Observation of heme transfer from cytochrome b5 to DNA aptamer

Heme transfer is commonly observed from one heme protein to the other such as from cytochrome b(5) (cyt b(5)) to apo-myoglobin. In this study, instead of to another heme protein, we observed the heme transfer from wild-type (WT) cyt b(5), H39C cyt b(5) with heme axial ligand His39 mutated to Cys39, and DME cyt b(5) with heme replaced by protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester, to a heme DNA aptamer, PS2.M, respectively, with a different rate constant. The heme transfer was further confirmed by the enhancement of peroxidase activity of the cyt b(5)s-PS2.M system due to the formation of catalytic PS2.M-heme complex. This study provides valuable insights into both cyt b(5)-heme and PS2.M-heme interactions and shows that heme transfer from heme protein to heme-aptamer can be used to evaluate the relative stability of heme proteins. In addition, this study sheds light on the maturation of heme proteins in vivo by interacting with DNA/RNA enzymes.