Tetrapyrroles such as heme and chlorophyll, which are essential for various metabolic pathways, are synthesized from 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). Here, the authors identify functional 5-ALA synthase genes in bacteriophage sequences from aquatic environments, thus highlighting the importance of tetrapyrrole metabolism in phage biology.
- Helen Wegner
- Sheila Roitman
- Nicole Frankenberg-Dinkel
