How Many Subunits in Hemoglobin?

Beta-globin is a component (subunit) of a larger protein called hemoglobin, which is located inside red blood cells. In adults, hemoglobin normally consists of four protein subunits: two subunits of beta-globin and two subunits of a protein called alpha-globin, which is produced from another gene called HBA.

What are the subunits of hemoglobin?

Hemoglobin is a known tetramer of protein subunits with two α and two β subunits, myoglobin, and two glutamic acid residues in β subunits.

How many individual subunits are there in hemoglobin?

Hemoglobin comprises four subunits, each having one polypeptide chain and one heme group (Figure ​1). All hemoglobins carry the same prosthetic heme group iron protoporphyrin IX associated with a polypeptide chain of 141 (alpha) and 146 (beta) amino acid residues.