THE ROLE OF HEMOGLOBIN IN GENERATING OXYRADICALS

The largest fraction of dioxygen in mammalian systems is associated with hemoglobin. The primary function of hemoglobin is the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, which requires reversible oxygen binding. Nevertheless, a slow rate of autoxidation does take place. It has furthermore been demonstrated that autoxidation coincides with the formation of superoxide.1,2