Microbial 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) produced from wastewater is considered as potential renewable energy. However, many hurdles are needed to be overcome such as the regulation of key influencing factors on ALA yield. Biomass and ALA production by Rhodobacter sphaeroides was optimized using response surface methodology. The culturing medium was artificial volatile fatty acids wastewater. Thre...

Blood samples were collected from 113 subjects (56 males and 57 females) living in the district of Alfenas, in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil, to establish reference values for delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALA-D, EC 4.2.1.24). The state of health of the population was confirmed by hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed in blood and urine samples. ALA-D determi...

The activity of 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) in the blood of crucian carp, Carassius auratus langsdorfiii, was measured under a variety of lead exposure conditions. A three-week exposure of crucian carp to water lead concentrations of 3, 10, and 30 ppb inhibited their ALA-D activities with increasing water lead concentrations. When crucian carp were exposed to a water lead concentr...

Lead-induced mortality appears to have been a major factor in the decline of the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus). We orally dosed turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) with BB-sized lead shot from January 1988 through July 1988 to determine physiologic response (delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase inhibition, erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels, anemia), diagnostic tissue lead concentrat...

Measurement of the activity of uroporphyrinogen I synthase provides an excellent laboratory aid in the diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria, particularly in those patients who are asymptomatic or in whom the disease is not biochemically manifested by porphyrin precursor excretion. We describe here a simplified fluorometric method for measuring the activity of this enzyme in whole blood. Th...

Genetic polymorphisms may affect the susceptibility of individuals or populations to toxic agents that cause developmental defects or disease. This commentary outlines basic concepts of genetic polymorphisms and their relevance to environmentally-induced diseases. First, we provide a basic overview of genetic polymorphisms, with emphasis on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Next, we summa...

Inorganic arsenic is a potent carcinogen and environmental pollutant. More than one hundred million people are reported to be exposed to elevated concentrations of arsenic mainly via drinking water. Essential trace elements can affect toxicity of metals by interacting with metals at the primary site of action and can also modify the body's response to toxic metals by altering their metabolism a...

The effectiveness of glycine in treating experimental lead intoxication was examined in rats. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 3 g/L lead acetate in drinking water for 5 weeks and treated thereafter with glycine (100 and 500 mg/kg, orally) once daily for 5 days or glycine (1000 mg/kg, orally) once daily for 28 days. The effect of these treatments on parameters indicative of oxidative stress (gl...

This study was performed to characterize the transport of the endogenous photosensitizer delta-aminolevulinic acid in tumor cells of the extrahepatic biliary duct. Uptake of [(3)H]delta-aminolevulinic acid into human cholangiocarcinoma SK-ChA-1 cells was linear for up to 10 min, independent of a Na(+) gradient, but stimulated 3- to 4-fold by an inwardly directed H(+) gradient. Uptake of delta-a...