Formation of delta-aminolevulinic acid from glutamic acid by a partially purified enzymes system from wheat leaves.

A method for partial purification of an enzyme system from greening wheat leaves which converts 14C-labeled glutamate to delta-aminolevulinic acid is described. The purification entails the successive use of anion and cation exchange, followed by molecular sieving. The enzyme system is unstable in crude form, but the stability is markedly increased after column chromatography on CM-cellulose. The pH profile and the cofactor requirements suggest that at least two enzymes are involved.