Porphyrins and Hemoglobin Flashcards
Hemoglobin and myoglobin are chemically similar molecules that contain what chemical groups?
Porphyrin groups
Porphyrin structure
Cyclic structure made of 4 pyrrole rings joined by methine bridges
What produces heme?
Chelation of ferrous iron to protoporphyrin
Heme
Prosthetic group of Hgb responsible for binding O2
Porphyrias
Group of rare disorders that result from disturbances in heme synthesis
Hemoglobinopathies caused by
- Qualitative defects in Hgb (aa mutations)
- Structural defects
Thalassemias are caused by
- Quantitative defects in Hgb production (less Hgb made)
- Rate and quantity made affected
Myoglobin
Simple heme protein found in cardiac and skeletal muscles
Porphyrins
Chem intermediates in Hgb synthesis, Mgb, and other respiratory pigments called cytochromes
What indicates metabolic block of heme synthesis?
Excessive amounts of porphyrin intermediates in blood, urine, or feces
Porphyrinogens
- Reduced compounds that are intermediates in heme synthesis
- Non-protein, iron-containing prosthetic group of Hgb
How are porphyrinogens converted to porphyrins?
Oxidation upon air exposure
Which of the 4 porphyrin isomers generates heme?
Type III isomer
Which of the 4 porphyrin isomers occur naturally?
Types I and III
Porphyrin photoactive properties (color, absorbance wavelength)
- Dark red color
- 400 nm
Aqueous solubility of porphyrins varies with number of what functional group?
Carboxylic acid
Number of carboxylic acid functional groups in:
Uroporphyrin
Coproporphyrin
Porphyrin
Uroporphyrin = 8
Coproporphyrin = 4
Porphyrin = 2
Which cells of the human body contain hemoproteins that can synthesize heme?
All cells
Primary organ sites of heme synthesis
Bone marrow and liver
___ molecule(s) of heme is produced from ____ molecules of ____
- One
- 8
- delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)
The first and last steps of heme synthesize occurs where? Requires what?
- Mitochondria
- Requires lots of energy
What is the last step of heme synthesis
Protoporphyrin converts to heme through action of ferrochelatase adding ferrous iron
Heme formation regulated by which mechanism? How?
Negative feedback whereby less heme stimulates more ALAS production
Rate-limiting enzyme of heme synthesis
ALAS
Most heme biosynthesis disorders display what kind of inheritance pattern?
Autosomal dominant
Neuropsychiatric symptoms
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Hypertension
- Psychiatric symptoms
- Fever
- Paresthesia
Cutaneous symptoms
- Photosensitivity
- Blisters
- Excess facial hair
- Hyperpigmentation
List porphyrias that feature neuropsychiatric symptoms
- ALA dehydratase deficiency porphyria (ADP)
- Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP)
List porphyrias that feature cutaneous symptoms
- Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP)
- Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT)
- Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP)
- X- linked protoporphyria (XLPP)
Which specific cutaneous symptoms are featured in CEP and PCT?
Increased fragility of light-exposed skin
Which specific cutaneous symptoms are featured in EPP and XLPP?
Burning of light-exposed skin
Photosensitizing effects of porphyrins attributed to what factor?
Light absorption
List porphyrias that feature
neurocutaneous symptoms
- Hereditary coproporphyria (HCP)
- Variegate porphyria (VP)
Most common acute porphyria
- Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP)
- 80% asymptomatic
Secondary porphyrinuria
- Acquired condition associated with increased excretion of urinary porphyrins
- Not due to inherited defect, but is rather caused by another disorder or toxin
Specific causes of secondary porphyrinuria
- Liver disease
- Heavy metal poisoning (Pb)
- Inherited bilirubin metabolism disorder