noun
- Plural of protoporphyrin; organic compounds that are precursors to heme and chlorophyll, consisting of a porphyrin ring with four propionic acid side chains.
Usage: technical; biochemistry; chemistry
Examples
- Protoporphyrins are important intermediates in the biosynthesis of heme.
- The accumulation of protoporphyrins in the blood can indicate certain metabolic disorders.
- Researchers studied how protoporphyrins are converted into heme in red blood cells.
- Elevated levels of protoporphyrins may be detected in patients with porphyria.
- Protoporphyrins serve as building blocks for the iron-containing prosthetic groups in hemoglobin.