Globins are haemoproteins such as haemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin (Mb), cytoglobin (Cb), neuroglobin (Nb), leghaemoglobin (LHb) and non-symbiotic Hb (NsHb). While the monomers of these six proteins have the characteristic '3-on-3' α-helical sandwich tertiary structure and there are similarities in their patterns of secondary structure, they have poor primary sequence homology. Moreover, they differ in quaternary structure and in the coordination of the haem, three (Hb, Mb, LHb) being 5-coordinate and Cb, Nb and NsHb being 6-coordinate. Despite this, each of these globins binds small ligands, such as O 2 , CO and NO, in the sixth position, which implies that it must be possible to displace the imidazole occupying that position in Cb, Nb and NsHb. In addition to O 2 binding, globins are variously involved in O 2 sensing and NO detoxification, and act as an NO dioxygenase. These functions can generate the oxidised (or met-) form of the globin, which may be reduced by a globin reductase. In the case of Hb two globin reductases have been characterised: a nonenzymatic reduction by cytochrome b 5 , which is enzymatically reduced by NADH:cytochrome b 5 reductase, and an NADPH:flavin reductase.Scientia -Vol. 124 -The structure and function of mammalian and plant globins 1
. Introduction.Humans and other vertebrates have at least four globins: (i) an α 2 β 2 tetrameric haemoglobin (Hb) in erythrocytes; (ii) a monomeric myoglobin (Mb) in smooth and skeletal muscle [1, 2]; (iii) a homotetrameric neuroglobin (Nb) in neural tissues [3][4][5][6][7] ; and (iv) a homodimeric cytoglobin (Cb) in almost every tissue, including muscle and neural tissues [8, 9]. Two globins have been identified in plant tissues: (i) leghaemoglobin (LHb) in the nodules of legumes and (ii) non-symbiotic Hb (NsHb) in stressed and metabolically active tissues in species of non-legumes ranging from Arabidopsis thaliana to Oryza sativa [10][11][12]. The subunits of these six proteins are structurally similar, although their primary sequences are not especially well conserved. The monomer of each has a single polypeptide chain enclosing the haem between the layers of a 'three-on-three' α-helical sandwich. Each of these globins is involved in (i) ligand binding (especially O 2 , but other ligands such as NO, CO and CN are also important), (ii) O 2 concentration sensing, (iii) the detoxification of NO and (iv) acting as an NO dioxygenase. Here, we review the structure and function of these globins and the significance of and evidence for the globin reductases.
. Molecular structure. 2.1 . The prosthetic group.The globins of many multicellular organisms contain protoporphyrin IX [13,14], although some have no haem [15] and others have a modified haem [16,17]. The porphyrin has a conjugated double ring system: an outer ring of 20 carbon atoms and an inner ring of 16 atoms (including 4 nitrogen atoms). The outer and inner rings are linked by four methene bridges. The inner ring contributes the majority of the delocalised π bonding system (18 electrons compared with ...