Aminolevulinic acid

From Self-sufficiency
Jump to: navigation, search
Aminolevulinic acid
File:Aminolevulinic acid.svg
Systematic (IUPAC) name
5-amino-4-oxo-pentanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number 106-60-5
ATC code L01XD04 (WHO)
PubChem CID 137
DrugBank APRD00793
Chemical data
Formula C5H9NO3
Molar mass 131.13 g/mol[[Script error: No such module "String".]]
Script error: No such module "collapsible list".
  (verify)
Script error: No such module "TemplatePar".Expression error: Unexpected < operator.

δ-Aminolevulinic acid (dALA or δ-ALA or 5ala or 5-aminolevulinic acid ) is the first compound in the porphyrin synthesis pathway, the pathway that leads to heme in mammals and chlorophyll in plants.

In plants, production of δ-ALA is the step on that the speed of synthesis chlorophyll is regulated. Plants that are fed by external δ-ALA accumulate toxic amounts of chlorophyll precursor, protochlorophyllide, indicating that the synthesis of this intermediate is not suppressed anywhere downwards in the chain of reaction. Protochlorophyllide is a strong photosensitizer in plants.

Production

In non-photosynthetic eukaryotes such as animals, insects, fungi, and protozoa, as well as the α-proteobacteria group of bacteria, it is produced by the enzyme ALA synthase, from glycine and succinyl CoA. This reaction is known as the Shemin pathway.

In plants, algae, bacteria (except for the α-proteobacteria group) and archaea, it is produced from glutamic acid via glutamyl-tRNA and glutamate-1-semialdehyde. The enzymes involved in this pathway are glutamyl-tRNA synthetase, glutamyl-tRNA reductase, and glutamate-1-semialdehyde aminotransferase. This pathway is known as the C5 or Beale pathway.[1][2]

Clinical significance

It elicits synthesis and accumulation of fluorescent porphyrins (protoporphyrin IX) in epithelia and neoplastic tissues, among them malignant gliomas. It is used to visualise tumorous tissue in neurosurgical procedures. Studies have shown that the intraoperative use of this guiding method may reduce the tumour residual volume and prolong progression-free survival in patients suffering from this disease.[3]

dALA or 5ala is also a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.

Cancer Treatment

Photodynamic therapy is a non conventional light therapy for treatment of cancer. Photodynamic Therapy also known as PDT, uses photosensitive drugs (5-ALA, Foscan, Metvix, Tookad, WST09, WST11, Photofrin and Visudyne) which are trigged by light from a specific wavelength usually red or infrared on the light spectrum chart. The drugs are administered in different ways depending on the type of cancer being treated. When the light is applied to the drug it causes a singlet oxygen molecule to form which attacks the tumor and destroys it from the inside out. Photodynamic Therapy is a proven alternative treatment for many cancers. Clinical trials have taken place world wide and several hospitals do offer PDT as a primary cancer treatment. Website devoted to Photodynamic therapy - 5ala.net

Photodynamic Detection is the use of photosensitive drugs with a light source of the right wavelength for the detection of cancer using fluorescence of the drug. PDT treatment possibilities - Prostate, Breast, Giant BCC (Skin), Cervix, recurrent Bladder, Vulvar, Brain (human glioblastoma cells), HPV, Colon, Leukemia, Barretts Oesophagus, Lung, Stomach, Head and Neck, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), Bowen's disease, Penile, and other types of cancer

References

Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.

Use <references />, or <references group="..." />

External links

See also

de:5-Aminolävulinsäure

ja:アミノレブリン酸

pl:Kwas 5-aminolewulinowy
  1. Beale, Samuel I. (1990) Biosynthesis of the tetrapyrrole pigment precursor, d-aminolevulinic acid, from glutamate. Plant Physiology, 93(4), 1273-1279
  2. Willows R.D. (2004) Chlorophylls In: Encyclopaedia of Plant and Crop Science. pp 258-262, Ed: Robert M. Goodman. Marcel Dekker Inc, ISBN 0-8247-4268-0
  3. Stummer W, Pichlmeier U, Meinel T, Wiestler OD, Zanella F, Reulen HJ (2006). "Fluorescence-guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid for resection of malignant glioma: a randomised controlled multicentre phase III trial". Lancet Oncol. 7 (5): 392–401. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(06)70665-9. PMID 16648043.