Porphine (CAS 101-60-0)

Porphine, an aromatic heterocycle, serves as a building block for various porphyrins, including heme, and exhibits the ability to form metal complexes through its central nitrogen atoms. As an organic compound within the porphyrin family, porphine holds significant importance in the composition of heme, a vital cofactor found in proteins like hemoglobin. Comprised of four pyrrole rings interconnected by methine bridges, porphine exists as a colorless solid and demonstrates solubility in most organic solvents. Extensively investigated in biochemistry and pharmacology, porphine has contributed to the exploration of hemoglobin′s structure, function, and its role in cellular respiration and energy generation. Furthermore, studies involving porphine have shed light on the structure, function, and synthesis of proteins involved in heme biosynthesis and other biomolecules. Acting as a cofactor, porphine engages in oxidation-reduction reactions within hemoglobin and other heme-related proteins. By binding to the heme prosthetic group, it facilitates electron transfer between the iron atom and the heme prosthetic group, enabling essential energy-producing oxidation-reduction reactions to take place.