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Hemoglobin affinity and structure in high-altitude and sea-level carnivores from Peru
F León-Velarde1, C de Muizon, J A Palacios
1Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas/Instituto de Investagaciones de la Altura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú.
Abstract:
We compared hemoglobin affinity (P50) and structure of high altitude (HA) carnivores with populations of the same species or genus living at sea level (SL). P50 was measured in cats, pumas and foxes. It differed in animals occupying both niches. SL: cat 29.3 torr, puma 36.3 torr, fox 26.2 torr; HA: cat 22.5 torr, puma 31.1 torr, fox 18.5 torr. Heme and globins were fractionated by HPLC. Puma and fox hemoglobins also showed structural differences. P50 is lower in genotypically HA-adapted species studied and can differentiate SL and HA populations of the same species.