Hemeprotein

A model of Heme B cofactor.

A hemeprotein (or haemprotein; also hemoprotein or haemoprotein), or heme protein, is a metalloprotein containing a heme prosthetic group- an organic compound that allows a protein to carry out several functions that it cannot do alone.^[1] Heme remains bound to the protein permanently, either covalently or noncovalently bound or both.^[2]

The heme contains a reduced iron atom, Fe2+ in the center of a highly hydrophobic, planar, porphyrin ring. The iron has six possible coordination bonds. The porphyrin ring has 4 nitrogen atoms that bind to the iron, leaving two other coordination positions of the iron available for bonding to the histidine of the protein and a divalent atom.^[2]

Hemeproteins probably evolved to incorporate the iron (Fe) atom contained within the protoporphyrin IX ring of heme into proteins. As it makes hemeproteins responsive to molecules that can bind divalent iron (Fe), this strategy has been maintained throughout evolution as it plays crucial physiological functions. Oxygen (O2) nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) bind to the iron atom in heme proteins. Once bound to the prosthetic heme groups, these molecules can modulate the activity/function of those hemeproteins, affording signal transduction. Therefore, when produced in biologic systems (cells), these gaseous molecules are referred to as gasotransmitters.

Because of their diverse range of biological functions, the structural and functional characterizations of hemeproteins are the most studied classes of biomolecules.^[3] Data on heme protein structure and function has been aggregated into The Heme Protein Database (HPD), a secondary database to the Protein Data Bank.^[4]

Roles

Hemeproteins have diverse biological functions including oxygen transport, which is completed via hemeproteins including hemoglobin, myoglobin, neuroglobin, cytoglobin and leghemoglobin. Catalysis occurs with hemeproteins cytochrome P450s, cytochrome c oxidase, ligninases and peroxidases. Hemeproteins also enable electron transfer as they form part of the electron transport chain. Cyctochrome a, cytochrome b and cytochrome c are responsible for electron transfer functions. The sensory system also relies on some hemeproteins including FixL, an Oxygen sensor, CooA, a carbon monoxide sensor, and soluble guanylyl cyclase. Finally, the hemeprotein catalase aids in biological defense.

Hemoglobin and Myoglobin

Hemoglobin and Myoglobin are examples of hemeprotein that are essential in the storing and transports of oxygen in mammals. Hemoglobin is a quaternary protein that occurs in the red blood cell, whereas, myoglobin is a tertiary protein found the muscle cells of mammals. Although they might differ in location and size, their function are similar. Being hemeproteins, they both contain a prosthetic group.

His-F8 of the myoglobin, also known as the proximal histidine is covalently bonded to the 5th coordination position of the iron. Oxygen interacts with the distal His by ways of a hydrogen bond, not a covalent one. It binds to the 6th coordination position of the iron, His-E7 of the myoglobin binds to the Oxygen that is now covalently bonded to the iron. The same occurs for the hemoglobin, however, being a protein with 4 subunits, the hemoglobin contains 4 heme, therefore, allowing 4 Oxygen atoms to bind to the heme.

Myoglobin and hemoglobin are globular proteins that serve to bind and deliver oxygen. These globins dramatically improve the concentration of molecular oxygen that can be dissolved in the biological fluids of vertebrates and some invertebrates.

Both of these globins contain an organic prosthetic group for binding oxygen and they contain many similar structural characteristics. Yet the differences in function between these two proteins can be explored from a structural perspective, leading to a discourse on ligand binding and allosteric regulation.

Myoglobin and hemoglobin are of obvious critical importance to vertebrate life, yet they are also studied because they serve as excellent, well-characterized models for illustrating the principles of protein structure, dynamics, and function.

Myoglobin

Myoglobin is found in vertebrate muscle cells. Muscle cells, when put into action, can quickly require a large amount of oxygen for respiration because of their incredible demand for energy. Therefore, muscle cells use myoglobin to accelerate oxygen diffusion and act as localized oxygen reserves for times of intense respiration.

Hemoglobin

In vertebrates, hemoglobin is found in the cytosol of red blood cells in the bloodstream. Hemoglobin is sometimes referred to as the oxygen transport protein, in order to contrast it with its stationary cousin myoglobin, although its function and mechanism are more complex than this name would suggest.

In vertebrates, oxygen is taken into the body by the tissues of the lungs, and passed to the red blood cells in the bloodstream. Oxygen is then distributed to all of the tissues in the body and offloaded from the red blood cells to respiring cells. Hemoglobin then picks up carbon dioxide to be returned to the lungs. Thus, hemoglobin binds and offloads both oxygen and carbon dioxide at the appropriate tissues, serving to deliver the oxygen needed for cellular metabolism and removing the resulting waste product, CO2.

Cytochrome c Oxidase

Cytochrome c Oxidase is an enzyme embedded in the inner membrane of mitochondria. Its main function is to oxidise the Cytochrome c protein. Cytochrome c oxidase contains several metal active sites.

External links

• Heme Protein Database
• Hemeproteins at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

References

1. prosthetic group: Definition from Answers.com
2. Knovel - Knovel Content
3. Gibney, Brian R.; Elvekrog, M. M.; Reedy, C. J. (18 September 2007). "Development of a heme protein structure electrochemical function database". Nucleic Acids Research 36 (Database): D307–D313. doi:10.1093/nar/gkm814.
4. Heme Protein Database

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