What is a porphyrin group?

What is a porphyrin group?

Porphyrins (/ˈpɔːrfərɪn/ POR-fər-in) are a group of heterocyclic macrocycle organic compounds, composed of four modified pyrrole subunits interconnected at their α carbon atoms via methine bridges (=CH−). The parent of porphyrin is porphine, a rare chemical compound of exclusively theoretical interest.

What are porphyrins examples?

Porphyrins and their reduced or otherwise modified derivatives are unquestionably the ligands par excellence of biology. The most common examples are the hemes (found in hemoglobins, myoglobins, cytochromes, catalases, and peroxidases), chlorophylls, and bacteriochlorophylls.

What are the types of porphyrin?

The specific names of the eight types of porphyrias are:

  • Delta-aminolevulinate-dehydratase deficiency porphyria.
  • Acute intermittent porphyria.
  • Hereditary coproporphyria.
  • Variegate porphyria.
  • Congenital erythropoietic porphyria.
  • Porphyria cutanea tarda.
  • Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria.
  • Erythropoietic protoporphyria.

What is the meaning of heme group?

blood composition

… chemical structure known as a heme group. Heme is composed of a ringlike organic compound known as a porphyrin, to which an iron atom is attached. It is the iron atom that reversibly binds oxygen as the blood travels between the lungs and the tissues.

What is the function of porphyrin?

Porphyrins are essential for the function of hemoglobin — a protein in your red blood cells that links to porphyrin, binds iron, and carries oxygen to your organs and tissues. High levels of porphyrins can cause significant problems.

What is the importance of porphyrin?

Porphyrins. Porphyrins are essential for aerobic life, because of their key role in processes related to oxygen production, oxygen transport, and oxygen use [30]. They are cyclic macromolecules composed of four modified pyrrole subunits that form easily complexes with metallic ions such as iron and magnesium.

Where is porphyrin found?

Coproporphyrin is the main porphyrin found in urine, whereas protoporphyrin is the main porphyrin found in erythrocytes. When iron is added to protoporphyrin, the final heme molecule is formed.

What is the structure of porphyrin?

Structurally, porphyrin consists of four pyrrole rings (five-membered closed structures containing one nitrogen and four carbon atoms) linked to each other by methine groups (―CH=). The iron atom is kept in the centre of the porphyrin ring by interaction with the four nitrogen atoms.

How porphyrin is formed?

Protoporphyrin is synthesized from two simple and readily available compounds, glycine and succinate, by rather simple reactions and the synthesis is very closely linked to the main energy-yielding reactions of most cells.

Who discovered porphyrin?

In 1889, Dr. B.J. Stokvis described the clinical syndrome as “porphyria,” and from then on more and more forms of the syndrome were discovered. All the versions of porphyria have one thing in common: they each result from faults in the bodys heme-building machinery.

What are the characteristics of porphyrins?

Characteristics of the Porphyrins
Protoporphyrin is hydrophobic, may be protein bound in the plasma, and is subject to biliary excretion, eventually being excreted in the stool. Coproporphyrin has intermediate water solubility and is found in both urine and stool.

What is the role of porphyrin?

Porphyrins are essential for aerobic life, because of their key role in processes related to oxygen production, oxygen transport, and oxygen use [30]. They are cyclic macromolecules composed of four modified pyrrole subunits that form easily complexes with metallic ions such as iron and magnesium.

What is porphyrin used for?

Your body uses porphyrins to make heme. Heme is part of hemoglobin , which is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. It’s normal to have a small amount of porphyrins in your blood and other body fluids.

What is the importance of porphyrins?