The kinetics of reaction of oxyheme complexes with dithionite
ion and with deoxyheme were studied. Because rates of autooxidation
of oxyheme complexes were inversly proportional to oxygen
pressure and proportional to the square of the total heme concentration,
it was concluded that the reaction proceeds through Heme-
00-Heme as suggested by Cohen and Caughey. The direct reaction
of dithionite ion with oxyheme complexes accords with the Fe+o 2- ·
formulation of the iron-oxygen bond
