alleryStart learning →What role does the trace mineral zinc play in erythrocyte production?
AIt binds oxygen at the heme centre
BIt stores surplus iron in the spleen
CIt is a co-enzyme for heme synthesis
DIt carries iron across the gut wall
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. It is a co-enzyme for heme synthesis
1. Zinc functions as a co-enzyme in erythrocyte production.
2. The reaction it facilitates is the synthesis of the heme portion of hemoglobin.
3. Oxygen binds to the iron ion of heme, not to zinc, so the first option confuses the two metals.
4. Iron storage is handled by ferritin and hemosiderin, and transport across the intestinal cell membrane by ferroportin, so neither of those roles belongs to zinc.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 18 "The Cardiovascular System: Blood", section 18.3 Erythrocytes_
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