Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Describe bilirubin metabolism?

seo-qna
SearchIcon
Answer
VerifiedVerified
378.3k+ views
Hint: High levels of circulating erythrocytes new-borns have, that are broken down into heme, then to iron, carbon monoxide, biliverdin and eventually bilirubin. Through the bile into the intestine conjugated bilirubin is excreted where, by a mucosal enzyme it is Deconjugated, glucuronidase and into the enterohepatic circulation reabsorbed before within the stool it can be excreted.

Complete answer:
In vertebrates, Bilirubin (BR) is a yellow compound that exists within the usual catabolic pathway that breaks down heme. In the clearance of waste material by the body this catabolism is an important mechanism, resulting from red blood cells. Next, depending on the degradation that happens, of the theme of the molecule the haemoglobin is drained which then goes into separate porphyrin metabolism cycles. In the catabolic process, the first major step is – the synthesis of heme biliverdin, after which the bilirubin reductase enzyme performs the second step from biliverdin- produces the bilirubin. Bilirubin is excreted and elevated levels can suggest some diseases in bile and wile. For the bruised yellow hue it is responsible and the jaundiced yellow discolouration. As a mere waste product of heme breakdown, although traditionally treated, there has been mounting evidence suggesting that other bile pigments including biliverdin have a physiological role in humans. Potent scavengers of hydroperoxyl radicals have been formed to be biliverdin and bilirubin.

Note:
Jaundice is caused by the disposition in the circulatory system and tissues of biliverdin and bilirubin (or both). Bilirubin is a bile pigment. Bilirubin reverts to biliverdin again when oxides. In addition to demonstrating the strong antioxidant of bilirubin the theory has been led by this cycle, that the key physio biological function of bilirubin as a circular antioxidant.