Possible Relationship Between Energy Metabolism of Muscle and Oxygen Binding Characteristics of Haemocyanin of Cephalopods

Abstract

The pronounced Bohr shift of cephalopod haemocyanin may be related to the formation of octopine, rather than lactate, by cephalopod muscle. Octopine is a much weaker acid than lactate.A highly pH-sensitive oxygen binding curve would permit the efficient unloading of oxygen at the tissues even for a moderately small decrease in venous pH.