Aminolevulinate transaminase () is a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the reversible chemical reaction
The two substrates of this enzyme characterised from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides are aminolevulinic acid and pyruvic acid. Its products are 4,5-dioxopentanoic acid and L-alanine. Although aminolevulinic acid is an intermediate in the pathway to heme, via protoporphyrinogen IX, the main biosynthetic pathway to it in Rhodopseudomonas spheroides is via glycine and succinyl coenzyme A.
This enzyme is a transferase, specifically a transaminase, which transfer nitrogenous groups. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 5-aminolevulinate:pyruvate aminotransferase. Other names in common use include .
References