Protoporphyrin IX
| Identifiers | |
|---|---|
3D model (JSmol)
|
|
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.008.213 |
PubChem CID
|
|
| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
|
|
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| C34H34N4O4 | |
| Molar mass | 562.658 g/mol |
| Density | 1.27 g/cm3 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
| |
Protoporphyrin IX is an organic compound, classified as a porphyrin, that plays an important role in living organisms as a precursor to other critical compounds like heme (hemoglobin) and chlorophyll. It is a deeply colored solid that is not soluble in water. The name is often abbreviated as PPIX.
Protoporphyrin IX contains a porphine core, a tetrapyrrole macrocycle with a marked aromatic character. Protoporphyrin IX is essentially planar, except for the N-H bonds that are bent out of the plane of the rings, in opposite (trans) directions.[1]
Nomenclature
The general term protoporphyrin refers to porphine derivatives that have the outer hydrogen atoms in the four pyrrole rings replaced by other functional groups. The prefix proto often means 'first' in science nomenclature (such as carbon protoxide), hence Hans Fischer is thought to have coined the name protoporphyrin as the first class of porphyrins.[2] In modern times, 'proto-' specifies a porphyrin species bearing methyl, vinyl, and carboxyethyl/propionate side groups.[3] Fischer also generated the Roman numeral naming system which includes 15 protoporphyrin analogs, the naming system is not systematic however.[4] Fischer described iron-deprived heme becoming the "proto-" prophyrin, particularly in reference to Kraemmerer's porphyrin.[5][6] An alternative name for heme is iron PPIX.
PPIX contains four methyl groups −CH3 (M), two vinyl groups −CH=CH2 (V), and two propionic acid groups −CH2−CH2−COOH (P). The suffix "IX" indicates that these chains occur in the circular order MV-MV-MP-PM around the outer cycle at the following respective positions: c2,c3-c7,c8-c12,c13-c17,c18.[4]
The methine bridges of PPIX are named alpha (c5), beta (c10), gamma (c15), and delta (c20). In the context of heme, metabolic biotransformation by heme oxygenase results in the selective opening of the alpha-methine bridge to form biliverdin/bilirubin. In this case, the resulting bilin carries the suffix IXα which indicates the parent molecule was protoporphyrin IX cleaved at the alpha position. Non-enzymatic oxidation may result in the ring opening at other bridge positions.[7]
Properties
- When UV light is shone on the compound, it can floresce with a bright red color.
- It Is also the component in egg shells that give them their characteristic brown color.
Natural occurrence
The compound is encountered in nature in the form of complexes where the two inner hydrogen atoms are replaced by a divalent metal cation. When complexed with an iron(II) (ferrous) cation Fe2+, the molecule is called heme. Hemes are prosthetic groups in some important proteins. These heme-containing proteins include hemoglobin, myoglobin, and cytochrome c. Complexes can also be formed with other metal ions, such as zinc.[8]
Biosynthesis
The compound is synthesized from acyclic precursors via a mono-pyrrole (porphobilinogen) then a tetrapyrrole (a porphyrinogen, specifically uroporphyrinogen III). This precursor is converted to protoporphyrinogen IX, which is oxidized to protoporphyrin IX.[8] The last step is mediated by the enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase.

Protoporphyrin IX is an important precursor to biologically essential prosthetic groups such as heme, cytochrome c, and chlorophylls. As a result, a number of organisms are able to synthesize this tetrapyrrole from basic precursors such as glycine and succinyl-CoA, or glutamic acid. Despite the wide range of organisms that synthesize protoporphyrin IX, the process is largely conserved from bacteria to mammals with a few distinct exceptions in higher plants.[9][10][11]
In the biosynthesis of those molecules, the metal cation is inserted into protoporphyrin IX by enzymes called chelatases. For example, ferrochelatase converts the compound into heme B (i.e. Fe-protoporphyrin IX or protoheme IX). In chlorophyll biosynthesis, the enzyme magnesium chelatase converts it into Mg-protoporphyrin IX.
Described metalloprotoporphyrin IX derivatives
Many metals form Heme-like complexes when coordinated to PPIX.
Protoporphyrin IX reacts with iron salts in air to give the complex FeCl(PPIX).[12] Heme coordinated with chlorine is known as hemin.
Palepron is the disodium salt of protoporphyrin IX.[13]
History
Laidlaw may have first isolated PPIX in 1904.[6]
See also
- Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules
- Heme oxygenase
- Biosynthesis of chlorophylls
- Biosynthesis of hemes
References
- ^ "Crystal and Molecular Structure of the Free Base Porphyrin, Protoporphyrin IX Dimethyl Ester". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 99: 6639–6645. 1977. doi:10.1021/ja00462a027.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - ^ Vicente, Maria da G.H.; Smith, Kevin M. (2014). "Syntheses and Functionalizations of Porphyrin Macrocycles". Current organic synthesis. 11 (1): 3–28. ISSN 1570-1794. PMC 4251786. PMID 25484638.
- ^ Neves, Ana Carolina de Oliveira; Galván, Ismael (2020). "Models for human porphyrias: Have animals in the wild been overlooked?". BioEssays. 42 (12): 2000155. doi:10.1002/bies.202000155. ISSN 1521-1878.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link) - ^ a b Moss, G. P. (1988-12-15). "Nomenclature of tetrapyrroles. Recommendations 1986 IUPAC-IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature (JCBN)". European Journal of Biochemistry. 178 (2): 277–328. doi:10.1111/j.1432-1033.1988.tb14453.x. ISSN 0014-2956. PMID 3208761.
- ^ Fischer, Hans (1930). "On haemin and the relationships between haemin and chlorophyll" (PDF). Nobel Prize.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "A short history of porphyrins and the porphyrias". International Journal of Biochemistry. 11 (3–4): 189–200. 1980-01-01. doi:10.1016/0020-711X(80)90219-0. ISSN 0020-711X.
- ^ Berk, Paul D.; Berlin, Nathaniel I. (1977). International Symposium on Chemistry and Physiology of Bile Pigments. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health.
- ^ a b Paul R. Ortiz de Montellano (2008). "Hemes in Biology". Wiley Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology. John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/9780470048672.wecb221.
- ^ A. R. Battersby; C. J. R. Fookes; G. W. J. Matcham; E. McDonald (1980). "Biosynthesis of the pigments of life: formation of the macrocycle". Nature. 285: 17–21. doi:10.1038/285017a0. PMID 6769048.
- ^ F. J. Leeper (1983). "The biosynthesis of porphyrins, chlorophylls, and vitamin B12". Natural Product Reports. 2: 19–47. doi:10.1039/NP9850200019.
- ^ G. Layer; J. Reichelt; D. Jahn; D. W. Heinz (2010). "Structure and function of enzymes in heme biosynthesis". Protein Science. 19: 1137–1161. doi:10.1002/pro.405. PMC 2895239. PMID 20506125.
- ^ Chang, C. K.; DiNello, R. K.; Dolphin, D. (1980). "Iron Porphines". Inorg. Synth. Inorganic Syntheses. 20: 147. doi:10.1002/9780470132517.ch35.
- ^ PubChem. "Protoporphyrin disodium". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
