A study of aminolaevulinic acid synthase

Bibliography: leaves 203-245.Delta-aminolaevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) is the first enzyme in the haem biosynthetic pathway, and in mammals is present in two isoforms - differing in regulation and encoded for on different chromosomes. The hepatic form is up-regulated in states of haem deficiency and thus implicated in the acute attack of porphyria. Given the large number of patients who suffer from an acute form porphyria in South Africa the regulation of the human hepatic form of the enzyme is of considerable interest