A Brief Explaination of Heme

Heme is an integral part of hemoglobin, which is the most direct participation through the blood to transport oxygen. Heme coordination by the porphyrin ring in a modified large central iron atom, combined with oxygen molecules in the lungs, and release them in the organization. This process to control the hemoglobin protein, which combined with the iron atom, and the change of the bending of the pH and carbon dioxide levels. Proteins bend, change in hemoglobin oxygen affinity.

Heme is also responsible for the lurid color of blood, and to a lesser extent, the color of red meat. Heme coordinated with carbon monoxide is even more vividly red — meat is gassed with CO to brighten its color, and victims of carbon monoxide poisoning often appear eerily pink. Similarly, poisoning by some drugs, or a genetic abnormality can result in methemogloginemia, a condition in which the iron in heme is oxidized to a +3 oxidation state, turning it bluish-brown, rather than red. Sufferers of methemoglobinemia have bluish skin.

The form of heme depicted here is heme B, the most common form in humans.

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