View source for Bilin (biochemistry)

'''Bilins''' or '''bilanes''' are biological pigments formed in many organisms as a metabolic product of certain [[porphyrin]]s. Bilin (also called bilichrome) was named as a [[bile]] pigment of [[mammal]]s, but can also be found in lower [[vertebrate]]s, [[invertebrate]]s, as well as [[red algae]] and green [[plant]]s. Bilins can range in color from red, orange, yellow or brown to blue or green.

Chemically, bilins are linear arrangements of four [[pyrrole]] rings ([[tetrapyrrole]]s). Examples of bilins include [[bilirubin]], a breakdown product of [[heme]] in animals, and [[phycocyanobilin]], the chromophore of the [[photosynthetic pigment]] [[phycocyanin]] in algae and plants. In plants, bilins also serve as the [[photopigment]]s of the [[photoreceptor protein]] [[phytochrome]]. An example of an invertebrate bilin is [[micromatabilin]], which is responsible for the green color of the Green Huntsman Spider, ''[[Micrommata virescens]]''.<ref name=OxfordGillespie1998>Oxford, G.S. & Gillespie, R.G. (1998). Evolution and Ecology of Spider Coloration. ''Annual Review of Entomology'' 43:619-643. {{DOI|10.1146/annurev.ento.43.1.619}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Bilirubin]]
*[[Biliverdin]]
*[[Phycobilin]]
*[[Phycobiliprotein]]
*[[Phycoerythrobilin]]
*[[Stercobilin]]
*[[Urobilin]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{MeshName|Bilin}}

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{{Tetrapyrroles}}

[[Category:Pigments]]
[[Category:Tetrapyrroles]]
[[Category:Biomolecules]]
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