Define proteins as biological buffers, Biology

Assignment Help:

Define Proteins as biological buffers?

Proteins have the ability to accept or donate hydrogen ions and by doing so they serve as biological buffers. In blood, there are three important buffering systems - plasma proteins, haemoglobin and carbonic acid bicarbonate. The equilibrium reactions for each of these buffering systems are as follows:

1549_Define Proteins as biological buffers.png

The first of these buffering systems, the plasma proteins, functions as a weak acid1 salt buffer when the free carboxyl groups on the protein dissociate, or as a weak base/salt buffer when the free amino groups dissociate. Although the buffering ability of the plasma protein is extremely important in maintaining blood pH, it is not as important as the other two systems, the second buffering system, carbonic acid-bicarbonate, is extremely effective because there are reactions which follow this equilibrium which will regulate either acids or bases.

The H2CO3 level in plasma never goes too high because it is in equilibrium with CO2 (H2CO3 → CO2 + H2O), which is expired by the lungs. In blood, this equilibrium proceeds very quickly because of the presence of carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme found in red blood cells which catalyze it. If the carbonic acid-bicarbonate reaction goes in the opposite direction, the concentration of the HCO3- so formed will be regulated by the kidneys. The third important buffering system in blood results from haemoglobin. Haemoglobin has six times the buffering power of the plasma proteins. It functions well as a buffer because it is present in large amounts, it contains 38 histidine residues (Histidine residues are good buffers because they can dissociate to H+ and the imidazole group) and because haemoglobin exists in blood in two forms, reduced haemoglobin and oxy haemoglobin. It is thus a weaker acid and a better buffer.

 


Related Discussions:- Define proteins as biological buffers

Define behaviour modification - combat from obesity problem, Define Behavio...

Define Behaviour modification - combat from obesity Problem? It is very important. A heavy parental hand and parent attitude and behaviours towards child's eating, interferes i

Lipoproteins help in transport of lipids, Four major groups of lipoproteins...

Four major groups of lipoproteins help in transport of lipids. These include: 1.  Chylonzicrons-function is to carry dietary triacylglycerols 2.  Very  low  density lipoprot

Phototheraphy and exchange transfusion, PHOTOTHERAPHY AND EXCHANGE TRANSFUS...

PHOTOTHERAPHY AND EXCHANGE TRANSFUSION: This section will enable you to acquire skills related to phototherapy and exchange transfusion. You will also review the indication

Viruses, are viruses cellular organisms

are viruses cellular organisms

A fruit fly has four pairs of chromosomes in its cells, A fruit fly has fou...

A fruit fly has four pairs of chromosomes in its cells. At meiosis, how many dissimilar combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes are possible in the gametes? In gamet

Diet counseling for a successful weight reduction programme, Explain the Di...

Explain the Diet Counseling for a successful weight reduction programme? As discussed above diet counseling is a very important aspect of a successful weight reduction programm

Explain academic dietitians, Teaching / academic dietitians Dietitians ...

Teaching / academic dietitians Dietitians process knowledge on all  aspects  01  nutrition  and dictetics.  They constantly keep  themselves updated  in  the necessary  informa

Determine about the chloroplast, Determine about the Chloroplast One of...

Determine about the Chloroplast One of the most distinguishing features of all eukaryotic plant cells is that in addition to mitochondria, they contain special light harvesting

Solid waste management, Solid waste management, Other Management The solid...

Solid waste management, Other Management The solid wastes from a summer camp with 100 children and a staff of 25 are to be collected once per week. If bottles and cans (representi

Development of nutritional biochemistry, Development of Nutritional Biochem...

Development of Nutritional Biochemistry Nutrition,  in  general, and  particularly nutritional biochemistry, has  traveled a  long way since 1926, when nutrition was first reco

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd