Study GuideBiochemistry I–Oxygen Binding by Myoglobin andHemoglobin1.Hemoglobin and MyoglobinHemoglobin and myoglobin are proteins that bind oxygen, but they are designed fordifferent rolesinthe body. Although theirprimary amino acid sequencesare only slightly related, the differencesbetween the two proteins are mostlyconservative substitutions.More importantly, theirsecondary structuresare almost identical. Both proteins are largelyα-helical, and the helices are arranged in a very similar way.1.1The Heme Group and Oxygen BindingBoth proteins bind oxygen using aheme group.•Each protein bindsone O₂molecule per heme•The oxygen binds to aniron atom (Fe²⁺)in the heme•The bond between oxygen and iron is acoordinate covalent bondHeme structure:•Square-planar molecule•Made offour pyrrole rings•Nitrogen atoms bindfour of iron’s six coordination sitesThe remaining two coordination positions:1.One binds to ahistidine side chainof the protein→ called theproximal histidine2.One bindsoxygen (O₂)Preview Mode
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