Gas transport and storage
Proteins such as hemoglobins and myoglobins use heme to bind gases including oxygen.
Heme proteins explained
A cofactor that unlocks remarkable biology.
Heme proteins are proteins that use heme, an iron-containing molecular cofactor, to perform functions the protein alone could not accomplish.
The fundamentals
Protein structure and heme chemistry work together.
The surrounding protein controls how heme behaves. That partnership allows related proteins to transport oxygen, transfer electrons, catalyse reactions, or sense changes in their environment.
Catalysis
Heme-containing enzymes use the cofactor's chemistry to support oxidation and other reactions.
Electron transfer
Cytochromes move electrons through biological pathways, including cellular energy systems.
Sensing and regulation
Some heme proteins respond to gases or cellular conditions and help regulate biological activity.
Why production is difficult
A sequence is only the beginning.
A production system must make the protein, support appropriate folding and assembly, and enable incorporation of the heme cofactor. The balance depends on the target and its intended use.
Synfera assesses prospective projects individually. We do not publish broad claims about scale, yield, or compatibility before a technical review.
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