Sirohydrochlorin is a

tetrapyrrole Tetrapyrroles are a class of chemical compounds that contain four pyrrole or pyrrole-like rings. The pyrrole/pyrrole derivatives are linked by ( or units), in either a linear or a cyclic fashion. Pyrroles are a five-atom ring with four carbon ...

macrocyclic Macrocycles are often described as molecules and ions containing a ring of twelve or more atoms. Classical examples include the crown ethers, calixarenes, porphyrins, and cyclodextrins. Macrocycles describe a large, mature area of chemistry. ...

metabolic intermediate Metabolic intermediates are compounds produced during the conversion of substrates (starting molecules) into final products in biochemical reactions within cells. Although these intermediates are of relatively minor direct importance to cell ...

in the

biosynthesis Biosynthesis, i.e., chemical synthesis occurring in biological contexts, is a term most often referring to multi-step, enzyme-Catalysis, catalyzed processes where chemical substances absorbed as nutrients (or previously converted through biosynthe ...

of sirohaem, the iron-containing prosthetic group in sulfite reductase enzymes. It is also the biosynthetic precursor to

cofactor F430 F430 is the cofactor (sometimes called the coenzyme) of the enzyme methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR). MCR catalyzes the reaction that releases methane in the final step of methanogenesis: : + HS–CoB → + CoB–S–S–CoM It is found ...

, an enzyme which catalyzes the release of methane in the final step of

methanogenesis Methanogenesis or biomethanation is the formation of methane coupled to energy conservation by microbes known as methanogens. It is the fourth and final stage of anaerobic digestion. Organisms capable of producing methane for energy conservation h ...

Structure

Sirohydrochlorin was first isolated in the early 1970s when it was shown to be the metal-free form of the

prosthetic group A prosthetic group is the non-amino acid component that is part of the structure of the heteroproteins or conjugated proteins, being tightly linked to the apoprotein. Not to be confused with the cosubstrate that binds to the enzyme apoenzyme (e ...

in the ferredoxin-nitrite reductase from spinach. Its chemical identity was established by spectroscopy and by total synthesis.

Biosynthesis

Sirohydrochlorin is derived from a tetrapyrrolic structural framework created by the enzymes deaminase and cosynthetase which transform

aminolevulinic acid δ-Aminolevulinic acid (also dALA, δ-ALA, 5ALA or 5-aminolevulinic acid), an endogenous non-proteinogenic amino acid, is the first compound in the porphyrin synthesis pathway, the pathway that leads to heme in mammals, as well as chlorophyll ...

via

porphobilinogen Porphobilinogen (PBG) is an organic compound that occurs in living organisms as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of porphyrins, which include critical substances like hemoglobin and chlorophyll. The structure of the molecule can be described ...

and hydroxymethylbilane to

uroporphyrinogen III Uroporphyrinogen III is a tetrapyrrole, the first macrocycle, 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 ...

. The latter is the first macrocyclic intermediate common to haem,

chlorophyll Chlorophyll is any of several related green pigments found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae and plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words (, "pale green") and (, "leaf"). Chlorophyll allows plants to absorb energy ...

, sirohaem and vitamin B₁₂. Uroporphyrinogen III is subsequently transformed by the addition of two methyl groups to form dihydrosirohydrochlorin and this is oxidised by precorrin-2 dehydrogenase to give sirohydrochlorin.

References

{{Tetrapyrroles Tetrapyrroles

Structure

Biosynthesis

See also

References