Heme Oxygenase in Biology and Medicine

Heme oxygenase is rapidly taking its place as the centerpiece of multiple inter­ acting metabolic systems. Only 25 years ago heme oxygenase and its metabolic prod­ ucts appeared to be merely a simple metabolic system-one substrate, heme; one enzyme, heme oxygenase; and one set of products, iron to be recycled, and bilirubin and carbon monoxide to be disposed. From a group of about 25 people in 1974, as judged by attendance at various Gordon conferences, heme oxygenase has, in the year 2000, attr