protein has three ligands: O14 (a 1-(5-chloro-6-fluoro-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid), FE2 (an iron ion), and SO4 (a sulfate ion). It is involved in mediating physiological responses to hypoxia by degrading the transcription factor of a hypoxia-inducible factor HIF1-alpha. In hypoxic conditions, the activity of PHD2 lessens, causing an increase in HIF1-alpha, resulting in