A crocodile, which can remain underwater without breathing for up to 1 hour drowns its air-breathing prey, then dines at its leisure. An adaptation that aids the crocodile in doing so is that it can utilize virtually 100% of the O2 in its blood whereas humans, for example, can only extract about 65% of the O2 in their blood. Crocodile Hb does not bind BPG. However, crocodile deoxyHb preferentially binds HCO3-. How does this help the crocodile obtain its dinner?
Please help explain why/if this is the answer, thank you!
As CO2 concentrations increase so will the concentration of HCO3-. The HCO3- preferentially binds to the crocodile's deoxyhemoglobin, which allosterically prompts the hemoglobin to assume the deoxy conformation and thus release its O2.
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
