Porphobilinogen synthase

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Porphobilinogen synthase
Identifiers
Symbol ALAD
Entrez 210
HUGO 395
OMIM 125270
RefSeq NM_001003945
UniProt P13716
Other data
EC number 4.2.1.24
Locus Chr. 9 q32

Porphobilinogen synthase (or ALA dehydratase, or Aminolevulinate dehydratase) synthesizes porphobilinogen through the asymmetric condensation of two molecules of aminolevulinic acid. All natural tetrapyrroles, including hemes, chlorophylls and vitamin B12, share porphobilinogen as a common precursor.

It is involved in the second step of the metabolism of porphyrin.


Heme synthesis—note that some reactions occur in the cytoplasm and some in the mitochondrion (yellow)
Heme synthesis—note that some reactions occur in the cytoplasm and some in the mitochondrion (yellow)

[edit] Pathology

Lead poisoning works on the cellular level by binding to this enzyme, rendering it useless.

[edit] External links