Question:
Carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the following reaction in red blood cells.
\[ \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightleftharpoons \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3 \rightleftharpoons \text{HCO}_3^- + \text{H}^+ \]
This reaction acts as a buffering system in blood. Consequence of failure of the enzyme to catalyze the reverse reaction is:
Carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the following reaction in red blood cells.
\[ \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightleftharpoons \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3 \rightleftharpoons \text{HCO}_3^- + \text{H}^+ \]
This reaction acts as a buffering system in blood. Consequence of failure of the enzyme to catalyze the reverse reaction is:
\[ \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightleftharpoons \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3 \rightleftharpoons \text{HCO}_3^- + \text{H}^+ \]
This reaction acts as a buffering system in blood. Consequence of failure of the enzyme to catalyze the reverse reaction is:
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Remember the Bohr Effect: High $\text{H}^+$ (acidity) and high $\text{CO}_2$ shift the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the right, which physically means hemoglobin has a decreased affinity for $\text{O}_2$.
Updated On: Jun 16, 2026
- Blood becomes acidic and the affinity of haemoglobin for $\text{O}_2$ decreases.
- The $\text{pCO}_2$ increases and the affinity of haemoglobin for $\text{CO}_2$ increases.
- The $\text{pO}_2$ of the blood decreases and the affinity of haemoglobin for $\text{O}_2$ increases.
- Blood becomes acidic and the formation of carbamino-haemoglobin decreases.
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
This question asks for the physiological consequences if carbonic anhydrase fails to catalyze the reverse reaction in red blood cells.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• Carbonic anhydrase is a highly efficient enzyme in red blood cells that catalyzes the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide: \[ \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightleftharpoons \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3 \rightleftharpoons \text{HCO}_3^- + \text{H}^+ \]
• In systemic tissues, carbon dioxide produced by respiration enters the red blood cells and is converted into bicarbonate ($\text{HCO}_3^-$) and hydrogen ions ($\text{H}^+$).
• In the lungs, the enzyme must catalyze the reverse reaction to convert bicarbonate and hydrogen ions back into carbon dioxide and water so that $\text{CO}_2$ can be exhaled.
• If carbonic anhydrase fails to catalyze the reverse reaction, the conversion of $\text{HCO}_3^-$ and $\text{H}^+$ back to $\text{CO}_2$ is severely hindered.
• As a result, hydrogen ions ($\text{H}^+$) accumulate in the blood, causing the pH of the blood to decrease significantly (the blood becomes acidic).
• According to the Bohr effect, a lower pH (acidic environment) stabilizes the T-state (deoxy-form) of hemoglobin, thereby reducing its affinity for oxygen ($\text{O}_2$) and facilitating oxygen release into tissues.
• This reduction in oxygen affinity at low pH is a direct consequence of the structural changes in hemoglobin triggered by proton binding.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the consequence is that the blood becomes acidic and the affinity of hemoglobin for $\text{O}_2$ decreases.
This question asks for the physiological consequences if carbonic anhydrase fails to catalyze the reverse reaction in red blood cells.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• Carbonic anhydrase is a highly efficient enzyme in red blood cells that catalyzes the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide: \[ \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightleftharpoons \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3 \rightleftharpoons \text{HCO}_3^- + \text{H}^+ \]
• In systemic tissues, carbon dioxide produced by respiration enters the red blood cells and is converted into bicarbonate ($\text{HCO}_3^-$) and hydrogen ions ($\text{H}^+$).
• In the lungs, the enzyme must catalyze the reverse reaction to convert bicarbonate and hydrogen ions back into carbon dioxide and water so that $\text{CO}_2$ can be exhaled.
• If carbonic anhydrase fails to catalyze the reverse reaction, the conversion of $\text{HCO}_3^-$ and $\text{H}^+$ back to $\text{CO}_2$ is severely hindered.
• As a result, hydrogen ions ($\text{H}^+$) accumulate in the blood, causing the pH of the blood to decrease significantly (the blood becomes acidic).
• According to the Bohr effect, a lower pH (acidic environment) stabilizes the T-state (deoxy-form) of hemoglobin, thereby reducing its affinity for oxygen ($\text{O}_2$) and facilitating oxygen release into tissues.
• This reduction in oxygen affinity at low pH is a direct consequence of the structural changes in hemoglobin triggered by proton binding.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the consequence is that the blood becomes acidic and the affinity of hemoglobin for $\text{O}_2$ decreases.
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