Uroporphyrinogen I is an isomer of

uroporphyrinogen III Uroporphyrinogen III is a tetrapyrrole, the first macrocyclic intermediate in the biosynthesis of heme, chlorophyll, vitamin B12, and siroheme. It is a colorless compound, like other porphyrinogens. Structure The molecular structure of uroporphyri ...

, a

metabolic intermediate Metabolic intermediates are molecules that are the precursors or metabolites of biologically significant molecules. Although these intermediates are of relatively minor direct importance to cellular function, they can play important roles in the a ...

in the

biosynthesis Biosynthesis is a multi-step, enzyme-catalyzed process where substrates are converted into more complex products in living organisms. In biosynthesis, simple compounds are modified, converted into other compounds, or joined to form macromolecules. ...

heme Heme, or haem (pronounced / hi:m/ ), is a precursor to hemoglobin, which is necessary to bind oxygen in the bloodstream. Heme is biosynthesized in both the bone marrow and the liver. In biochemical terms, heme is a coordination complex "consisti ...

. A type of

porphyria Porphyria is a group of liver disorders in which substances called porphyrins build up in the body, negatively affecting the skin or nervous system. The types that affect the nervous system are also known as acute porphyria, as symptoms are ra ...

is caused by production of uroporphyrinogen I instead of III.

Biosynthesis and metabolism

In living organisms, uroporphyrinogen I occurs as a side branch of the main porphyrin synthesis pathway. In the normal pathway, the linear tetrapyrrole precursor

preuroporphyrinogen Hydroxymethylbilane, also known as preuroporphyrinogen, is an organic compound that occurs in living organisms during the synthesis of porphyrins, a group of critical substances that include haemoglobin, myoglobin, and chlorophyll. The name is of ...

(a substituted

hydroxymethylbilane Hydroxymethylbilane, also known as preuroporphyrinogen, is an organic compound that occurs in living organisms during the synthesis of porphyrins, a group of critical substances that include haemoglobin, myoglobin, and chlorophyll. The name is of ...

) is converted by the

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

uroporphyrinogen-III cosynthase into the cyclic

; which is then converted to

coproporphyrinogen III Coproporphyrinogen III is a metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of many compounds that are critical for living organisms, such as hemoglobin and chlorophyll. It is a colorless solid. The compound is a porphyrinogen, a class of compounds ch ...

on the way to

porphyrin Porphyrins ( ) 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 com ...

s like

. Uroporphyrinogen I is instead produced spontaneously from preuroporphyrinogen when the enzyme is not present. Uroporphyrinogen I synthesis from preuroporphyrinogen

Uroporphyrinogen I synthesis from preuroporphyrinogen

The difference between the I and III forms is the arrangement of the four carboxyethyl groups (

propionic acid Propionic acid (, from the Greek words πρῶτος : ''prōtos'', meaning "first", and πίων : ''píōn'', meaning "fat"; also known as propanoic acid) is a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with chemical formula CH3CH2CO2H. It is a liq ...

, "P") and the four carboxymethyl groups (

acetic acid Acetic acid , systematically named ethanoic acid , is an acidic, colourless liquid and organic compound with the chemical formula (also written as , , or ). Vinegar is at least 4% acetic acid by volume, making acetic acid the main component ...

, "A"). The non-enzymatic conversion to uroporphyrinogen I results in the sequence AP-AP-AP-AP, whereas the enzymatic conversion into uroporphyrinogen III leads to reversal of one AP-group and hence an AP-AP-AP-PA arrangement. If synthesized, uroporphyrinogen I is then converted into

coproporphyrinogen I Coproporphyrinogen I is an isomer of coproporphyrinogen III, a metabolic intermediate in the normal biosynthesis of heme. The compound is not normally produced by the human body; its production and accumulation causes a type of porphyria. S. Sassa ...

by the same enzyme (

uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase Uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase (uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, or UROD) is an enzyme () that in humans is encoded by the ''UROD'' gene. Function Uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase is a homodimeric enzyme () that catalyzes the fifth step i ...

) that acts on the III form; but that product, which is

cytotoxic Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are an immune cell or some types of venom, e.g. from the puff adder (''Bitis arietans'') or brown recluse spider (''Loxosceles reclusa''). Cell physiology Treating cells ...

, then accumulates causing the

pathology Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in ...

congenital erythropoietic porphyria A birth defect, also known as a congenital disorder, is an abnormal condition that is present at birth regardless of its cause. Birth defects may result in disabilities that may be physical, intellectual, or developmental. The disabilities can r ...

References

{{Tetrapyrroles Tetrapyrroles