[Biosynthesis of phorcabiline, blue-green biliary pigment of Actias selene (Lepidoptera, Attacidae)].

The blue-green bile pigments of Actias selene (Attacidae) have been investigated at different stages of its development. Coproporphyrinogen-14-C, protoporphyrin-IX3-H, and pterobilin-14-C, injected to larvae are metabolised into phorcabilin I, the main neopterobilin in this animal. It is concluded that phorcabilin I is a bile pigment of the IX gamma series and that pterobilin is its direct precursor. A method for the preparation of labelled protoporphyrin from quail egg-shell is reported.