Levels of protein structure shown by the haemoglobin molecule

Amino acid colour codes: ASP, GLU, CYS, MET, LYS, ARG, SER, THR, PHE, TYR, ASN, GLN, GLY, LEU, VAL, ILE , ALA, TRP, HIS and PRO.

PRIMARY STRUCTURE

Initial view shows one of the α chains as a smooth trace, coloured by residues (see above)

Name α chain residues on a trace

Number α chain residues on a trace

Unlabel residues

SECONDARY STRUCTURE

Ribbon display α chain

Cartoon format α chain

Show / hide α chain molecular detail

Show / hide α chain hydrogen bonds

TERTIARY STRUCTURE

Show α chain haem unit (ball & stick)

Show α chain histidines 58 and 87

QUATERNARY STRUCTURE

Show all 4 chains as ribbons, traces , all 4 haems

FUNCTION: OXYGEN STORAGE WITHIN RED BLOOD CELLS

Show oxygens (spacefill) - only on the 2 alpha chains

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This graphics display was prepared to support a unit on the levels of protein structure using haemoglobin and myoglobin as an example.

Web references

Liddington, R., Derewenda, Z., Dodson, E., Hubbard, R., Dodson, G. High resolution crystal structures and comparisons of T-state deoxyhaemoglobin and two liganded T-state haemoglobins: T(alpha-oxy)haemoglobin and T(met)haemoglobin. J.Mol.Biol. v228 pp.551-579 , 1992 [ PDB Abstract ]