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Immunological properties of oxygen-transport proteins: hemoglobin, hemocyanin and hemerythrin

  • Swansea University
  • Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer)Articlepeer-review

147 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

It is now well documented that peptides with enhanced or alternative functionality (termed cryptides) can be liberated from larger, and sometimes inactive, proteins. A primary example of this phenomenon is the oxygen-transport protein hemoglobin. Aside from respiration, hemoglobin and hemoglobin-derived peptides have been associated with immune modulation, hematopoiesis, signal transduction and microbicidal activities in metazoans. Likewise, the functional equivalents to hemoglobin in invertebrates, namely hemocyanin and hemerythrin, act as potent immune effectors under certain physiological conditions. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the true extent of oxygen-transport protein dynamics in innate immunity, and to impress upon the reader the multi-functionality of these ancient proteins on the basis of their structures. In this context, erythrocyte–pathogen antibiosis and the immune competences of various erythroid cells are compared across diverse taxa.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)293-317
Number of pages25
JournalCellular and Molecular Life Sciences
Volume74
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Aug 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antimicrobial peptides
  • Enzyme promiscuity
  • Erythrocytes
  • Innate immunity
  • Metabolism
  • Myoglobin
  • Phenoloxidase
  • Redox

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