Catalyzes the sequential decarboxylation of the four acetate side chains of uroporphyrinogen to form coproporphyrinogen and participates in the fifth step in the heme biosynthetic pathway . Isomer I or isomer III of uroporphyrinogen may serve as substrate, but only coproporphyrinogen III can ultimately be converted to heme . In vitro also decarboxylates pentacarboxylate porphyrinogen I .
Cytoplasm.