Protoporphyrin (IX) ferrochelatase has an absorption peak in the UVC. Aleksandar Simeonov and I have written a paper suggesting that the fundamental molecules of life are really pigments absorbing and dissipating in the UVC and that this has much relevance to the "thermodynamic dissipation theory of the origin of life". What we would like to know is how fundamental to life protoporphyrin is, and if anyone has knowledge of its biological history and date of first detection in the biosphere?

http://arxiv.org/abs/1405.4059v2

http://www.earth-syst-dynam.net/2/37/2011/esd-2-37-2011.html