Model for the action of hemoglobin.

A model is developed for hemoglobin which depends on six Bohr groups per tetramer of hemoglobin. These six groups are assumed to be located in six regions between the four subunits of hemoglobin. When the Bohr groups are assumed to be perturbed in an asymmetrical manner on binding oxygen, these groups then generate the cooperative interactions of hemoglobin. This approach makes it possible to explain oxygen binding, the Bohr effect, specific salt effects, and aggregation effects in a unified manner.