Interactions of NO with hemoglobin: from microbes to man
Hemoglobins are found in organisms from every major phylum and subserve life‐sustaining
respiratory functions across a broad continuum. Sustainable aerobic respiration in mammals
and birds relies on the regulated delivery of oxygen (O 2) and nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity by
hemoglobin, through reversible binding of NO and O 2 to hemes as well as S‐nitrosylation of
cysteine thiols (SNO synthase activity). In contrast, bacterial and yeast flavohemoglobins
function in vivo as denitrosylases (O 2 nitroxylases), and some multimeric, invertebrate …
respiratory functions across a broad continuum. Sustainable aerobic respiration in mammals
and birds relies on the regulated delivery of oxygen (O 2) and nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity by
hemoglobin, through reversible binding of NO and O 2 to hemes as well as S‐nitrosylation of
cysteine thiols (SNO synthase activity). In contrast, bacterial and yeast flavohemoglobins
function in vivo as denitrosylases (O 2 nitroxylases), and some multimeric, invertebrate …