Crystal structure of ferrochelatase: the terminal enzyme in heme biosynthesis.
Al-Karadaghi, S., Hansson, M., Nikonov, S., Jonsson, B., Hederstedt, L.(1997) Structure 5: 1501-1510
- PubMed: 9384565 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-2126(97)00299-2
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1AK1 - PubMed Abstract: 
The metallation of closed ring tetrapyrroles resulting in the formation of hemes, chlorophylls and vitamin B12 is catalyzed by specific enzymes called chelatases. Ferrochelatase catalyzes the terminal step in heme biosynthesis by inserting ferrous ion into protoporphyrin IX by a mechanism that is poorly understood. Mutations in the human gene for ferrochelatase can result in the disease erythropoietic protoporphyria, and a further understanding of the mechanism of this enzyme is therefore of clinical interest. No three-dimensional structure of a tetrapyrrole metallation enzyme has been available until now.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Molecular Biophysics, Lund University, Box 124, S-221 00, Lund, Sweden. salam@hekla.mbfys.lu.se