Degradation of human hemoglobin by organic C-nitroso compounds†
Abstract
The crystal structure of the nitrosomethane adduct of human Hb shows N-binding of the MeNO ligands to heme Fe. The structure of the EtNO adduct reveals a surprising 4.9 Å heme slippage in the β subunit, and explains the ability of C-nitroso compounds to degrade Hb removing it from circulation.