Hemocyanin

<p>Hemocyanins (also spelled haemocyanins and abbreviated Hc) are  <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">proteins</a> that transport oxygen throughout the bodies of some <a href="/facts/Invertebrate/3CyqCVnN">invertebrate</a> animals. These <a href="/facts/Metalloprotein/c0cXhyG4">metalloproteins</a> contain two <a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">copper</a> atoms that reversibly bind a single <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a> molecule (O2). They are second only to <a href="/facts/Hemoglobin/RsD1MzYA">hemoglobin</a> in frequency of use as an oxygen transport molecule. Unlike the hemoglobin in <a href="/facts/Red_blood_cells/Kggpq8Jh">red blood cells</a> found in <a href="/facts/Vertebrates/tT54FSTT">vertebrates</a>, hemocyanins are not confined in blood cells, but are instead suspended directly in the <a href="/facts/Hemolymph/6tHgrY6c">hemolymph</a>. Oxygenation causes a <a href="/facts/Color/XDvW7ESP">color</a> change between the colorless Cu(I) deoxygenated form and the <a href="/facts/Blue/DHWb8MUa">blue</a> Cu(II) oxygenated form.
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Hemocyanin open-in-new

Hemocyanin