The molecular structure of hemoglobin (which colors the blood red) that is present in red blood cells. It is named for heme (Häm in the picutre).
The adult AbA1 consists of 4 parts (tetramer of polypeptide-chains): Two alpha-protein-chains and two beta-protein-chains. Each of these chains contains a porphyrin-ring with iron (called heme) as a prosthertic group and a globulin.
The molecular conformation of the chains changes for oxygen acceptance and release.
Gas trasport is the main task of the red blood cells.(labelled)
