Heme B

Heme B
Skeletal formula of heme B
Space-filling model of the heme B complex
Names
Other names
Iron protoporphyrin IX,
protoheme IX
Identifiers
14875-96-8 Yes
ChemSpider 16739950 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
MeSH Heme+b
PubChem 444098
Properties
C34H32O4N4Fe
Molar mass 616.487
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
 Yes verify (what is: Yes/?)
Infobox references

Heme B or haem B (also known as protoheme IX) is the most abundant heme, both 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.