N-Methylmesoporphyrin is a transition-state analog used to generate catalytic antibodies. The insertion of a metal ion into a porphyrin by ferrochelatase proceeds through a transition state in which the porphyrin is bent. N-Methylmesoporphyrin, a bent porphyrin that resembles the transition state of the ferrochelatase-catalyzed reaction, was used to generate an antibody that also catalyzes the insertion of a metal ion into a porphyrin ring.