Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

Structure-Function Relationships In Hexacoordinate Heme Proteins: Mechanism Of Cytoglobin Interactions With Exogenous Ligands, Antonija Tangar

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cytoglobin (Cygb) and neuroglobin (Ngb) are among the newest members of vertebrate globin family characterized by a classical 3-over-3 α-helical fold and a heme prosthetic group capable of reversibly binding small ligands such as O₂, CO and NO. The physiological functions of Cygb and Ngb remain to be determined; however, current data suggest that both proteins have a significant role in cytoprotection in hypoxic and genotoxic conditions. Cytoglobin and Ngb are distinct from their better-known counterparts, hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb), in several structural features. First, in the absence of an external ligand, the sixth coordination site of …