[Allosteric regulators of reversible oxygenation of hemoglobin]

Properties of regulators of reversible haemoglobin oxygenation, especially of a natural regulator, 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (DPG), are reviewed. DPG provides effective deoxygenation of haemoglobin, helps to maintain its functional properties preventing its transformation into inactive derivatives. Correlation between organism metabolic requirements and haemoglobin oxygen affinity is established by erythrocyte DPG. Several functional analogues of DPG, their structure--activity relationship and possible medical application are discussed.