He oxygenase cleaves the he ring at the alpha methene bridge to form biliverdin. Biliverdin is subsequently converted to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase. Under physiological conditions, the activity of he oxygenase is highest in the spleen, where senescent erythrocytes are sequestrated and destroyed. Exhibits cytoprotective effects since excess of free he sensitizes cells to undergo apoptosis.
Isolation and characterization of a complementary DNA clone for a Mr 32,000 protein which is induced with tumor promoters in BALB,c 3T3 cells.Kageyama H., Hiwasa T., Tokunaga K., Sakiyama S.Cancer Res. 48:4795-4798(1988)
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