Understanding What Is the Function of Aminolevulinic Acid in Medicine and Biology
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6 min read
In both plants and animals, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is the essential starting point for the production of all tetrapyrrole compounds, including the vital pigment heme. This central role is exploited in medicine, where understanding what is the function of aminolevulinic acid is key to its use in cancer treatment and diagnosis.