The metabolism of δ-aminolaevulic acid. 1. Normal pathways, studied with the aid of 15N

Abstract

On the basis of results obtained with in vitro systems, 6-aminolaevulic acid (ALA) has been found by several groups ofworkers to be a biological precursor of porphyrins and haem. The following reactions are believed to occur (Shemin & Russell, 1953; Neuberger & Scott, 1953):