Metmyoglobin
Metmyoglobin is a form of the oxygen-carrying protein myoglobin, which is found in muscle tissue. It is produced when myoglobin is exposed to certain chemicals or undergoes changes in pH or temperature. Metmyoglobin is unable to bind oxygen, which can lead to a condition known as metmyoglobinemia if it accumulates in the body.
Structure[edit | edit source]
Metmyoglobin is structurally similar to myoglobin, with a single polypeptide chain and a heme group. However, in metmyoglobin, the iron atom in the heme group is in the ferric (Fe3+) state, rather than the ferrous (Fe2+) state found in myoglobin. This change in oxidation state prevents metmyoglobin from binding oxygen.
Formation[edit | edit source]
Metmyoglobin forms when myoglobin is exposed to oxidizing agents, such as hydrogen peroxide or nitrite. Changes in pH or temperature can also cause myoglobin to convert to metmyoglobin. In addition, certain genetic conditions can increase the body's production of metmyoglobin.
Metmyoglobinemia[edit | edit source]
Metmyoglobinemia is a condition characterized by an excess of metmyoglobin in the blood. This can occur as a result of certain genetic conditions, exposure to certain drugs or chemicals, or severe muscle injury. Symptoms can include cyanosis (a bluish coloration of the skin), fatigue, and shortness of breath. Treatment typically involves addressing the underlying cause of the condition.
See also[edit | edit source]
Metmyoglobin Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD