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Reactions of Hæms with Cyanides, Isocyanides and Amino-Acids

Nature volume 165, pages 151–152 (1950)Cite this article

Abstract

HÆ (ferrous protoporphyrin) combines with nitrogenous bases to form hæmochromogens showing, in the visible region of the spectrum, two sharp absorption bands, α 557 mµ and β 525 mµ, of which the α-band is much the stronger. It has been shown that in hæmochromogens two molecules of base are linked with each iron atom of hæm1. Potassium cyanide, however, differs from hæmochromogen-forming substances in giving with hæm two compounds containing one and two cyanide radicals per molecule of hæm2,3. Whereas the absorption spectrum of monocyan-hæm resembles that of the hæmochromogens, the absorption spectrum of dicyan-hæm differs from it, the bands being displaced towards the red end of the spectrum, and the β-band being stronger than the α-band.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemical Laboratory, Cambridge

    JOAN KEILIN

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  1. JOAN KEILIN
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KEILIN, J. Reactions of Hæms with Cyanides, Isocyanides and Amino-Acids. Nature 165, 151–152 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/165151a0

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