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Porphyrin

Nitrogen- and iron-containing nonprotein portion of hemoglobin.

Tetrapyrrole ring system that binds iron in heme (hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes) and magnesium in chlorophyll. Heme synthesis disorders cause porphyrias.

How one textbook covers it

Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism, 8th ed. (Gropper) — Glossary
Tetrapyrrole ring system that binds iron in heme (hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes) and magnesium in chlorophyll. Heme synthesis disorders cause porphyrias.

Related terms

Cytochromes