Talk:Heme

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Does each heme group bind one oxygen atom or one oxygen molecule (O₂)? AxelBoldt 21:09, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

Oxygen remains in the molecular form. It's one molecule of O2 for each haem molecule. JFW | T@lk 23:05, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

In many of the catalytic hemoproteins (P450 and peroxidases)during the chemical reaction a single oxgyen atom can be bound to a ferryl heme. For example in the peroxidase catalytic cycle compound I and compound II. --Bjsamelsonjones 19:33, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Vinyl?

I'm not happy with the 'vinyl's in this article, and similar - god invented systematic naming for a reason, as there can be a fair degree of confusion. Will improve/edit later.

"Can I ask Lennert B to please place Roman numerals "I, II, III,IV" into the 5-membered pyrrole rings? Please begin with the top-left ring and continue clockwise. The "IV" will then appear within the bottom-left pyrrole. Designation of these pyrroles will allow much easier editing/additional information. There are two other hemes which should be presented, heme S and heme L. Heme L, of lactoperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase (and also a related heme in myeloperoxidase) are extremely important in mammalian immunology. I am the Smith of - Caughey, Smythe, O'Keefe, Maskasky and Smith, (1975) J. Biol. Chem. "Heme A of Cytochrome c Oxidase" 250:7602-7622 and also a student of KG Paul who first published the correct structure of Heme C in Acta Chem. Scand.", (ML Smith, only this paragraph of request/comments).

[edit] Apoprotein

Writing that the heme b is not covalently bonded to the apoprotein may be misleading, since most apoproteins are axially coordinated with the heme through a chemical bond (sometimes called a coordination bond).--Bjsamelsonjones 21:56, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

Only Heme c is covalently bonded (SS disufide bond) to the apoprotein. The other hemes and also heme c are bonded via coordination to the apoprotein, as you mentioned above. --Hoffmeier 10:37, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Function

Writing that the main function of heme is to bind oxygen is incorrect. Hemes cage iron and allow the iron to bind ligands including oxygen, but also NO, peroxides, CO, etc. Hemes are also responsible for electron transport, which may be their original evolutionary role. --Bjsamelsonjones 21:56, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

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