Making and breaking heme
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
Published on: July 9, 2015
Arianna I Celis1, Jennifer L DuBois1
1Montana State University, 103 Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States.
Abstract:
Mechanisms for making and breaking the heme b cofactor (heme) are more diverse than previously expected. Biosynthetic pathways have diverged at least twice along taxonomic lines, reflecting differences in membrane organization and O2 utilization among major groups of organisms. At least three families of heme degradases are now known, again differing in whether and how O2 is used by the organism and possibly the purpose for turning over the tetrapyrrole. Understanding these enzymes and pathways offers a handle for antimicrobial development and for monitoring heme use in organismal and ecological systems.
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