The Novel Role of Heme in Health and Diseases – Heme-Containing Sensor Proteins

This article is part of the series Women in Czech Chemistry

Abstract

The iron atom possesses unique properties, being manifested in the heme molecule. In addition to the involvement of heme in many processes (such as oxygen or electron transport and catalysis of enzyme reaction), it can also regulate key pathways critical for health. Heme-containing sensor proteins mediate the heme regulation role. The review aims to underline the main characteristics of the heme-containing sensor proteins group, either sensing heme or sensing a gas molecule through a heme-binding site, on the example of specific representatives from each sensor subgroup.