Automated description from the Alliance of Genome Resources (Release 7.0.0)
Enables porphobilinogen synthase activity. Involved in heme A biosynthetic process; heme B biosynthetic process; and heme O biosynthetic process. Acts upstream of or within cellular response to interleukin-4 and heme biosynthetic process. Is active in cytosol. Is expressed in several structures, including liver; lung; metanephros; spleen; and yolk sac. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in porphyria cutanea tarda and sickle cell anemia. Orthologous to human ALAD (aminolevulinate dehydratase).