Function
Nitrophorins (NP) are NO transport heme-containing proteins from the saliva of blood-feeding insects which act as vasodilators and anti-platelet agents[1]. The NO is bound to the ferric form of NP with Kds in the micromolar or nanomolar range. Thus upon injection of the saliva into the tissue of the victim, the NO ca dissociate to cause vasodilation and inhibition of platelet aggregation[2].
Disease
Relevance
Structural highlights
The NPs structures contain a large component of β-sheet structure which is unusual for heme-containing proteins[3].
