The Biosynthesis of δ-Aminolevulinic Acid in Higher Plants

Abstract
δ-Aminolevulinic acid was accumulated by greening cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. Alpha green) cotyledons, barley (Hordeum sativum var. Numar) leaves, and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Red Kidney) leaves in the presence of various 14C-labeled precursors and levulinic acid, a competitive inhibitor of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase. The radioactivity in the accumulated δ-aminolevulinic acid was measured.