Oxidation of uroporphyrinogens by hydroxyl radicals Evidence for nonporphyrin products as potential inhibitors of uroporphyrinogen decar☐ylase

A hydroxyl radical-generating system, hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase/Fe-EDTA, oxidises uroporphyrinogens to uroporphyrins and to more polar nonporphyrin products. The evidence suggests that the nonporphyrin products have inhibitory activity towards mouse liver uroporphyrinogen decar☐ylase which could explain some forms of human and experimental porphyrias.