Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Aminolevulinic acid synthase
(Redirected from ALA synthase)
The rate-limiting enzyme in porphyrin and heme biosynthesis is ALA synthase, the enzyme that catalyses glycine and succinyl-CoA into D-Aminolevulinic acid. In humans, transcription of ALA synthase is tightly controlled by the presence of Fe2+-binding elements, to prevent accumulation of porphyrin intermediates in the absence of iron.
ALA synthase removes the carboxyl group from glycine and the CoA from the succinate, forming δ-amino levulinic acid (dALA), so called because the amino group is on the fourth carbon atom in the molecule.
10-26-2009 08:16:03
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details