The molecule is a linear tetrapyrrole obtained by the enzymic degradation of heme by Mycobacterium tuberculosis enzyme MhuD. It is a linear tetrapyrrole, a dicarboxylic acid, an arenecarbaldehyde and an aromatic ketone. It is a conjugate acid of a mycobilin a(2-).
3-[(2Z,5Z)-2-[[3-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(3-ethenyl-5-formyl-4-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]methylidene]-5-[(4-ethenyl-3-methyl-5-oxopyrrol-2-yl)methylidene]-4-methylpyrrol-3-yl]propanoic acid