Myoglobin Diffusion in Bovine Heart Muscle

Abstract

The rotational mobility of myoglobin in situ was determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance line width measurements of a characteristic myoglobin resonance observed in bovine heart muscle spectra. The protein diffuses intracellularly at nearly half the rate observed in dilute solution. This high mobility allows the oxygenated form of myoglobin to contribute significantly to the overall diffusive flux of oxygen in respiring heart muscle.