A molecule found in
red blood cells, the part of
hemoglobin that carries
oxygen. Hundreds of hemes are attatched to proteins known as
Globins, hence "hemoglobin". The
iron atom at a heme's center gives oxygenated blood its characteristic red color. The folks on
the other side of the pond spell the word as
haem.
Bilirubin is the principal breakdown product of a heme.
H-C-H
H
"
|
C-H
H-C-H
|
|
H //\ //\ //\
H
| // \ // \// \
|
H-C-<' | |
/>-C=C
| \ |
| // | |
H >---N
N---< H H
/ \
/ \
<\
Fe />
\\ /
\ //
H >---N N---<
H
| / |
|| \ |
H-C-< |
|| >-C-H
| \\ / \\ /\ // |
H \\/ \\/ \//
H
|
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H-C-H
H-C-H
|
|
H-C-H
H-C-H
|
|
O=C-O-H H-O-C=O