What is the RBC protein responsible for carrying oxygen?

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Oxygen transport in the bloodstream is accomplished by hemoglobin inside red blood cells. Each hemoglobin molecule contains four heme groups with iron that bind oxygen. In the lungs, oxygen binds to iron, and as blood travels to tissues with lower oxygen tension, hemoglobin releases it for cellular use. This binding and release support efficient delivery of oxygen where it’s needed. Myoglobin stores oxygen in muscle tissue and is not circulating in the blood, so it doesn’t carry oxygen through the bloodstream. Fibrinogen is a clotting protein, and albumin helps maintain blood volume and transport various substances but does not transport oxygen. Therefore, the RBC protein responsible for carrying oxygen is hemoglobin.