Myoglobin

Myoglobin is a compact globular protein consisting of just 153 amino acids. It is known to have the tertiary structure of protein as it is made up of 1 subunit. The single polypeptide is found in muscles and provides vital stores of oxygen to the muscle cells when required. Myoglobin, like haemoglobin, has a haem group which contains iron and bind to oxygen.Haem group This iron in the haem group gives muscle its red colour. The alpha helical 3D structure of the protein was one of the first to be discovered by John Kendrew who studied myoglobin in sperm whales using x-ray crystallography.