Article: Research from T. Lendrihas and colleagues provide new insights into enzyme research.

"5-Aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS) controls the rate-limiting step of heme biosynthesis in mammals by catalyzing the condensation of succinyl-coenzyme A and glycine to produce 5-aminolevulinate, coenzyme-A (CoA), and carbon dioxide. ALAS is a member of the alpha-oxoamine synthase family of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes and shares high degree of structural similarity and reaction mechanism with the other members of the family," researchers in the United States report (see also Enzyme Research).

"The X-ray crystal structure of ALAS from Rhodobacter capsulatus reveals that the alkanoate component of succinyl-CoA is coordinated by a conserved ...

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