Previous reports have shown that blood lead levels in humans are associated with a polymorphic form of delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALAD), an enzyme of heme biosynthesis that binds and is inhibited by lead. We hypothesized that ALAD levels may influence the distribution and accumulation of lead in the blood and target organs. To assess this, we studied strains of mice that differ in the n...

The effects of lead, iron, copper, and zinc ions on 8-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase from red blood cell haemolysates in humans, both in the absence and presence of plasma proteins, have been investigated. 8-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) was not found to be a specific indicator of blood lead concentrations since it was also inhibited by copper and activated by zinc. Plasma protein pro...

The structure of Chlorobium vibrioforme 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) complexed with the irreversible inhibitor 4,7-dioxosebacic acid has been solved. The inhibitor binds by forming Schiff-base linkages with lysines 200 and 253 at the active site. The structure reported here provides a definition of the interactions made by both of the substrate molecules (A-side and P-side substrat...

Previous studies have suggested that lead exposure may be associated with increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Polymorphisms in the genes for delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) may affect susceptibility to lead exposure. We used data from a case-control study conducted in New England from 1993 to 1996 to evaluate the relationship of A...

Chiba, M. (1976). British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 33, 36-42. Activity of erythrocyte 8-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase and its change by heat treatment as indices of lead exposure. The effect of heat treatment on erythrocyte 8-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase (ALAD) activity in the blood of human subjects was examined in relation to their lead exposure. A marked difference in the response of...

We describe and discuss an evolutionary tree derived from data which were obtained using monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies (see e.g. Köhler and Milstein, N ature 256, 495 (1975)) were prepared against 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALAD) from spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and enabled us to study 13 different ALAD antigenic determinant characters from origins as diverse as algae, mosses...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Lead has long been recognized as a harmful environmental pollutant. People in developing countries like Bangladesh still have a higher risk of lead exposure. Previous research has suggested that the delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) genotype can modify lead toxicity and individual susceptibility. As children are more susceptible to lead-induced toxicity, this...

Lead is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant; nearly 5% of American children are affected by lead poisoning (a blood lead level (BLL) of 10 mgdL 1 or higher). Even lower BLLs have been shown to cause many subtle health effects in children. Lead, which is found in paint and soil, causes toxicity by several possible mechanisms. Pb interacts with several zinc enzymes or proteins (such as carboni...

We analyzed data from 798 lead workers to determine whether polymorphisms in the genes encoding delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) were associated with or modified relations of lead exposure and dose measures with renal outcomes. Lead exposure was assessed with job duration, blood lead, dimercaptosuccinic acid...

BACKGROUND Tremor is one of the most common neurological signs, yet its etiology is poorly understood. Case-control studies suggest an association between blood lead and essential tremor, and that this association is modified by polymorphisms in the δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydrogenase (ALAD) gene. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the relationship between lead and tremor, including modification b...