Hemoglobin from bovine blood

Hemoglobin is the major component of red blood cells, and is responsible for their red color. Its normal concentration in erythrocytes is 34%. Hemoglobin is a globular protein with α and β chains with each 141 and 146 amino acids, respectively. It exists as a tetramer with each monomer having heterocyclic porphyrin ring with iron constituting the heme.

Hemoglobin from bovine blood has been used in:

• standard curve generation for the quantification intraparenchymal hemorrhage and parenchymal hemorrhage in spinal cord homogenate using Drabkin′s assay, Quadrupole-Ion Mobility-Time-of-Flight mass spectrometery
• the generation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to mimic high molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) in crystallization studies

The solubility of α-elastin has been applied to construction of elastin-mimetic biomaterials.

Hemoglobin is the most important respiratory protein of vertebrates by virtue of its ability to transport oxygen from the lungs to body tissues, and to facilitate the return transport of carbon dioxide. Bovine hemoglobin is used in the generation of hemoglobin-vesicles (HbV) for oxygen transport. It is thermally stable and displays high affinity to oxygen when compared to human hemoglobin. Bovine hemoglobin interacts with synthetic and azo dyes. Polymerized forms of bovine haemoglobin is recommended for treating autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Oxygen transporter, NO scavenger

Oxygen transporter. The Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ balance is a physiological indicator of blood oxygenation; deoxygenated hemoglobin accessorizes a feedback loop by reducing nitrite to NO, a vasodilator which enhances blood flow to oxygen-deprived tissues.

Since native hemoglobin is readily oxidized in air, these preparations may be predominantly methemoglobin.