HEME
deoxy and oxy-
and proximal (F8) and distal (E7) His residues
Java version
HTML 5 version (does not require Java; downloads and moves
slowly)
I. Introduction
Heme consists of tetrapyrole ring structure (protophorphorin IX) with a Fe2+ ion bound in the center, coordinated to the
nitrogens of the pyrole rings.
The first structure that appears on your screen shows
dioxygen bound to the iron in the heme. Notice the Fe2+ is
in the heme plane.
The proximal His (F8) and
distal His (E7) from myoglobin or hemoglobin are
also shown. F8 provides the 5th coordinating ligand to the iron ion.
For more information see
Biochemistry Online: Chapter 5C -
Model Binding Systems
II. General Structure
O2-heme
ball/stick drawing
looking along heme plane
The geometry around the iron ion
is octahedral
O2-heme drawing facing heme plane
Click on the second structure which shows
deoxyheme. The iron ion is out of
the heme plane, having square planar geometry.
Deoxyheme Heme
Notice the square pyramidal geometry around the iron ion.