title: Evaluation of two biosynthetic pathways to delta-aminolevulinic acid in Euglena gracilis.
abstract: delta-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), which is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of chlorophyll a, can be biosynthesized via the C5 pathway and the Shemin pathway in Euglena gracilis. Analysis of the (13)C-NMR spectrum of (13)C-labeled methyl pheophorbide a, derived from 13C-labeled chlorophyll a biosynthesized from d-[1-(13)C]glucose by E. gracilis, provided evidence suggesting that ALA incorporated in the (13)C-labeled chlorophyll a was synthesized via both the C5 pathway and the Shemin pathway in a ratio of between 1.5 and 1.7 to one. The methoxyl carbon of the methoxycarbonyl group at C-132 of chlorophyll a was labeled with (13)C. The phytyl moiety of chlorophyll a was labeled on C-P2, C-P3(1), C-P4, C-P6, C-P7(1), C-P8, C-P10, C-P11(1), C-P12, C-P14, C-P15(1) and C-P16.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Kiyose-shi, Tokyo, Japan. iida@my-pharm.ac.jp
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Ippei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mimura
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D005056:Euglena gracilis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008715:Methionine / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D008715:Methionine; C032623:pheophorbide a; D000077194:Chlorophyll A