Human neuroglobin, a hexacoordinate hemoglobin that reversibly binds oxygen

J Biol Chem. 2001 Aug 10;276(32):30106-10. doi: 10.1074/jbc.C100300200. Epub 2001 Jun 27.

Abstract

Neuroglobin is a newly discovered mammalian hemoglobin that is expressed predominately in the brain (Burmester, T., Welch, B., Reinhardt, S., and Hankeln, T. (2000) Nature 407, 520-523). Neuroglobin has less than 25% identity with other vertebrate globins and shares less than 30% identity with the annelid nerve myoglobin it most closely resembles among known hemoglobins. Spectroscopic and kinetic experiments with the recombinant protein indicate that human neuroglobin is the first example of a hexacoordinate hemoglobin in vertebrates and is similar to plant and bacterial hexacoordinate hemoglobins in several respects. The ramifications of hexacoordination and potential physiological roles are explored in light of the determination of an O(2) affinity that precludes neuroglobin from functioning in traditional O(2) storage and transport.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Globins / chemistry*
  • Globins / genetics
  • Hemoglobins / chemistry*
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Ligands
  • Light
  • Models, Chemical
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Neuroglobin
  • Oxygen / metabolism*
  • Photolysis
  • Protein Binding
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Spectrophotometry
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Hemoglobins
  • Ligands
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neuroglobin
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Globins
  • Oxygen