The biosynthesis of delta-aminolevulinic acid in Chlorella.
When autotrophically growing cultures of Chlorella are treated with levulinic acid, delta-aminolevulinic acid is excreted into the medium, providing a direct demonstration of alpha-aminolevulinic acid production in a green plant. Evidence is presented which indicates that alpha-aminolevulinic acid formation may be the the rate-controlling step of chlorophyll synthesis in Chlorella, and that control of the rate of alpha-aminolevulinic acid synthesis may be exerted at the level of production and breakdown of an enzyme which catalyzes its formation.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000096:biosynthesis; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism*; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007982:Levulinic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000596:Amino Acids; D007982:Levulinic Acids; D002734:Chlorophyll; D006836:Hydro-Lyases