Hemoglobin is a large protein molecule that is responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells, and it functions as a carrier of oxygen.
When hemegolobin is broken down, part of it becomes fecal stercobilin. This is a beneficial process, as it shows that your body can break down this large protein molecule.
There are five components that make up hemeglobin: globin chains, pyrroles, carboxylic acids, amino groups, and a central metal ion. It is not known exactly which part of the hemeglobin molecule becomes fecal stercobilin, but it is known that part of it does.
This article will discuss what happens to the hemeglobin molecule after bleeding has stopped and the hemoglobin has been broken down.
Structure of the globin part of hemoglobin
The second major component of red blood cells is the protein called glycophorin. This protein makes up about 2% of the volume of a red blood cell.
Glycophorin is an important part of the red blood cell as it helps to protect the hemoglobin inside of it. It does this by surrounding the hemoglobin and helping to keep it in a liquid form.
Because it is so dense, if there was less glycophorin, the red blood cells would become more dense and clump together. This would make it harder for the cell to circulate through the body to deliver oxygen.
When looking at how many molecules of each component are in one volume of red blood cells, there are about 250 molecules of glycophorin per liter. How many molecules in one gram? About 8 million molecules.
How is the heme component metabolized?
When hemoglobin is broken down, the heme component is metabolized in two different ways. A portion of the heme molecule is processed by the GI system, and some is processed by the liver.
Processing in the GI system occurs when intestinal bacteria interact with heme. This results in the production of stercobilin, a chemical that contains iron.
Stercobilin is then excreted in the feces as a brown pigment. Processing in the liver occurs through an oxidative process that produces bilirubin, a compound that can be processed by the kidneys and eliminated in urine.
Research has demonstrated that individuals with poor gut health have higher levels of stercobilin in their feces. This may be because fewer intestinal bacteria are present to process heme, reducing its breakdown into stercobilin.
What happens to the globin component?
When heme is broken down, the globin part of the hemoglobin molecule is metabolized into amino acids. These are then used to produce other proteins. Some of these proteins are used in your own body, and some are excreted in your feces.
The amount of fecal globin protein depends on how much undigested food residue you have in your colon. People with less colonic content produce less fecal globin protein.
Some studies have found a connection between higher levels of fecal globin and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This may be because it takes time for the body to process and eliminate this protein, which may lead to an accumulation in the blood.
However, more research is needed to confirm this association.
Does this process have any physiological significance?
Surprisingly, this process does have a significant physiological significance. The breakdown product of heme, stercobilin, is a yellow-orange pigment. It is the same pigment that makes poop brown!
It has been shown that worms that ingest feces containing stercobilin develop resistance to toxic compounds and oxidative stress, suggesting a protective role.
This is because bacteria in the gut synthesize B-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, from stercobilin. This results in more vitamin A being absorbed by the gut lining, which promotes health.
Furthermore, studies have shown an improvement in immune function and overall health with the inclusion of stercobilin in the diet. This includes an improvement in both digestion and immunity within the worm.
The importance of this molecule in promoting overall health within these microorganisms demonstrates its physiological significance.
Does this process have any evolutionary significance?
Interestingly, the process of copro-excretion has no apparent evolutionary significance. Many animals defecate in the same place they eat, but this does not seem to have any nutritional or fitness benefits.
However, studies have shown that herbivores (plant eaters) consume more plants after eating meat than before, showing some sort of nutritional benefit.
The new study also showed that crocodiles — which are carnivores — increased their plant intake after consuming the poop of herbivores like antelopes. This may be because of leftover seeds in the dung that are then processed as waste.
Coprophagy may have evolved for social reasons rather than nutritional ones, however. Some species may eat their own feces as a way to mark territory or communicate with mates.
Is iron loss a problem with hemoglobin metabolism?
Iron is an important nutrient that is responsible for many functions in the body. Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, carries oxygen to other cells in the body to provide them with energy.
When heme metabolizing bacteria interact with the hemoglobin molecule, they use some of the components to build their own cell walls.
These bacteria require iron to build their cell walls, so they metabolize (use up) some of the iron in the hemoglobin molecule. The rest of the iron is eventually excreted in the feces.
If there is too much hemoglobin being broken down, then there is a risk of iron deficiency anemia. This is because there is less red blood cells due to being overloaded with heme, and heme being metabolized uses up iron.
What is stercobilin?
The final product of heme metabolism is a red-colored pigment called stercobilin. This is the same chemical that gives feces its typical brown color.
Stercobilin is a combination of bilirubin and urobilin, two products of the breakdown of hemoglobin. Bilirubin is a by-product of degradation of glutathione in the enteric glial cells.
Urobilin comes from the direct oxidation of uroporphyrin, another component of hemoglobin. Both these compounds are orange or yellow, so the addition of bilirubin makes stercobilin a deep red color.
The reason why some people have brown stool while others have red depends on how much stercobilin is in their feces. Someone who has a lot of it will have red feces, while someone who has little will have brown feces.
What happens to the protein component of hemoglobin?
When red blood cells expire, the hemoglobin they contain is broken down and used to create new cells and tissues. Some of the hemoglobin is used to make new red blood cells, and some is broken down into amino acids.
These are then re-used by the body in new proteins. Some of the hemoglobin molecules are broken down into iron, which is stored in the body.
A small percentage of heme (the protein portion of hemoglobin) is metabolized in the feces as stercobilin, a chemical that has a strong odor. This is why your poop can have a slight garlic or balsalmic vinegar smell to it!
Some people with chronic heme deficiency may not have enough stercobilin in their feces, which may indicate an issue with iron levels in the body.
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