Drug-induced conversion of liver haem into modified porphyrins. Evidence for two classes of products

A porphyrin with inhibitory activity towards protohaem ferro-lyase (EC 4.99.1.1) was isolated from the liver of mice given either griseofulvin or isogriseofulvin. This porphyrin resembles closely in chromatographic and spectral properties the inhibitory pigment isolated after treatment with 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine, but differs from other green pigments that do not inhibit protohaem ferro-lyase. A hypothesis is proposed to account for the differences in properties between the two groups of pigments and for the mechanism of inhibition of the enzyme.