heme
The iron-containing porphyrin complex that forms the prosthetic group of hemoglobin and other proteins. / The iron-containing part of a cytochrome or other heme-protein involved in electron transfer.
Noun
This term refers specifically to the iron-binding prosthetic group found in proteins like hemoglobin and myoglobin. It is a technical biochemical term used primarily in medical, biological, and chemical contexts to describe the specific molecular structure that allows for oxygen transport and electron transfer.
As a specialized chemical entity, it is treated as an uncountable mass noun in most scientific descriptions. It does not typically take a plural form unless referring to different types of heme groups or specific chemical variations in a comparative study.
Meanings
Examples
Does this supplement provide heme iron or a plant-based alternative?
Health
Related Words
hemoglobinmyoglobinironporphyrinproteinblooderythrocyteoxygenbindingglobincatalaseperoxidasecytochromemethemoglobinblood cellred blood cellrespirationoxygenationdeoxygenationhemolysishemoglobinemiabiliverdinbilirubinbileliverspleenbone marrowerythropoiesisamino acidhistidinecoordinationcomplexligandmetalferrousferricoxidationreductionelectrontransportmetabolismenzymecofactormoleculestructureringpyrroleanemiahemophiliahematologybiochemistryphysiologycellcytoplasmmembraneorganellemitochondriagas exchangediffusionsaturationaffinitycarbon monoxidecarbon dioxidenitric oxidehemoglobinopathythalassemia