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Hemoglobin & Myoglobin: 1. Heme Group
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Hemoglobin & Myoglobin: 1. Heme Group

Prosthetic heme group within a porphyrin ring
The prosthetic heme group of hemoglobin and myoglobin
  • Iron center (Fe2+).
– Iron coordinates 6 bonds total. It lies at the center of a porphyrin ring. Porphyrins are large, complex ring structures.
  • The iron center binds four nitrogens in one plane.
  • The nitrogen of a histidine group forms the fifth bond.
– This histidine is a proximal amino acid residue in the protein portions of both hemoglobin and myoglobin.
  • Oxygen is the sixth bond iron coordinates with.
– Finally, draw a porphyrin ring surrounding the four planar nitrogens.
Heme Group
  • Iron center (Fe2+) at the center of a porphyrin ring.
  • The iron center binds four nitrogens in one plane.
  • The nitrogen of a histidine group forms the fifth bond.
  • Oxygen is the sixth bond iron coordinates with.

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