The molecule is a member of the class of biladienes that is a linear tetrapyrrole with the dipyrrole units being of both exovinyl and endovinyl type. A product of heme degradation, it is produced in the reticuloendothelial system by the reduction of biliverdin and transported to the liver as a complex with serum albumin. It has a role as an antioxidant, a human metabolite and a mouse metabolite. It is a member of biladienes and a dicarboxylic acid. It contains a 24G7 epitope. It is a conjugate acid of a bilirubin(2-).
3-[2-[[3-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-[(Z)-(3-ethenyl-4-methyl-5-oxopyrrol-2-ylidene)methyl]-4-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]methyl]-5-[(Z)-(4-ethenyl-3-methyl-5-oxopyrrol-2-ylidene)methyl]-4-methyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]propanoic acid