This causes the oxygen-binding curve to shift to the right which is the Bohr effect . Diphosphoglyceric acid Diphosphoglyceric acid is found in mature mammalian red blood cells and increases in response to exercise and high altitudes. Diphosphoglyceric acid reversibly combines with deoxygenated hemoglobin and changes hemoglobin s shape. Hemoglobin now has a lower affinity for oxygen and releases it. This will shift hemoglobin s curve to the right.
Muscle cells have their own oxygen-binding molecule called myoglobin.
It holds oxygen at P O2 values at which hemoglobin is releasing it Delivering oxygen to the tissues is only half of the respiratory function of the blood. Blood also must take waste products such as carbon dioxide away from the tissues. Carbon dioxide diffuses through cell membranes, moving from its site of production into the blood. Red blood cells have an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase which speeds up the reaction. This facilitates the diffusion of carbon dioxide from tissues, into the plasma, and into the red blood cells.