Review of a Few Selected Examples of Intermolecular Dioxygenases Involving Molecular Oxygen and Non-Heme Iron Proteins

Abstract

Molecular oxygen and non-heme iron proteins (NHIPs) are proteins that have an iron atom bound to one or more oxygen atoms, and are found in bacteria, archaea, and some eukaryotes. NHIPs are involved in a variety of biological processes, such as respiration, electron transfer, and catalysis. They can be categorized into two classes: cytochrome proteins, which are involved in electron transfer, and oxygenases, which catalyze the oxidation of substrates by utilizing molecular oxygen. NHIPs are critical for multiple biological processes, and their impairment has been associated with diseases such as anemia, cancer, and neurological disorders.