5-amino levulinic acid inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

AbstractThe current COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent development of effective therapeutics. 5-amino levulinic acid (5-ALA) is a naturally synthesized amino acid and has been used for multiple purposes including as an anticancer therapy and as a dietary supplement due to its high bioavailability. In this study, we demonstrated that 5-ALA treatment potently inhibited infection of SARS-CoV-2, a causative agent of COVID-19. The antiviral effects could be detected in both human and non-human cells, without significant cytotoxicity. Therefore, 5-ALA is a candidate as an oral antiviral drug for COVID-19.

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Studies on the Biosynthesis of Heme from Iron and Protoporphyrin

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v14.4.486.486 ◽

1959 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 486-497 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

H. C. SCHWARTZ ◽

G. E. CARTWRIGHT ◽

EMIL L. SMITH ◽

M. M. WINTROBE

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Levulinic Acid ◽

Reduced Glutathione ◽

Enzyme Concentration ◽

Chicken Erythrocyte ◽

Heme Synthesis ◽

Enzyme Solution ◽

Optimal Stability ◽

Amino Levulinic Acid

Abstract 1. Additional evidence has been presented that the formation of heme in vitro from iron and protoporphyrin is enzyme dependent. 2. An enzyme solution was prepared from the active particulate matter of a chicken erythrocyte hemolysate. The enzyme is soluble in 0.15 M KCl and optimally active at pH 7.9. 3. The rate of heme synthesis was constant over the first 30 minutes and approached maximal values at 3 to 4 hours. At optimal concentrations of protoporphyrin and iron the rate of heme synthesis over the first 30 minutes was proportional to enzyme concentration. 4. The enzyme solution was 89 per cent inactivated after heating at 56 C. for 30 minutes. Optimal stability for 3 hours was at pH 7.4. It was unstable when lyophilized or on storage at 5 C. or -30 C. 5. The enzyme was inhibited by 1 x 10-2 M p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate and 1 x 10-2 M iodoacetamide. 6. There was a 70 per cent loss of activity after dialysis of the enzyme solution for 22 hours against water. The dialyzed enzyme solution was reactivated with either reduced glutathione or cysteine. 7. The enzyme solution augmented heme synthesis in vitro from δ-amino-levulinic acid, porphobilinogen and protoporphyrin, but not from glycine.

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Photodynamic Therapy of Normal and Balloon-Injured Rat Carotid Arteries Using 5-Amino-Levulinic Acid

Circulation ◽

10.1161/01.cir.91.2.417 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 417-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Isaac Nyamekye ◽

Sandra Anglin ◽

Jean McEwan ◽

Alexander MacRobert ◽

Stephen Bown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Levulinic Acid ◽

Carotid Arteries ◽

Amino Levulinic Acid

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Evidence for energy transfer from protochlorophyllide to chlorophyllide in leaves treated with δ-amino-levulinic acid

Plant Science Letters ◽

10.1016/0304-4211(74)90059-5 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 67-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

M. Brouers ◽

C. Sironval

Keyword(s):

Energy Transfer ◽

Levulinic Acid ◽

Amino Levulinic Acid

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FINE STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN PROPLASTIDS DURING PHOTODESTRUCTION OF PIGMENTS

The Journal of Cell Biology ◽

10.1083/jcb.22.2.443 ◽

1964 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 443-451 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Shimon Klein ◽

Lawrence Bogorad

Keyword(s):

Fine Structure ◽

Levulinic Acid ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Prolamellar Body ◽

Membrane Structures ◽

Lamellar Structures ◽

Amino Levulinic Acid ◽

Stroma Lamellae ◽

Green Pigments ◽

Bean Leaves

Etiolated bean leaves supplied δ-amino-levulinic acid in the dark synthesize large amounts of protochlorophyllide which is not converted to chlorophyllide upon illumination of the leaves. The fine structure of the proplastids is not affected by the treatment. When leaves containing "inactive" protochlorophyllide are exposed to light of 700 ft-c for 3 hours, they lose practically all their green pigments. During this period large stacks of closed membrane structures are built up in the region of the prolamellar body. These lamellar structures remain even when no or only traces of pigment are left in the leaves. In untreated control leaves the pigment content remained constant during similar illumination and the structural changes in the plastids consisted of a rearrangement of the vesicles from the prolamellar bodies into strands dispersed through the stroma; lamellae and grana formation occurred later.

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