The Student Room Group

blood ph

i dont understand this question.

A principle of homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment. An
increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide would change the internal environment
and blood pH.
Explain the importance of maintaining a constant blood pH.

answer
1. Named protein / enzyme (in blood) sensitive to / affected by change in
pH;
Accept converse for MP2 and MP3.
Named example should be a protein that might be affected
(by change in pH) eg haemoglobin, carrier protein in plasma
membrane.
Accept ‘change in H+
concentration’ for ‘change in pH’.
2. (Resultant) change of charge / shape / tertiary structure;
The change in charge idea relates to the enzyme / protein
and not the blood (plasma) or red blood cells.
‘Denaturation’ alone is insufficient.
3. Described effect on named protein or enzyme.
e.g. less oxygen binds with haemoglobin / less transport across membranes /
fewer substrates can fit active site / fewer enzyme-substrate complexes.
Idea of ‘less’ or ‘fewer’ required. Ignore suggestion of ‘no’ or
‘none’.
Blood pH MUST be kept within very small margins to ensure an optimum environment for proteins. If the pH is too high or low, the proteins will denature and will stop functioning.
In terms of haemoglobin, it can take up and release hydrogen ions when blood pH changes a little bit. If pH decreases slightly (more hydrogen ions in the blood), haemoglobin can take in some of those hydrogen ions to return the pH back to normal. However, if there is a large decrease in pH (large increase in hydrogen ion concentration), then the hydrogen ions begin to affect the bonds within haemoglobin, causing it change shape. This results in reduced functional capacity so less oxygen can bind to haemoglobin.
Reply 2
Original post by Emily5243
Blood pH MUST be kept within very small margins to ensure an optimum environment for proteins. If the pH is too high or low, the proteins will denature and will stop functioning.
In terms of haemoglobin, it can take up and release hydrogen ions when blood pH changes a little bit. If pH decreases slightly (more hydrogen ions in the blood), haemoglobin can take in some of those hydrogen ions to return the pH back to normal. However, if there is a large decrease in pH (large increase in hydrogen ion concentration), then the hydrogen ions begin to affect the bonds within haemoglobin, causing it change shape. This results in reduced functional capacity so less oxygen can bind to haemoglobin.

i dont really understand... how does reduced functional capacity means maintaining constant blood PH
Original post by Jshek
i dont really understand... how does reduced functional capacity means maintaining constant blood PH

The question is asking about why it's so important to maintain blood pH. If blood pH isn't maintained, then haemoglobin will not be able to bind to as much oxygen so less oxygen makes it to your cells. The reduced functional capacity occurs as a result of not maintaining blood pH.
Reply 4
Original post by Emily5243
The question is asking about why it's so important to maintain blood pH. If blood pH isn't maintained, then haemoglobin will not be able to bind to as much oxygen so less oxygen makes it to your cells. The reduced functional capacity occurs as a result of not maintaining blood pH.

ok so is this correct

if co2 increases ph decreases and shape changes and more readily oxygen is unloaded. if we didnt maintain it oxygen wont bind to haemaglobin so it will keep on unloading
Original post by Jshek
ok so is this correct

if co2 increases ph decreases and shape changes and more readily oxygen is unloaded. if we didnt maintain it oxygen wont bind to haemaglobin so it will keep on unloading

Exactly!
Reply 6
Original post by Emily5243
Exactly!

thank you life saver

Quick Reply

Latest

Trending

Trending