Figure 5. Graphical Representations of the Three Underlying Pathways of HIFα Degradation: p ₁, p ₇, and p ₉ .

Through p ₁, HIFα is degraded directly by k ₂. In p ₇, HIFα first binds with PHD after synthesis. HIFα:PHD is then dissociated into PHD and HIFαOH with the participation of oxygen. HIFαOH then binds with VHL to form HIFαOH:VHL. Finally, the dissociation of HIFαOH:VHL concludes HIFα degradation. The pathway p ₉ differs from p ₇ only in that HIFα first binds with ARNT after synthesization.