Functional models for the oxygen binding/activating hemeproteins, myoglobin and cytochrome c oxidase

Hemoproteins (hemoglobin and myoglobin) reversibly bind O-2 for transport and storage; other heme proteins (cytochrome c oxidase) reduce O-2 to water and couple the energy from that reaction to create a proton gradient for the eventual synthesis of ATP. This paper will describe the design and synthesis of iron porphyrins which are functional models for these oxygen binding and activating heme proteins.