title: Does endogenous zinc protoporphyrin modulate carbon monoxide formation from heme? Implications for long-term potentiation, memory, and cognitive function.
abstract: Carbon monoxide, which is formed endogenously from heme catabolism catalyzed by heme oxygenase and shares some of the chemical and biological properties of nitric oxide, may play a similar role as a widespread signal transduction mechanism for the regulation of cell function and communication. Zinc protoporphyrin, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase, prevents induction of long-term potentiation. Zinc protoporphyrin is an endogenous substance and we suggest that it has a physiological role, by modulating heme oxygenase activity and, therefore, formation of carbon monoxide from heme. This in turn would modulate long-term potentiation, memory, and cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakatsu
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000097:blood*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism*; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011524:Protoporphyrins; C017803:zinc protoporphyrin; D006418:Heme; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)