delta (delta)-aminolevulinic acid

del·ta (δ)-a·mi·no·lev·u·lin·ic ac·id

(ALA) (del'tă ă-mē'nō-lev-yū-lin'ik as'id) An acid formed by δ-aminolevulinate synthase from glycine and succinyl-coenzyme A; a precursor of porphobilinogen, hence an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of hematin. ALA levels are elevated in cases of lead poisoning.