Real-time tracking of CO migration and binding in the α and β subunits of human hemoglobin via 150-ps time-resolved Laue crystallography

► 150-ps Time-resolved Laue crystallography has unveiled ligand dynamics in hemoglobin. ► Significant kinetic differences are observed in the α and β subunits of hemoglobin. ► The B-site lifetime is ∼1.6 ns in β, and ∼18 ns in α. ► The B-site location in β is ∼0.25 Å closer to the binding site than in α. ► The correlation between CO position and rebinding rate suggests distal control.