methyl 5-aminolevulinate

Term ID

CHEBI:724125

Synonyms

5-aminolevulinic acid methyl ester
aminolevulinic acid methyl ester
methyl 5-amino-4-oxopentanoate
Methyl aminolevulinate
methyl delta-aminolevulinate

Definition

The methyl ester of 5-aminolevulinic acid. A prodrug, it is metabolised to protoporphyrin IX, a photosensitizer, and is used in the photodynamic treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (including basal cell carcinoma). Topical application (often as the hydrochloride salt) results in an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX in the skin lesions to which the cream has been applied. Subsequent illumination with red light results in the generation of toxic singlet oxygen that destroys cell membranes and thereby kills the tumour cells.

References

Ontology

ChEBI ( EBI )

Relationships

is a type of: delta-amino acid ester

delta-amino acid ester Show first 5 Terms
has_functional_parent: 5-aminolevulinic acid

5-aminolevulinic acid Show first 5 Terms
has_role: antineoplastic agent dermatologic drug photosensitizing agent prodrug

antineoplastic agent dermatologic drug photosensitizing agent prodrug Show first 5 Terms
inverse has_part: methyl 5-aminolevulinate hydrochloride

methyl 5-aminolevulinate hydrochloride Show first 5 Terms

Phenotype

Phenotype resulting from methyl 5-aminolevulinate

Phenotype where environments contain methyl 5-aminolevulinate

Phenotype modified by environments containing methyl 5-aminolevulinate

Human Disease Model