HEME

Chemistry Department - CSB/SJU

Heme consists of tetrapyrole ring structure (protophorphorin IX) with a Fe²⁺ ion bound in the center, coordinated to the Nitrogens of the pyrole rings. The first structure that appears on your screen is deoxy-heme. Notice the Fe²⁺ is slightly above the ring. Click on the second structure which shows carbon monoxide bound to the ring. The iron ion is pulled into the plane of the ring.

Use the left mouse button to manipulate the screen

• Click the right button for a menu similar to the Quanta CHARMm draw menu
• Hold down shift and use the left mouse button to zoom (up = out, down = in)
• Hold down the control button and use the right mouse button to translate the molecule on the axis.

The right frame - commands.html - gives a list of commands which will alter the display of the structure and properties of the molecule.   Click on the different command buttons and  watch the changes!

The bottom frame - page1.html - displays the text associated with each molecule displayed in the top frame.  The text in this frame will describe the structure and function of the displayed molecule, and prompt you to change the view of the molecule by selecting different commands in the right frame.