Metal ion coordination sites in ferrochelatase

Scientific progress of the last 30 years on ferrochelatase and heme biosynthesis is summarized in this review by covering the literature related to over 100 original references. Ferrochelatase, the only chelatase in mammalian cells, catalyzes the incorporation of ferrous iron into protoporphyrin IX to give heme. Besides having a metal ion as one of its substrates, mammalian ferrochelatase itself is a metalloprotein with an iron-sulfur cofactor. The views on coordination chemistries of the ferrous iron substrate and iron-sulfur cluster are discussed in relation to the reaction mechanism and structure of ferrochelatase.