Understanding the role of heme in controlling blood pressure

The role of heme in ion channel regulation: a combined chemical and physiological approach

Heme is a small molecule that contains iron in the middle of it. Many different proteins in our bodies have heme bound to them - including haemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in the blood. But heme also has other roles in our cells. For example it can affect the movement of charged particles called ions. Ions flow in and out of cells through special ion channels. The movement of ions through ion channels controls processes such as blood pressure. However, we don’t yet understand how heme affects ion movement. Professor Raven and her team will investigate how heme controls specific ion channels, which are known to be important in blood flow and blood pressure. They will do this by studying how heme interacts with other proteins that are part of the structure of ion channels. They will also look at heme’s ability to bind to other small molecules, such as carbon monoxide and how this affects the movement of ions. By unravelling heme’s role this research could pave the way for new ways to control blood pressure.