Bilirubin is generated when the body breaks down red blood cells. Despite having two carboxylic acid functional groups, bilirubin is highly lipophilic and is insoluble in water and methanol. Why is bilirubin lipophilic? Secondly, bilirubin must undergo conjugative metabolism for its elimination. Accumulation of bilirubin is highly toxic. What is the mechanism of bilirubin toxicity?
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Bilirubin is lipophilic because it has a large hydrophobic region consisting of a linear tetrapyrrole structure, which is derived from the breakdown of heme. This hydrophobic region dominates the molecule's overall properties, making it more soluble in lipids than Show more…
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