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Porphobilinogen

Porphobilinogen (PBG) is a pyrrole-containing intermediate in the biosynthesis of porphyrins. It is generated from aminolevulinate (ALA) by the enzyme ALA dehydratase. Porphobilinogen is then converted into hydroxymethylbilane by the enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase (also known as hydroxymethylbilane synthase). Under certain conditions, porphobilinogen can act as a phototoxin, a neurotoxin, and a metabotoxin. A phototoxin leads to cell damage upon exposure to light. A neurotoxin causes damage to nerve cells and nerve tissues. A metabotoxin is an endogenously produced metabolite that causes adverse health effects at chronically high levels. Chronically high levels of porphyrins are associated with porphyrias such as porphyria variegate, acute intermittent porphyria, and hereditary coproporphyria (HCP). There are several types of porphyrias (most are inherited). Hepatic porphyrias are characterized by acute neurological attacks (seizures, psychosis, extreme back and abdominal pain, and an acute polyneuropathy), while the erythropoietic forms present with skin problems (usually a light-sensitive blistering rash and increased hair growth). The neurotoxicity of porphyrins may be due to their selective interactions with tubulin, which disrupt microtubule formation and cause neural malformations (PMID: 3441503).