Hemoglobin is a protein. It is found in red blood cells and is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and returning carbon dioxide from the body back to the lungs.
Proteins are large, complex molecules that are essential for the structure, function, and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs. Hemoglobin is composed of four polypeptide chains, and each chain contains an iron-containing heme group that binds to oxygen. This unique structure allows hemoglobin to efficiently carry oxygen, making it a crucial component of our blood.
Unlike carbohydrates, which serve mainly as energy sources; lipids, which are primarily involved in long-term energy storage and cell membrane structure; and nucleic acids, which are responsible for the storage and transmission of genetic information, hemoglobin’s primary role is in gas exchange and supporting cellular respiration.