. "Four nitric oxide (NO)-carrying proteins have been isolated from salivary glands of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus. These have been given the collective name \"nitrophorins,\" and individual proteins are designated NP1-NP4 in order of their relative abundance in the glands. All four reversibly bind NO; spectral shifts associated with NO binding indicate the interaction of NO with an Fe(III) heme. Physical properties, amino acid composition, and amino-terminal sequences of the nitrophorins are reported. The most abundant nitrophorin was cloned, and its sequence was determined." . . . "J. Biol. Chem." . "Champagne D.E." . "Nussenzveig R.H." . "Ribeiro J.M.C." . "1995"^^ . "8691-8695" . "Purification, partial characterization, and cloning of nitric oxide-carrying heme proteins (nitrophorins) from salivary glands of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus." . "270" . "doi:10.1074/jbc.270.15.8691" .