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Hemoprotein: History
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Contributor: Yu Peng

A hemoprotein is a protein whose molecular structure contains heme as an integral iron–porphyrin cofactor. Heme consists of a protoporphyrin IX macrocycle that coordinates a central iron ion; interactions between the iron, porphyrin, axial ligand residues, and surrounding amino acids establish the chemical and spectroscopic properties of the holoprotein [1][2]. The protein framework forms a heme-binding pocket that positions the cofactor, controls its coordination state and redox environment, and regulates access of small ligands or substrates [2]. Hemoproteins encompass globins, including hemoglobin, whose globin subunits each contain a heme group coordinated by a proximal histidine residue. In tetrameric hemoglobin, heme-containing subunits form an allosterically coupled assembly in which ligand binding is linked to conformational transitions and cooperative oxygen binding [3]. The term therefore covers the heme cofactor, its binding site, and the protein architecture that collectively specify heme-dependent molecular activity [1][2][3].

  • heme
  • hemoglobin
  • globin
  • iron–porphyrin cofactor

🔵 Hemoglobin structure and function • 🟣 Cell Biology • 🟡 Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology • 🔴 Life Sciences

References

  1. Thomas L. Poulos; Heme Enzyme Structure and Function. Chem. Rev. 2014, 114, 3919-3962, 10.1021/cr400415k.
  2. Emily Samuela Turilli-Ghisolfi; Marta Lualdi; Mauro Fasano; Ligand-Based Regulation of Dynamics and Reactivity of Hemoproteins. Biomol. 2023, 13, 683, 10.3390/biom13040683.
  3. M. F. Perutz; Stereochemistry of Cooperative Effects in Haemoglobin: Haem–Haem Interaction and the Problem of Allostery. Nat. 1970, 228, 726-734, 10.1038/228726a0.
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