Biomaterial Database

Molecular aspects of the inherited porphyrias. 2000

S Sassa, and A Kappas

Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA. sasa@rockvax.rockefeller.edu

The porphyrias are diseases due to marked deficiencies of enzymes of the haem biosynthetic pathway (Fig. 1). Except for the first enzyme of the pathway, delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS), deficiencies in seven other enzymes are associated with the various forms of porphyria (Fig. 2). Porphyrias can be classified as either hepatic or erythroid, depending on the major site of production of porphyrins or their precursors. The pathogenesis of all inherited porphyrias has now been defined at the molecular level, and it is clear that there is a great deal of genetic heterogeneity in each porphyria [1].

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D011164	Porphyrias	A diverse group of metabolic diseases characterized by errors in the biosynthetic pathway of HEME in the LIVER, the BONE MARROW, or both. They are classified by the deficiency of specific enzymes, the tissue site of enzyme defect, or the clinical features that include neurological (acute) or cutaneous (skin lesions). Porphyrias can be hereditary or acquired as a result of toxicity to the hepatic or erythropoietic marrow tissues.	Porphyria,Porphyrin Disorder,Disorder, Porphyrin,Disorders, Porphyrin,Porphyrin Disorders
D011166	Porphyrins	A group of compounds containing the porphin structure, four pyrrole rings connected by methine bridges in a cyclic configuration to which a variety of side chains are attached. The nature of the side chain is indicated by a prefix, as uroporphyrin, hematoporphyrin, etc. The porphyrins, in combination with iron, form the heme component in biologically significant compounds such as hemoglobin and myoglobin.	Porphyrin
D004912	Erythrocytes	Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN.	Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000623	Porphobilinogen Synthase	An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of porphobilinogen from two molecules of 5-aminolevulinic acid. EC 4.2.1.24.	Aminolevulinate Hydro-Lyase,Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase,ALA-Dehydrase,delta-Aminolevulinate Dehydratase,delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase,ALA Dehydrase,Acid Dehydratase, Aminolevulinic,Acid Dehydratase, delta-Aminolevulinic,Aminolevulinate Hydro Lyase,Dehydratase, Aminolevulinic Acid,Dehydratase, delta-Aminolevulinate,Dehydratase, delta-Aminolevulinic Acid,Hydro-Lyase, Aminolevulinate,Synthase, Porphobilinogen,delta Aminolevulinate Dehydratase,delta Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase
D017092	Porphyria, Erythropoietic	An autosomal recessive porphyria that is due to a deficiency of UROPORPHYRINOGEN III SYNTHASE in the BONE MARROW; also known as congenital erythropoietic porphyria. This disease is characterized by SPLENOMEGALY; ANEMIA; photosensitivity; cutaneous lesions; accumulation of hydroxymethylbilane; and increased excretion of UROPORPHYRINS and COPROPORPHYRINS.	Deficiency of Uroporphyrinogen III Synthase,Erythropoietic Porphyria,Gunther's Disease,Porphyria, Erythropoietic, Congenital,Uroporphyrinogen III Synthase, Deficiency of,Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria,Gunther Disease,Porphyria, Congenital Erythropoietic,UROS Deficiency,Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyrias,Erythropoietic Porphyria, Congenital,Erythropoietic Porphyrias,Erythropoietic Porphyrias, Congenital,Gunthers Disease,Porphyrias, Congenital Erythropoietic,Porphyrias, Erythropoietic
D017094	Porphyrias, Hepatic	A group of metabolic diseases due to deficiency of one of a number of LIVER enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway of HEME. They are characterized by the accumulation and increased excretion of PORPHYRINS or its precursors. Clinical features include neurological symptoms (PORPHYRIA, ACUTE INTERMITTENT), cutaneous lesions due to photosensitivity (PORPHYRIA CUTANEA TARDA), or both (HEREDITARY COPROPORPHYRIA). Hepatic porphyrias can be hereditary or acquired as a result of toxicity to the hepatic tissues.	Hepatic Porphyria,Porphyria, Hepatic,Hepatic Porphyrias
D017118	Porphyria, Acute Intermittent	An autosomal dominant porphyria that is due to a deficiency of HYDROXYMETHYLBILANE SYNTHASE in the LIVER, the third enzyme in the 8-enzyme biosynthetic pathway of HEME. Clinical features are recurrent and life-threatening neurologic disturbances, ABDOMINAL PAIN, and elevated level of AMINOLEVULINIC ACID and PORPHOBILINOGEN in the urine.	Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase Deficiency,Uroporphyrinogen Synthase Deficiency,Acute Porphyria,PBGD Deficiency,Porphobilinogen Deaminase Deficiency,Porphyria, Swedish Type,UPS Deficiency,Acute Intermittent Porphyria,Acute Intermittent Porphyrias,Acute Porphyrias,Deaminase Deficiencies, Porphobilinogen,Deaminase Deficiency, Porphobilinogen,Deficiencies, Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase,Deficiencies, PBGD,Deficiencies, Porphobilinogen Deaminase,Deficiencies, UPS,Deficiencies, Uroporphyrinogen Synthase,Deficiency, Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase,Deficiency, PBGD,Deficiency, Porphobilinogen Deaminase,Deficiency, UPS,Deficiency, Uroporphyrinogen Synthase,Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase Deficiencies,Intermittent Porphyria, Acute,Intermittent Porphyrias, Acute,PBGD Deficiencies,Porphobilinogen Deaminase Deficiencies,Porphyria, Acute,Porphyrias, Acute,Porphyrias, Acute Intermittent,Porphyrias, Swedish Type,Swedish Type Porphyria,Swedish Type Porphyrias,Synthase Deficiencies, Hydroxymethylbilane,Synthase Deficiencies, Uroporphyrinogen,Synthase Deficiency, Hydroxymethylbilane,Synthase Deficiency, Uroporphyrinogen,Type Porphyria, Swedish,Type Porphyrias, Swedish,UPS Deficiencies,Uroporphyrinogen Synthase Deficiencies
D017119	Porphyria Cutanea Tarda	An autosomal dominant or acquired porphyria due to a deficiency of UROPORPHYRINOGEN DECARBOXYLASE in the LIVER. It is characterized by photosensitivity and cutaneous lesions with little or no neurologic symptoms. Type I is the acquired form and is strongly associated with liver diseases and hepatic toxicities caused by alcohol or estrogenic steroids. Type II is the familial form.