Chloride Shift Mechanism

Role Play

Narrator: One upon a time there was Carbon dioxide being produced in our tissues during
metabolism, and we need to get rid of it in the lungs while breathing. We have blood
vessels (capillaries) that pass through these tissues. Blood has two components, the Red
Blood Cells (RBC) and the liquid part, the plasma. Remember that only the RBCs have an
enzyme called Carbonic Anhydrase, and the plasma doesnt.) one day Carbon dioxide
moved into the Red blood cell.

CO2: Well, Im hereFeel at home? Hahahah just kidding. But it seems that this is my
loving place, and then therefore I will do everything. But its a kind of boring here if
somebody will not come and make love with me. (Feel Sad and Crying).

Narrator: So the Carbon dioxide that is produced in the tissues that enters the red blood
cell is felt of being bad of what shes thinking, and here comes Mr. Water. Mr. Water is
now passing by to Miss. Carbon dioxide, and looking to each other and merely talking
about status in life.

Mr. Water: Oh HI! Miss. Red Blood Sexy Cell. By the way Im Mr. Water. Is it your first time
here?

CO2: Nope, this is my lovely place.hehehe( simply walking anywhere)

Mr. Water: But you are not familiar with me. Anyways nice to meet you, my sexy CO2.

CO2: Same to you Mr. Water.

Mr. Water: Are you single or married. Ohhh dont get me wrong with my question
(Laughing his eyes).

CO2: Well to be honest with you, I am now single and ready to mingle. If carbonic
anhydrase, allow me to find somebody here and become my partner. Then therefore I
can say he is my destiny ever (Laughing). I believed Baka Kaya tayo iniiwan ng mahal
natin, kac baka may bagong dadating na mas ok. Na mas mamahalin tayo. Yung di tayo
sasaktan at paaasahin, at nag-iisa lang sya na magtatama ng mali sa buhay natin at
lahat ng mali sa buhay mo at higit sa lahat magme-maintain ng electrical neutrality ng
cell. Hahhha

Mr. Water: What if he is here? And now somewhat facing on you, and talking now?

Narrator: After few seconds, they heard some voice coming from an unknown place.

Carbonic Anhydrase: Mr. Water you should get the hand on CO2 in order for you for the
react each other and have that thing Pag-ibig. And dont you worry I am here in the
middle to guide your journey in life (Big Voices come out somewhere)
Mr. Water: oh carbonic anhydrase, I know this is your obligation to simply partner our
functionality here. I Mr. Water and she is Miss. CO2 and now reacting to each other and
make love, because of you power.

Carbonic Anhydrase: precisely, and enjoy. your journey.

Narrator: After the reaction, the Carbonic Acid (H2CO3) that is formed from the step
above, breaks down to Bicarbonate (HCO3) and H+ in a fraction of a second.

Carbonic Acid: Well3x,, I love this place( Laughing). Ohhhh what happen?

Narrator: After a few seconds, carbonic acid was break down bicarbonate and reacted to
H+. Only HCO3 and H+ were left at this point. But in order to make their journey better.
Miss.HCO3 diffuses out of the RBC into the plasma and Miss. H+ combines with Miss.
Hemoglobin in the RBC to form Miss. Acid Hemoglobin.

Miss.HCO3: I am leaving now; I feel being degraded here, because you treated me as
negative one (Crying out loud)

Mr. Plasma: Dont you worry my dear HCO3. As your plasma friend I will tell you the
truth, that you are not just one who was treated negatively but also my daughter. I have
my daughter chloride or Cl which also a negative charge.

Miss. HCO3: Oh really? Thank you my friend, and now I feel comfortable with my
experience and feelings now.

Narrator: So in order to maintain the neutrality, Miss. Cl from the Father plasma moves
into the RBC. This is Chloride shift in short. These two negative ions Chloride and
Bicarbonate move in opposite directions through a carrier protein called bicarbonate-
chloride carrier protein that is present in the RBC membrane.

Things to keep in mind:

a. Whenever this blood enters into the lungs, all of these reactions are reversed,
and the CO2 diffuses out of the blood stream and into the alveoli of the lungs,
where it is exhaled

b. Because of the chloride shift, the Chloride content of the venous RBCs is greater
than the arterial RBCs.

End.