The 'ancestors' of hemoglobin eliminated toxins

2004/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biokimika

The transport of oxygen in blood constitutes an important step of the respiratory process in the current animals, but for those of yesteryear this gas was toxic. Researchers from Hawaii discover that the old forms of hemoglobin protein aimed to remove oxygen and other toxins from the body.

In addition to hemoglobin, oxygen is transported by myoglobin, neuroglobin and cytolobin; according to the researchers, its precursors, protoglobins, transported oxygen, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide and other similar small molecules to protect the organism. Subsequently, these proteins evolved to incorporate this oxygen into the respiratory process.

Some of these protoglobins have been investigated in the current archaeologists, very small microorganisms. According to the researchers, it is possible that the protoglobins of archaeologists and precursors of hemoglobin are very similar; through theoretical calculations they have confirmed that the protoglobins could transport oxygen and other small molecules.