Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
where
is the equilibrium constant given by:
The factor 4 in the last equation is required to take into consideration of the
four identical subunits capable of binding the first oxygen molecule, while
the factor 1 indicates that there is only one subunit with a bound oxygen
molecule. We also have, for subsequent bindings of oxygen molecules:
For the R-states, the equilibrium constant is similarly defined. The
equilibrium constant between the T- and R-states is
Percentage saturation, y, can again be defined by counting the number of
oxygen molecules on each of the states divided by the total number of
available oxygen binding sites of all the states. It is, with the use of the
summation notation,:
