The effect of delta-aminolevulinic acid on the synthesis and metabolism of GABA in rabbit brain homogenates.
The porphyrin precursor delta-aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA) is a structural analogue of the putative amino acid neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This study has demonstrated that delta-ALA has no effect on glutamate decarboxylase activity and only a small inhibitory effect of GABA aminotransferase activity. This would suggest that if accumulation of delta-ALA is related to development of the acute attack of porphyria, it is not via an effect on GABA synthesis and metabolism.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D007982:Levulinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
D007982:Levulinic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase