FECH : ferrochelatase
Description
The FECH (ferrochelatase) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 18.
The FECH gene provides instructions for making the enzyme ferrochelatase, which is crucial for the production of heme. Heme is essential for all organs, particularly the blood, bone marrow, and liver. It is a key component of hemoproteins, including hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. Heme production involves eight enzymes, and ferrochelatase catalyzes the final step, where an iron atom is inserted into protoporphyrin IX to form heme.
This enzyme catalyzes the final step in heme synthesis by inserting an iron atom into protoporphyrin IX.
FECH is also known as EPP, EPP1, FCE.
