Hemoglobin structure and allosteric mechanism
Chapter 4 provides an overview of hemoglobin structure and explains the mechanistic basis of ligand-binding dynamics and allosteric effects. The chapter provides an overview of decades of research on structure-function relationships based on X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This body of work has provided atomic level insights into the structural mechanisms underlying key functional properties. The chapter also reviews experimental data on the ligand-binding behavior of hemoglobin, and discusses how the oxygenation properties of blood reflect a complex and dynamic interplay between the intrinsic O2-binding properties of hemoglobin and its operating conditions in the chemical milieu of the red blood cell.