Explain the Bohr effect on the release of O2

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The influence of CO2 and acid on the release of O2 is known as the Bohr effect. Both CO2 and the hydrogen ion component of acids can combine reversibly with hemoglobin at sites other than the O2-binding sites. The result is a change in the molecular structure of hemoglobin that reduces its affinity for O2 . The percentage of hemoglobin saturation refers only to the extent to which hemoglobin is combined with O2, not the extent to which it is bound with CO2, hydrogen ion, or other molecules. Indeed, the percentage of hemoglobin saturation decreases when CO2 and hydrogen ions bind with hemoglobin, because their presence on hemoglobin facilitates increased release of O2 from hemoglobin.