Why are red blood cells (RBCs) so good at transporting oxygen?

Check out this article on red blood cells, and the components that make them so good at transporting oxygen.
Last update13th Nov 2020

Once oxygen enters the pulmonary capillaries from the alveoli, a portion of the oxygen remains in the plasma while most of it enters the red blood cells (RBCs).

Figure 1. Oxygen enters the pulmonary capillaries from the alveoli. A portion of the oxygen remains in the plasma while most of it enters the red blood cells (RBCs).

RBCs

The red blood cells are derived from bone marrow progenitor cells. With maturation, the red cell loses its nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria. This means the red cell can’t divide, conduct oxidative phosphorylation, or synthesize proteins.
Figure 2. Red blood cells (RBCs) are derived from bone marrow progenitor cells. Maturation of the red blood cell involves the loss of the nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria.

But it can function as a very effective transporter. The concave shape provides a large surface area; the membrane, a typical bilayer, is pliable and relatively durable allowing it to fold on itself and fit through the tiny capillaries. In addition, the red cell’s membrane facilitates oxygen entry into the cell. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the red blood cells also contain hemoglobin.

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Hemoglobin

Each molecule of hemoglobin contains a globin protein and heme, which is a complex of iron and porphyrin.
Figure 3. Each molecule of hemoglobin contains a globin protein and heme, which is a complex of iron and porphyrin.

The globin protein in a single hemoglobin molecule is a tetramer of polypeptides, including two alpha and two non-alpha types. The major hemoglobin in adults, Hemoglobin A1, consists of two alpha and two beta chains (alpha2 / beta2). The minor adult hemoglobin, Hemoglobin A2, consists of two alpha and two delta chains (alpha2 / delta2). Each of the subunit moieties binds non-covalently with the others.

The heme component of hemoglobin consists of a single ferrous ion (Fe2+) chelated to a porphyrin ring known as protoporphyrin IX. A single oxygen molecule binds to each heme moiety within each of the four protein chains. The oxygen molecules bind avidly, but reversibly, enabling each hemoglobin molecule to carry four molecules of oxygen.
Figure 4. Each heme component of hemoglobin consists of a single ferrous iron (Fe2+) chelated to a porphyrin ring. A single oxygen molecule reversibly binds to each heme moiety within each of the four protein chains.

Hemoglobin loaded with a full complement of oxygen is known as oxyhemoglobin; hemoglobin without oxygen, or without a full complement of oxygen, is known as deoxygenated hemoglobin or deoxyhemoglobin.

When isolated from the heme proteins, ionic ferrous heme binds oxygen irreversibly, producing oxidized, ferric heme (Fe+++), a complex which prevents oxygen unloading in peripheral tissues. The special arrangement of heme and proteins within hemoglobin prevents ferric ion formation, facilitating reversible oxygen loading and unloading.
Figure 5. Isolated ionic ferrous heme binds irreversibly to oxygen, producing oxidized ferric heme (Fe+++). The heme arrangement prevents ferric iron formation by facilitating reversible oxygen loading and unloading.

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Recommended reading

  • Grippi, MA. 1995. “Gas exchange in the lung”. In: Lippincott's Pathophysiology Series: Pulmonary Pathophysiology. 1st edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (Grippi 1995, 137–149)
  • Grippi, MA. 1995. “Clinical presentations: gas exchange and transport”. In: Lippincott's Pathophysiology Series: Pulmonary Pathophysiology. 1st edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (Grippi 1995, 171–176)
  • Grippi, MA and Tino, G. 2015. “Pulmonary function testing”. In: Fishman's Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders, edited by MA, Grippi (editor-in-chief), JA, Elias, JA, Fishman, RM, Kotloff, AI, Pack, RM, Senior (editors). 5th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Education. (Grippi and Tino 2015, 502–536)
  • Tino, G and Grippi, MA. 1995. “Gas transport to and from peripheral tissues”. In: Lippincott's Pathophysiology Series: Pulmonary Pathophysiology. 1st edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (Tino and Grippi 1995, 151–170)
  • Wagner, PD. 2015. The physiologic basis of pulmonary gas exchange: implications for clinical interpretation of arterial blood gases. Eur Respir J45: 227–243. PMID: 25323225

About the author

Michael A. Grippi, MD
Michael is Vice Chairman in the Department of Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
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