The globins of cyanobacteria and algae.
Approximately, 20 years ago, a haemoglobin gene was identified within the genome of the cyanobacterium Nostoc commune. Haemoglobins have now been confirmed in multiple species of photosynthetic microbes beyond N. commune, and the diversity of these proteins has recently come under increased scrutiny. This chapter summarizes the state of knowledge concerning the phylogeny, physiology and chemistry of globins in cyanobacteria and green algae. Sequence information is by far the best developed and the most rapidly expanding aspect of the field. Structural and ligand-binding properties have been described for just a few proteins. Physiological data are available for even fewer. Although activities such as nitric oxide dioxygenation and oxygen scavenging are strong candidates for cellular function, dedicated studies will be required to complete the story on this intriguing and ancient group of proteins.
T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Eric A
EA
Johnson
Juliette T J
JT
Lecomte
D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001711:Biotransformation; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005914:Globins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
D020418:Algal Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005914:Globins
Chlamydomonas; Cyanobacteria; Haem; Nostoc; Photosynthetic microbe; Reactive oxygen/nitrogen species; Synechococcus; Synechocystis; Truncated haemoglobins