Development in the Research on Porphobilinogen Deaminase

Porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) is one of the key enzymes which participate in the biosynthesis of the tetrapyrroles. PBGD catalyzes the formation of the linear tetrapyrrole hydroxymethylbilane from four molecules of monopyrrol substrate, with the elimination of four molecules of NH3. The results of research on the biochemical nature, crystal structure and catalytic mechanism are summarized in this article.