The molecule is a linear tetrapyrrole produced in the reticuloendothelial system by the first step of heme degradation, catalysed by heme oxygenase. It has a role as a human metabolite and a mouse metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of a biliverdin(2-).
3-[(2Z,5Z)-2-[[3-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-[(Z)-(3-ethenyl-4-methyl-5-oxopyrrol-2-ylidene)methyl]-4-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]methylidene]-5-[(4-ethenyl-3-methyl-5-oxopyrrol-2-yl)methylidene]-4-methylpyrrol-3-yl]propanoic acid