Uroporphyrinogen I

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 (a substituted hydroxymethylbilane) is converted by the enzyme uroporphyrinogen-III cosynthase into the cyclic uroporphyrinogen III; which is then converted to coproporphyrinogen III on the way to porphyrins like heme. Uroporphyrinogen I is instead produced spontaneously from preuroporphyrinogen when the enzyme is not present.

The difference between the I and III forms is the arrangement of the four carboxyethyl groups (propionic acid, "P") and the four carboxymethyl groups (acetic acid, "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 by the same enzyme (uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase) that acts on the III form; but that product, which is cytotoxic, then accumulates causing the pathology congenital erythropoietic porphyria.

References

References

1. {{cite encyclopedia. Paul R. Ortiz de Montellano. (2008). John Wiley & Sons
2. (2000). "Molecular aspects of the inherited porphyrias". Journal of Internal Medicine.
3. (2016). "Advances in understanding the pathogenesis of congenital erythropoietic porphyria". British Journal of Haematology.