PORPHYRIN SYNTHESIS BY MURINE EPIDERMAL-CELLS

Incubation of murine epidermal cells with delta-aminolevulinic acid (A LA) resulted in a dose- and time-dependent accumulation of porphyrins, predominantly of protoporphyrin. Porphyrin accumulation decreased in the presence of iron, and the iron-mediated decrease was partially rev ersed by CaMg EDTA (1.25-10.0 mM), suggesting that there is functional ly active ferrochelatase in these cells. This study suggests that thes e cells may be a useful model for the study of cutaneous porphyrin met abolism involving ferrochelatase activity.