Iron chelators inhibit the heme-degradation reaction by HutZ from Vibrio cholerae

Abstract

HutZ is a heme-degrading enzyme. We found that the heme-degradation reaction by HutZ is inhibited by the iron chelators. Kinetic analysis of each heme-degradation step suggests that water molecules hydrogen bonded to Thr27 are involved in proton transfer to Fe(III)–OO⁻, and that this step is inhibited by iron chelators.