Optimized Haemoglobin in Humans and Platypus

Neutrons show how the oxygen-transport protein adapts to the body temperature of different species

10.07.2012

For a healthy human organism, the ideal body temperature is about 37 degrees Celsius, while for platypus, 33 degrees are sufficient. Jülich neutron researchers have now discovered in cooperation with colleagues from France and Australia how the haemoglobin of various species adapted to different body temperatures during the course of evolution. Thanks to its properties, haemoglobin can optimally transport oxygen from the lungs to the cells at the respective temperature.

Contact:
Dr. Andreas Stadler

Original publication
Thermal fluctuations of haemoglobin from different species: adaptation to temperature via conformational dynamics, A. M. Stadler, C. J. Garvey, A. Bocahut, S. Sacquin-Mora, I. Digel, G. J. Schneider, F. Natali, G. M. Artmann, and G. Zaccai, J R Soc Interface, 2012