Heme B or haem B (also known as protoheme IX) is the most abundant heme.[1] Hemoglobin and myoglobin are examples of oxygen transport proteins that contain heme B. The peroxidase family of enzymes also contain heme B. The COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes (cyclooxygenase) of recent fame, also contain heme B at one of two active sites.

Generally, heme B is attached to the surrounding protein matrix (known as the apoprotein) through a single coordination bond between the heme iron and an amino-acid side-chain.

Both hemoglobin and myoglobin have a coordination bond to an evolutionarily-conserved histidine, while nitric oxide synthase and cytochrome P450 have a coordination bond to an evolutionarily-conserved cysteine bound to the iron center of heme B.

Since the iron in heme B containing proteins is bound to the four nitrogens of the porphyrin (forming a plane) and a single electron donating atom of the protein, the iron is often in a pentacoordinate state. When oxygen or the toxic carbon monoxide is bound the iron becomes hexacoordinated. The correct structures of heme B and heme S were first elucidated by German chemist Hans Fischer.[2]

References

  1. ^ Ogun, Aminat S.; Joy, Neena V.; Valentine, Menogh (2022), "Biochemistry, Heme Synthesis", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30726014, retrieved 2023-01-03
  2. ^ Fischer, H.; Orth, H. (1934). Die Chemie des Pyrrols. Liepzig: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft.