaction energy of 1500 cal./mole for each pair of adjacent oxyhemes, and each heme contains 2 acid groups, the acid group-oxyheme interaction energy being 820 cal./mole.