One ring to rule them all: trafficking of heme and heme synthesis intermediates in the metazoans.

ABSTRACT: The appearance of heme, an organic ring surrounding an iron atom, in evolution forever changed the efficiency with which organisms were able to generate energy, utilize gasses and catalyze numerous reactions. Because of this, heme has become a near ubiquitous compound among living organisms. In this review we have attempted to assess the current state of heme synthesis and trafficking with a goal of identifying crucial missing information, and propose hypotheses related to trafficking that may generate discussion and research. The possibilities of spatially organized supramolecular enzyme complexes and organelle structures that facilitate efficient heme synthesis and subsequent trafficking are discussed and evaluated. Recently identified players in heme transport and trafficking are review

SUBMITTER: Hamza I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3412874 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature