Zn (II) Protoporphyrin IX is an inhibitor of heme oxygenase (the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of heme to biliverdin in the heme degradation pathway) and guanylyl cyclase. Heme oxygenase has been implicated in tumor cell resistance to chemotherapy, reduction of free radical formation and inflammation, and associated with vascular repair.
References
1) Maines, M. D. (1981). “Zinc protoporphyrin is a selective inhibitor of heme oxygenase activity in the neonatal rat.” Biochim Biophys Acta 673(3): 339-50.
2) Gupta, G., J. Kim, et al. (1997). “Expression and Purification of Soluble, Active Heterodimeric Guanylyl Cyclase from Baculovirus.” Protein Expression and Purification 10(3): 325.
3) Jozkowicz, A., H. Was, et al. (2007). “Heme oxygenase-1 in tumors: is it a false friend?” Antioxid Redox Signal 9(12): 2099-117.
4) Abraham, N. G. and A. Kappas (2005). “Heme oxygenase and the cardiovascular-renal system.” Free Radic Biol Med 39(1): 1-25.
5) Kim, D. H., A. P. Burgess, et al. (2008). “Heme oxygenase-mediated increases in adiponectin decrease fat content and inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in Zucker rats and reduce adipogenesis in human mesenchymal stem cells.” J Pharmacol Exp Ther 325(3): 833-40.
