Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
09:43
Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
Published on: July 9, 2015
Terminal steps of haem biosynthesis
1Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, A222 Life Science Building, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7229, USA. hdailey@uga.edu
Biochemical Society Transactions
|August 28, 2002
Summary
Nature uses different enzymes for heme biosynthesis in aerobic versus anaerobic organisms. The final enzyme, ferrochelatase, is conserved but varies across species, with insights from crystal structures.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Enzymology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Heme biosynthesis involves three terminal steps: oxidative decarboxylation, oxidation, and iron insertion.
- Enzymatic machinery for heme synthesis differs between aerobic and anaerobic organisms for key steps.
- Ferrochelatase catalyzes the final step of inserting ferrous iron to form heme.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the enzymic and physical characteristics of coproporphyrinogen oxidase and protoporphyrinogen oxidase.
- To describe ferrochelatase, focusing on structural insights from Bacillus subtilis and human enzymes.
- To highlight conserved and variable features of ferrochelatase across different organisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on heme biosynthesis enzymes.
- Analysis of enzymic and physical characteristics of oxidases.
- Examination of crystal structures of Bacillus subtilis and human ferrochelatase.
Main Results:
- Distinct enzymes (coproporphyrinogen oxidase, protoporphyrinogen oxidase) are employed in aerobic vs. anaerobic heme synthesis.
- Ferrochelatase shows conserved catalytic residues but significant variation in size, subunit composition, and cellular location.
- The [2Fe-2S] cluster is present in some ferrochelatase enzymes, but absent in others.
- Crystal structures reveal detailed information about the Bacillus subtilis and human ferrochelatase enzymes.
Conclusions:
- Organisms have evolved specialized enzymes for heme biosynthesis, adapting to aerobic or anaerobic conditions.
- Ferrochelatase is a crucial, conserved enzyme in heme production, with structural diversity.
- Structural studies of ferrochelatase provide valuable insights into its mechanism and evolutionary conservation.
More Related Videos
09:27Functional Complementation Analysis (FCA): A Laboratory Exercise Designed and Implemented to Supplement the Teaching of Biochemical Pathways
Published on: June 24, 2016
14:42Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Refractive Index or Mass Spectrometric Detection for Metabolite Profiling in Lysate-based Cell-free Systems
Published on: September 23, 2021
Related Concept Videos
01:20Overview of Hematopoiesis
Hematopoiesis, or blood cell production, is a vital biological process that begins early in embryonic development and continues throughout life. This process generates the various types of cells found in blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
Developmental Phases of Hematopoiesis
Initially, HSCs are formed in the embryonic yolk sac, a critical site for early blood cell production. These stem cells subsequently migrate to other...
Developmental Phases of Hematopoiesis
Initially, HSCs are formed in the embryonic yolk sac, a critical site for early blood cell production. These stem cells subsequently migrate to other...
01:22Lifecycle of Erythrocytes
Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, constantly move through blood capillaries. As a result, they damage their plasma membrane due to the continuous friction. Typically, after 100 to 120 days, erythrocytes become rigid and fragile as they wear out. As they pass through small vessels in the spleen and liver, they can get trapped and break apart into fragments.
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups.
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups.
01:20Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways of Hemostasis
Blood clotting or coagulation involves extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, which ultimately merge into the common pathway, forming a fibrin clot.
The Extrinsic Pathway
The extrinsic pathway of coagulation is typically initiated by tissue damage that exposes blood to tissue factor (TF), a protein released by the damaged tissue cells outside the blood vessels—this interaction with TF triggers biochemical reactions involving specific clotting factors. The key player here is Factor VII, which forms a...
The Extrinsic Pathway
The extrinsic pathway of coagulation is typically initiated by tissue damage that exposes blood to tissue factor (TF), a protein released by the damaged tissue cells outside the blood vessels—this interaction with TF triggers biochemical reactions involving specific clotting factors. The key player here is Factor VII, which forms a...
01:26Respiration Pathways
Cellular respiration is a fundamental metabolic process that enables organisms to generate energy from organic molecules. One of its central pathways is the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle, which plays a crucial role in energy production and biosynthetic processes.Conversion of Pyruvate to Acetyl-CoAThe pyruvate generated from glycolysis undergoes oxidative decarboxylation by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, producing acetyl-CoA, one molecule of NADH, and one...
01:29Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways
Amino acid biosynthesis is essential for cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolic regulation. Cells generate essential and non-essential amino acids from metabolic intermediates to sustain vital biological functions. These intermediates originate from key metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Important precursors include α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and erythrose-4-phosphate, which provide...
01:28Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acid biosynthesis is a fundamental biochemical process that produces the purine and pyrimidine nucleotides essential for DNA and RNA synthesis. This pathway maintains a balanced nucleotide pool, preventing imbalances that could jeopardize genetic integrity and cellular function. Given the crucial role of nucleotides, their synthesis is tightly regulated to ensure proper cellular homeostasis.Purine BiosynthesisThe biosynthesis of purine nucleotides begins with ribose-5-phosphate, a...