Cooperative binding of oxygen to hemoglobin: analysis of accurate equilibrium binding data

Accurate equilibrium binding data for the oxygenation of hemoglobin are used (a) to show that various models for cooperativity are inconsistent with the best available experimental data, (b) to determine the equilibrium constants for binding of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to hemoglobin molecules in intermediate stages of oxygenation, and (c) to deduce a mechanism for allosteric effects in hemoglobin which is consistent with the best available experimental data. The total free energy of cooperativity is defined and discussed.