Heme Enzymes

Heme enzymes are a broad class of proteins that utilize heme (iron-protoporphyrin IX) as a prosthetic group to catalyze diverse biochemical reactions. They are involved in respiration, metabolism, detoxification, and cellular signaling. Functional diversity arises from differences in the proximal ligand to the iron atom and the distal superstructure around the active site, enabling different reactivity profiles. Examples include hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes, peroxidases, catalases, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases.

Various mechanisms depending on the specific enzyme (e.g., oxidation, reduction, oxygen insertion, peroxide reduction).