What is Cooperative binding?
'''Cooperative binding''' is when the number of small molecules binding to a [[macromolecule]] depends on the [[concentration]] of those small molecules around the macromolecule.<ref>Heinz Decker & Kensal E van Holde 2011. ''Oxygen and the evolution of life'' Heidelberg; New York: Springer, p. 84</ref> This is a type of [[molecular binding]], which is where [[molecule]]s attach to each other in a stable way without [[Radioactive decay|decaying]] or breaking that [[Chemical bond|bond]] rapidly. == Example == A popular [[example]] of cooperative binding is between [[hemoglobin]] and [[oxygen]].<ref>Michael L Johnson; Jo M Holt; Gary K Ackers 2011. ''Biothermodynamics'', Part D Amsterdam, Netherlands; Boston, MA: Elsevier/Academic Press, p. xiii</ref> In the [[lung]]s, there is a very high [[concentration]] of oxygen in the [[alveoli]] of the lungs. So the oxygen bonds to haemoglobin to form [[oxyhaemoglobin]].<ref>Pamela C. Champe; Richard A. Harvey; Denise R. Ferrier 2005. ''Biochemistry'' Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, p. 29</ref> When this travels around the body in the [[blood]] and reaches areas of low oxygen concentration, the oxygen is released from the haemoglobin.<ref>Pauling L. 1935. The oxygen equilibrium of hemoglobin and its structural interpretation. ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America'' '''21''' (4): 186–191. [http://www.pnas.org/content/21/4/186] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604101914/http://www.pnas.org/content/21/4/186 |date=2018-06-04 }}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} == Other websites == *[https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/human-biology/circulatory-pulmonary/v/hemoglobin Khan Academy-Haemoglobin] {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Biochemistry]]