Functional Studies on Hemoproteins and Heme-enzymes Based on Their Molecular Structures

Abstract

　Heme (iron-porphyrin complex) is present in biological system as an active site of several proteins and enzymes, and is involved in many biological conversion processes of bio-energy, bio-compounds, and bio-information. We have elucidated molecular mechanisms of these processes on a basis of their molecular structures by combinational uses of crystallographic, spectroscopic, kinetic, biochemical, and molecular biological techniques. In addition, we are recently interested in dynamics (transport and sensing) of iron and heme in biological system on the structural basis. In this review, I present recent scientific achievement of our group.