Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. It's made up of two main components: globin and heme.
- Globin is a protein that consists of four polypeptide chains: two alpha chains and two beta chains. These chains fold together to form a tetrahedral structure.
- Heme is a molecule containing iron. Each heme group binds to one of the globin chains and is responsible for binding oxygen.
In summary, hemoglobin is made of four globin chains and four heme groups, which work together to carry oxygen throughout the body.