Heme Synthesis: The Vital Role of Ferrochelatase in Inserting Iron for Essential Protein Function

last reaction of heme synthesis

ferrochelatase (enzyme) chelates ferrous iron into protoporphyrin IX to form heme. Occurs in mitochondria

The final step in the heme synthesis pathway is the insertion of an iron atom into protoporphyrin IX to form heme. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme ferrochelatase. The iron atom is sourced from either a circulating pool of free iron or from iron that has been stored in the cell as ferritin. The iron is inserted into the center of the protoporphyrin ring through a chelation process, which stabilizes the iron-protoporphyrin complex. Heme is an essential component of many proteins, including hemoglobin, myoglobin, and cytochromes, which are involved in oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and important cellular processes.

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