Heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) binds and buffers labile heme, which is largely oxidized, in human embryonic kidney cells

Heme oxygenases (HO) detoxify heme by oxidatively degrading it into carbon monoxide, iron, and biliverdin, which is reduced to bilirubin and excreted. Humans express two isoforms: inducible HO-1, which is up-regulated in response to various stressors, including excess heme, and constitutive HO-2. While much is known about the regulation and physiological function of HO-1, comparatively little is known about the role of HO-2 in regulating heme homeostasis. The biochemical necessity for expressing constitutive HO-2 is largely dependent on whether heme is sufficiently abundant and accessible as a substrate under conditions in which HO-1 is not induced. By measuring labile heme, total heme, and bilirubin in human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells with silenced or over-expressed HO-2, and various HO-2 mutant alleles, we found that endogenous heme is too limiting to support HO-2 catalyzed heme degradation. Rather, we discovered that a novel role for HO-2 is to bind and buffer labile heme. Taken together, in the absence of excess heme, we propose that HO-2 regulates heme homeostasis by acting as a heme buffering factor in control of heme bioavailability. When heme is in excess, HO-1 is induced and both HO-2 and HO-1 can provide protection from heme toxicity by enzymatically degrading it. Our results explain why catalytically inactive mutants of HO-2 are cytoprotective against oxidative stress. Moreover, the change in bioavailable heme due to HO-2 overexpression, which selectively binds ferric over ferrous heme, is consistent with the labile heme pool being oxidized, thereby providing new insights into heme trafficking and signaling.

Mitochondrial-nuclear heme trafficking is regulated by GTPases that control mitochondrial dynamics

Heme is an essential cofactor and signaling molecule. All heme-dependent processes require that heme is trafficked from its site of synthesis in the mitochondria to hemoproteins in virtually every subcellular compartment. However, the mechanisms governing the mobilization of heme out of the mitochondria, and the spatio-temporal dynamics of these processes, are poorly understood. To address this, we developed a pulse-chase assay in which, upon the initiation of heme synthesis, heme mobilization into the mitochondrial matrix, cytosol and nucleus is monitored using fluorescent heme sensors. Surprisingly, we found that heme trafficking to the nucleus occurs at a faster rate than to the matrix or cytosol. Further, we demonstrate that GTPases in control of mitochondrial fusion, Mgm1, and fission, Dnm1, are positive and negative regulators of mitochondrial-nuclear heme trafficking, respectively. We also find that heme controls mitochondrial network morphology. Altogether, our results indicate that mitochondrial dynamics and heme trafficking are integrally coupled.

Structure-Function Analysis of the Bifunctional CcsBA Heme Exporter and CytochromecSynthetase

ABSTRACTAlthough intracellular heme trafficking must occur for heme protein assembly, only a few heme transporters have been unequivocally discovered and nothing is known about their structure or mechanisms. Cytochromecbiogenesis in prokaryotes requires the transport of heme from inside to outside for stereospecific attachment to cytochromecvia two thioether bonds (at CXXCH). The CcsBA integral membrane protein was shown to transport and attach heme (and thus is a cytochromecsynthetase), but the structure and mechanisms underlying these two activities are poorly understood. We employed a new cysteine/heme crosslinking tool that traps endogenous heme in heme binding sites. We combined these data with a comprehensive imidazole correction approach (for heme ligand interrogation) to map heme binding sites. Results illuminate the process of heme transfer through the membrane to an external binding site (called the WWD domain). Using meta-genomic data (GREMLIN) and Rosetta modeling programs, a structural model of the transmembrane (TM) regions in CcsBA were determined. The heme mapping data were then incorporated to model the TM heme binding site (with TM-His1 and TM-His2 as ligands) and the external heme binding WWD domain (with P-His1 and P-His2 as ligands). Other periplasmic structure/function studies facilitated modeling of the full CcsBA protein as a framework for understanding the mechanisms. Mechanisms are proposed for heme transport from TM-His to WWD/P-His and subsequent stereospecific attachment of heme. A ligand exchange of the P-His1 for histidine of CXXCH at the synthetase active site is suggested.IMPORTANCEThe movement or trafficking of heme is critical for cellular functions (e.g., oxygen transport and energy production); however, intracellular heme is tightly regulated due to its inherent cytotoxicity. These factors, combined with the transient nature of transport, have resulted in a lack of direct knowledge on the mechanisms of heme binding and trafficking. Here, we used the cytochromecbiogenesis system II pathway as a model to study heme trafficking. System II is composed of two integral membrane proteins (CcsBA) which function to transport heme across the membrane and stereospecifically position it for covalent attachment to apocytochromec. We mapped two heme binding domains in CcsBA and suggest a path for heme trafficking. These data, in combination with metagenomic coevolution data, are used to determine a structural model of CcsBA, leading to increased understanding of the mechanisms for heme transport and the cytochromecsynthetase function of CcsBA.

Intracellular iron and heme trafficking and metabolism in developing erythroblasts

Vertebrate red blood cells (RBCs) arise from erythroblasts in the human bone marrow through a process known as erythropoiesis.