[Research progress on the correlation between hemoglobin gene polymorphism and high-altitude hypoxia adaptation]

Hemoglobin in red blood cells is essential for oxygen binding, transport, and delivery, functioning as a molecular switch between the deoxygenated (T-state) and oxygenated (R-state) conformations. Genetic polymorphisms in hemoglobin can significantly alter its oxygen affinity. While current research often focuses on endogenous and exogenous modulators of hemoglobin conformation, the role of these polymorphisms in high-altitude hypoxia adaptation remains less reviewed. This article starts from the phenomenon of amino acid substitution in globin chains, summarizes the effects of gene polymorphism on the structure and function of hemoglobin, and explores the association between high-oxygen-affinity hemoglobin and high-altitude hypoxia adaptation, hoping to provide new ideas for high-altitude hypoxia adaptation research.