MINIATURIZED HEMOPROTEINS

The present paper highlights and reviews current research in the field of hemoprotein models. Hemoproteins have been extensively studied in order to understand structure-function relationships, and to design ne w molecules with desired functions. A wide number of synthetic analogu es have been developed using quite different approaches. They differ i n molecular structures, ranging from simple meso-substituted tetraaryl -metalloporphyrins and peptide-porphyrin conjugates. In this paper we summarize the state of the art on peptide based hemoprotein models. We also report here the approach used by us to develop a new class of mo lecules, named mimochromes. They can be regarded as miniaturized hemop roteins, because mimochromes are low molecular weighs compounds with s ome structural and functional properties common to those of the parent high molecular weight protein. The basic structure of mimochromes is a deuteroporphyrin ring covalently linked to two helical peptide chain s. Two molecules of this series have been fully characterized. All the information derived from their structural analysis has been applied t o the design of new analogues with additional functions. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.