Question

What function does 2,3,-DPG serve in oxygen exchange?

Answer 1

2,3-DPG serve in Oxygen exchange because it can bind with haemoglobin

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) is a special intermediate of glycolysis in erythrocytes which is rapidly consumed under conditions of normal oxygen tension. However, when hypoxia is encountered in peripheral tissues, the concentration of 2,3-DPG can accumulate to significant levels within hours. At these concentrations, 2,3-DPG can bind to hemoglobin and reduce its affinity for oxygen, resulting in a right-ward shift of the Oxygen-Hemoglobin Dissociation Curve discussed in Oxygen Transport. This results in enhanced unloading of oxygen by hemoglobin and thus results in enhanced oxygen transport to tissues encountering long-term hypoxia.