porphyrin

[ pawr-fuh-rin ]
/ ˈpɔr fə rɪn /

noun Biochemistry.

a dark red, photosensitive pigment consisting of four pyrrole rings linked by single carbon atoms: a component of chlorophyll, heme, and vitamin B12.

Origin of porphyrin

1905–10; < Greek porphýr(a) purple + -in2

Words nearby porphyrin

porphin, porphobilin, porphobilinogen, porphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda, porphyrin, porphyrinogen, porphyrinuria, porphyritic, porphyrization, porphyrize

British Dictionary definitions for porphyrin

porphyrin
/ (ˈpɔːfɪrɪn) /

noun

any of a group of pigments occurring widely in animal and plant tissues and having a heterocyclic structure formed from four pyrrole rings linked by four methylene groups

Word Origin for porphyrin

C20: from Greek porphura purple, referring to its colour

Medical definitions for porphyrin

porphyrin
[ pôr′fə-rĭn ]

n.

Any of various heterocyclic compounds, derived from pyrrole, that occur universally in protoplasm, contain a central metal atom, and provide the foundation structure for hemoglobin, chlorophyll, and certain enzymes.

Scientific definitions for porphyrin

porphyrin
[ pôr′fə-rĭn ]

Any of various organic pigments containing four pyrrole rings bonded to one another. The rings form the corners of a large flat square, in the middle of which is a cavity that often contains a metal atom. Porphyrins occur universally in protoplasm and function with bound metals such as iron in hemoglobin and magnesium in chlorophyll.