HEMERYTHRIN Meaning and
Definition
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Hemerythrin is a noun that refers to a type of iron-containing respiratory pigment found in certain marine invertebrates, such as various species of polychaete worms and brachiopods. This protein-based pigment is known for its distinct red coloration when oxygenated.
Hemerythrin functions in the transport and storage of oxygen in these marine organisms. When oxygen is present, it binds reversibly to the iron atoms within the hemerythrin molecule, forming an oxygenated complex. This reversible binding ensures that oxygen can be efficiently delivered to tissues whenever required.
The term "hemerythrin" is derived from the Greek words "hema" meaning blood and "erythros" meaning red, reflecting the notable red appearance of this pigment. While hemerythrin shares some similarities with the more commonly known respiratory pigment hemoglobin, they belong to different protein families and have distinct chemical structures. Hemerythrin displays an unusual characteristic of using iron atoms directly, without relying on a heme group like hemoglobin.
Due to its unique properties, hemerythrin has attracted scientific interest and has been studied for its potential applications in biotechnology. Its ability to undergo reversible oxygenation, even in the presence of high amounts of carbon dioxide, makes it a fascinating subject of research for developing oxygen carriers and oxygen storage systems.
Common Misspellings for HEMERYTHRIN
- gemerythrin
- bemerythrin
- nemerythrin
- jemerythrin
- uemerythrin
- yemerythrin
- hwmerythrin
- hsmerythrin
- hdmerythrin
- hrmerythrin
- h4merythrin
- h3merythrin
- henerythrin
- hekerythrin
- hejerythrin
- hemwrythrin
- hemsrythrin
- hemdrythrin
- hemrrythrin
- hem4rythrin
Etymology of HEMERYTHRIN
The word "hemerythrin" is derived from two Greek roots: "heme" and "erythros".
"Heme" refers to a pigment found in hemoglobin, a protein responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. It is derived from the Greek word "haima" meaning "blood".
"Erythros" is derived from the Greek word "erythros" meaning "red".
When combined, "heme" and "erythros" form "hemerythrin", which is a type of non-heme iron protein found in some marine invertebrates. The name "hemerythrin" reflects its reddish color due to the iron ion present in its structure.
