Heme b (protoheme IX) is a precursor of heme a and heme d in Bacillus subtilis.
Bacillus subtilis can synthesise cytochromes containing a-, b-, c- and d-type heme. The biosynthetic pathways of these heme prosthetic groups were investigated by using strains blocked in uroporphyrinogen III synthesis from porphobilinogen or in heme b (protoheme IX) synthesis from uroporphyrinogen III. The results strongly suggest that heme a and heme d are both synthesised from heme b (protoheme IX). They also indicate that B. subtilis contains a novel ferrochelatase involved in the synthesis of siroheme.
Hansson
M
M
Department of Microbiology, University of Lund, Sweden.
von Wachenfeldt
C
C
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005294:Ferrochelatase / Q000378:metabolism; D006418:Heme / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C027728:heme a; D006418:Heme; C009272:siroheme; C080647:heme d; D005294:Ferrochelatase