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Biosynthesis, biotechnological production and applications of 5-aminolevulinic acid

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Abstract.

Microbial production of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) by photosynthetic bacteria compared to other bacteria and algae is reviewed. During aerobic-microaerobic cultivation of Rhodobacter sphaeroides mutant strain CR520, control of the redox potential was effective for producing large amounts of extracellular ALA. ALA has been practically applied in agriculture as an herbicide, an insecticide and a growth-promoting factor for plants. New agricultural applications including salt tolerance and cold temperature tolerance of plants are also described. Finally, recent medical applications for cancer treatment, tumor diagnosis and other clinical uses are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima Kokusai Gakuin University, 6-20-1, Nakano, Aki-ku, Hiroshima, 739-0321, Japan, , , , ,

    K. Sasaki &  M. Watanabe

  2. Third Laboratory, Research and Development Center, Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd., 1134-2, Gongendo, Satte, Saitama, 340-0193, , , , ,

    T. Tanaka

  3. Second Group, Research and Development Center, Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd., Tohshiba Squere Building, 4–9-25, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108–8564, Japan, , , , ,

    T. Tanaka

Authors
  1. K. Sasaki
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  2. M. Watanabe
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  3. T. Tanaka
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  4. T. Tanaka
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Received revision: 26 September 2001

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Sasaki, .K., Watanabe, .M., Tanaka, .T. et al. Biosynthesis, biotechnological production and applications of 5-aminolevulinic acid. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 58, 23–29 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-001-0858-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-001-0858-7

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