heme

noun \ ˈhēm \

|Updated on: 1 Aug 2018

Definition of heme

: the deep red iron-containing prosthetic group C₃₄H₃₂N₄O₄Fe of hemoglobin and myoglobin

Recent Examples of heme from the Web

Impossible Foods’ Impossible Burger falls into this category because its key ingredient is a protein called heme that is produced by genetically engineered yeast.

— joi ito, WIRED, "Fake Meat, Served Six Ways," 2 July 2018
In a fourth, shimmering crimson under the ceiling lights, was the secret sauce: heme (or haem), a component of many proteins, including hemoglobin — the pigment that gives blood its color.

— Time, "Meet the Founder of Impossible Foods, Whose Meat-Free Burgers Could Transform the Way We Eat," 23 Apr. 2018
This regulator essentially controls whether specific genes are turned on or off depending on the presence of heme within the cell.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "This capsule of glowing E. coli will probe your gut for signs of trouble," 25 May 2018
These biosensors have been modified to recognize a particular molecule of interest, such as the blood component heme.

— karen kaplan, latimes.com, "This futuristic pill senses signs of disease inside the body, then sends a wireless alert to a phone," 25 May 2018
As a proof of concept, the researchers showed the system could detect the molecule heme in the GI tracts of pigs in a model of GI bleeding.

— andrew joseph, STAT, "Swallow this: A sensor could monitor gut health via engineered bacteria — and beam results to a smartphone," 24 May 2018
This unassuming display formed a sideshow at Thursday’s international launch of Impossible Foods’ eponymous meat-free burger, which, due to the use of heme, sears, smells, and even bleeds like its animal equivalent.

— Time, "Meet the Founder of Impossible Foods, Whose Meat-Free Burgers Could Transform the Way We Eat," 23 Apr. 2018
The heme molecule is also involved in another controversy.

— lydia mulvany, The Seattle Times, "Impossible Foods fights for FDA approval on its meatless burgers," 23 Apr. 2018
County Road Ice House's Impossible Burger is a meat-free burger made with a plant protein called heme that resembles blood.

— sarah gish, kansascity, "5 things to try at downtown's County Road Ice House, from Joe's Chicken Z to Frosé | The Kansas City Star," 25 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heme.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of heme

International Scientific Vocabulary, from hematin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1925

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

heme

noun

variants: or chiefly British haem play \ˈhēm\

medical Definition of heme

: the deep red iron-containing prosthetic group C₃₄H₃₂N₄O₄Fe of hemoglobin and myoglobin that is a ferrous derivative of protoporphyrin and readily oxidizes to hematin or hemin — called also protoheme