Which of the following statements, A to D, is not correct regarding the biochemical processes occurring within a mature mammalian erythrocyte as it passes through a capillary in actively respiring tissue?
Carbonic anhydrase within the erythrocyte cytoplasm catalyses the hydration of dissolved carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid (H2CO3\text{H}_2\text{CO}_3H2CO3).
Hydrogencarbonate ions (HCO3−\text{HCO}_3^-HCO3−) diffuse out of the cell into the plasma, while chloride ions (Cl−\text{Cl}^-Cl−) enter the cell to maintain electrostatic balance.
The binding of hydrogen ions (H+\text{H}^+H+) to oxyhaemoglobin reduces its affinity for oxygen, facilitating the release of oxygen to respiring cells.
The accumulation of hydrogen ions (H+\text{H}^+H+) inside the cell increases the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen, preventing premature dissociation of oxyhaemoglobin.
