What is the Difference Between Hemocyanin and Hemoglobin?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Hemocyanin and hemoglobin are both respiratory pigments that facilitate gas exchange in the blood of various organisms. However, they have some key differences:
- Structure and Composition: Hemocyanin is a copper-containing protein found in some marine invertebrates such as molluscs, squids, and arthropods like scorpions, spiders, and horseshoe crabs. Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein found in the red blood cells of vertebrates.
- Blood Cell Association: Hemocyanin is a free-floating protein in the hemolymph, while hemoglobin is bound to red blood cells.
- Oxygen Binding Capacity: Hemocyanin is larger than hemoglobin and can bind 96 oxygen atoms, whereas hemoglobin can bind only four oxygen atoms.
- Stability and Temperature: Hemocyanin is a more stable molecule that can function at temperatures up to 90°C and in cold climates, while hemoglobin is less efficient in such conditions.
- Color: Hemocyanin gives the blood a blue color when oxygenated due to the presence of copper, while hemoglobin gives blood a red color when oxygenated due to the presence of iron.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Hemocyanin and Hemoglobin? Comparative Table: Hemocyanin vs Hemoglobin
Comparative Table: Hemocyanin vs Hemoglobin
Here is a table comparing the differences between hemocyanin and hemoglobin:
Feature | Hemocyanin | Hemoglobin |
---|---|---|
Definition | Hemocyanin is a copper-containing respiratory pigment found in the hemolymph of invertebrates. | Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein in the red blood cells of vertebrates that transports oxygen. |
Structure | Composed of many protein subunits. | Composed of two alpha chains and two beta chains. |
Size | Larger molecule compared to hemoglobin. | Smaller molecule compared to hemocyanin. |
Oxygen Binding Capacity | Binds to 96 oxygen molecules. | Binds to 4 oxygen molecules. |
Color | Appears blue when copper binds to oxygen. | Appears bright red when iron binds to oxygen. |
Presence | Found in mollusks and arthropods, such as the horseshoe crab and the giant octopus. | Found in vertebrates, including humans. |
Efficiency | Better than hemoglobin in lower oxygen environments and colder temperatures. | Less efficient than hemocyanin in lower oxygen environments and colder temperatures. |
These differences highlight the unique properties of hemocyanin and hemoglobin, which facilitate gas exchange in invertebrates and vertebrates, respectively.
Read more:
- Iron vs Hemoglobin
- Hemoglobin vs Hematocrit
- Hemoglobin vs Myoglobin
- Chlorophyll vs Haemoglobin
- Heme vs Hemin
- Ferritin vs Hemoglobin
- Normal Hemoglobin vs Sickle Cell Hemoglobin
- Oxygenated vs Deoxygenated Hemoglobin
- Hemolytic Anemia vs Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Hematuria vs Hemoglobinuria
- Blood vs Hemolymph
- Magnetite vs Hematite
- Anthocyanin vs Anthocyanidin
- Hemochromatosis vs Thalassemia
- Red Blood Cell vs White Blood Cell
- Hematopoiesis vs Erythropoiesis
- HbA vs HbF
- Ferritin vs Hemosiderin
- Hematocrit vs RBC Count