ALAS1

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

ALAS1 or 5-aminolevulinate synthase 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ALAS1 gene. It is a protein that is involved in the production of heme, a vital component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

Function[edit | edit source]

ALAS1 is the first enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway and it catalyzes the condensation of glycine and succinyl-CoA to form delta-aminolevulinic acid. This reaction is the rate-limiting step in the heme synthesis pathway.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Mutations in the ALAS1 gene can lead to a variety of medical conditions. For example, a deficiency in ALAS1 can cause X-linked sideroblastic anemia, a rare disorder characterized by anemia and an excess of iron in the mitochondria of red blood cells.

Structure[edit | edit source]

The ALAS1 protein is a homodimer, meaning it is composed of two identical subunits. Each subunit contains a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) binding site, which is essential for the enzyme's function.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD