The nitrite reductase activity of myoglobin was regulated by redesign of its heme center.
A single distal histidine with a suitable position to the heme iron is crucial for nitrite reduction.
Creation of a channel to the heme center significantly enhanced the nitrite reductase activity.
X-ray crystal structures revealed unique substrate and product binding models in the heme center.
This study enriched the structure and nitrite reductase activity relationship of heme proteins.