BIOSYNTHESIS OF PORPHYRINS

and heme

Mahpara Gondal
Pharm-D
MS Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Rashid Latif College of Pharmacy

 The porphyrins are complex structures consisting of 4
pyrrole rings, united by “methyne” bridges The nitrogen
of 4 pyrrole rings can form complex with metallic ions such
as Fe++ and Mg++.

Porphyrin
 Porphyrins are a group of heterocyclic 
organic compounds, composed of four modified pyrrole
 subunits interconnected at their carbon atoms via 
methene bridges (=CH−). 

Cont…
.
Porphyrinsare synthesised partly in the
mitochondrion and partly in cytosol of
aerobic cells like developing
erythrocytes and hepatic cells.

Stages of Biosynthesis
Synthesis of porphyrins can be divided
into severel steps for understanding.

BIOSYNTHESIS OF PORPHYRINS
  1.Formation of δ-aminolevulinic acid  by the
reaction of the amino acid glycine with succinyl
-CoA from the citric acid cycle. 

 2.Two molecules of dALA are then combined by 

porphobilinogen synthase to give 
porphobilinogen (PBG), which contains a pyrrole
ring.

 3.Four PBGs are then combined through

deamination into hydroxymethyl bilane (HMB)

Cont…
4. HMB, which is hydrolysed to form the
circular tetrapyrrole uroporphyrinogen III
in the presence of uroporphyrinogen III
synthetase.

5. uroporphyrinogen III undergoes in the

reaction of decarboxylation and form
coproporphyrinogen III in the presence of
uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase.

Cont…
6. Coproporphyrinogen III then oxidize
into protoporphyrinogen III in the
presence of coproporphyrinogen III
oxidase.

7. Then protoporphyrinogen III again

oxidize and form protoporphyrin IX in the
presence of protoporphyrin III oxidase.

Cont…
8. Protoporphyrin IX combine with ferrous
in the presence of enzyme heme
sythetase also called ferrochelatase to
form heme compound.

Cont…
Applications

The main role of porphyrins is their support of aerobic

life.

Porphyrins have been evaluated in the context of 

photodynamic therapy since they strongly absorb light,
which is then converted to energy and heat in the
illuminated areas.

Metalloporphyrin complexes are widely studied as

catalysts for the oxidation of organic compounds

Applications
Uroporphyrins- these are excreted in
negligible amounts averaging 15 to 30
ug/day.

Coproporphyrins-100 to 300ug/day are

excreted. Their excretion is increased in
lead poisoning, liver disease, and
hemolytic anemia.

Excretion of porphyrins in urine

400-1000ug/day of coproporphyrin is
excreted in feces.
An increased fecal excretion occurs in
hemolytic anemia.
A decreased excretion occurs in liver
disease.

Excretion of porphyrins in feces

The porphyrias are a group of disorders
due to abnormalities in the pathway of
biosynthesis of heme.
They can be genetic and or acquired.
Drugs include barbiturtes, sulfonamides
and sex hormones.


Porphyrias