# Biosensors for Detection of Labile Heme in Biological Samples

## TL;DR

This review discusses the role of heme in biological systems and explores biosensors for detecting free heme, which is linked to various diseases.

## Contribution

The paper introduces biosensors using bacterial heme sensor proteins for detecting labile heme in biological samples.

## Key findings

- Free heme is cytotoxic and linked to diseases like sickle cell and sepsis.
- Biosensors using bacterial heme sensor proteins can detect free heme effectively.

## Abstract

Heme, a protoporphyrin IX iron complex, functions as an essential prosthetic group in hemoglobin and myoglobin, mediating oxygen storage and transport. Additionally, heme serves as a critical cofactor in various enzymes such as cytochrome c, enabling electron transfer within the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Unlike protein-bound heme, free or labile heme exhibits cytotoxic, pro-oxidant, and pro-inflammatory properties. Elevated levels of free heme are associated with various pathophysiological conditions, including hemolytic disorders such as sickle cell disease, malaria, and sepsis. In this review, we introduce the physiological roles of heme and its involvement in human health and disease. We also examine the mechanisms of heme sensing and regulation in bacterial cells. A variety of analytical methods have been developed to detect and quantify heme, enabling differentiation between protein-bound and free forms. These tools are discussed in the context of their applications in studying cellular heme regulation and their use in monitoring pathological conditions in humans. In particular, we describe examples of biosensors employing bacterial heme sensor proteins as recognition elements.