This invaluable book provides the first description of the diverse and fascinating functions of heme in life processes for a broad audience. It begins with an introduction of the intricate chemical properties of heme and the history of early observations of human diseases associated with heme. It then proceeds to describe the versatile roles of heme in controlling diverse molecular and cellular processes germane to human life and disease processes. In the second edition, a new chapter is devoted to describe findings about heme uptake, transport, and trafficking of heme synthesis intermediates in mammals. Additionally, a chapter about the newly discovered roles of elevated heme biosynthesis and uptake in lung tumorigenesis is included.

Heme Biology is unified and logical in presentation. It is well suited for students and professionals in life sciences who wish to know about the fascinating biology of heme and its usefulness in health and diseases. It may also be used as a reference book for advanced readers and researchers who are interested in heme biology. The explanations in the book are detailed enough to capture the interest of the curious reader, and complete enough to provide the necessary information for researchers to have an in-depth molecular understanding of heme biology and further their studies in this fascinating realm.

Contents: Introduction: The Fascinating Chemical and Molecular Properties of Heme (Li Zhang)Heme Biosynthesis and Degradation: What Happens When It Goes Haywire? (Li Zhang and Rebekah Sessoms)Heme Uptake and Transport in Mammals (Ana Martins Ribeiro and Iqbal Hamza)Heme: An Ingenious Regulator of Gene Transcription (Li Zhang)Heme-Regulated eIF2α Kinase in Stress Response and Erythropoiesis (Jane-Jane Chen and Shuping Zhang)Heme in Brain Functions: Positive and Negative Roles (Tatyana Chernova and Andrew G Smith)Investigating Potential Functions of Heme in MicroRNA Biogenesis (Feng Guo)Heme and Lung Cancer (Li Zhang)The Chemical and Structural Bases of Heme Recognition: Binding Interactions of Heme with Proteins and Peptides (Yi Li and Li Zhang)Clinical Applications of Heme Biosynthetic Pathway: Photodynamic Therapy with Protoporphyrin IX (Huiying Ding, Baran D Sumer, and Jinming Gao)
Readership: Undergraduate and graduate students in life sciences, advanced readers and researchers in heme biology.Heme Biology;Heme;Gene Regulation;Lung Cancer;Neurological Disease;Alzheimer's Disease;Protoporphyrin;Porphyrin;Porphyria;King George;Heme Biosynthesis;Heme Degradation;Heme Uptake;Heme Transport;ALAS1;HO-1;HO-2;HRG-1;HCP1;FLVCR1;Gene Regulation;Transcription;Hap1;Bach1;Gis1;KDM4;Transcriptional Regulator;Histone Demethylase;eIF2a Kinase;ATF4;Anemia;mTORC1;Cancer;HRI;Brain Function;Neurodegenerative Disease;Neuroprotective;MicroRNA Biogenesis;miRNA;DGCR8;Drosha;Heme Oxygenase;OXPHOS;Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer;Cyclopamine;Hemophore;Heme Recognition;Heme Binding;Hemopexin;Heme Signaling;Heme Regulation;HasA;Heme Complex;Heme-Protein Interaction;Reversible Heme Binding;Peroxidase;PAS Domain;CooA;HemAT;REV-ERB;HrtR0Key Features:The book combines the expertise of prominent investigators in diverse aspects of heme biology to provide a clear understanding of the connections between molecular functions and biological processesBy looking into the actions of this fascinating and versatile molecule, heme, this book illustrates how a metabolic and signaling molecule like heme can function in many molecular and cellular processes and how its altered homeostasis and functions can cause common diseases including neurological disorders, hematological diseases, and cancer