Browsing Pathways

The pathway of valine biosynthesis starts with pyruvic acid interacting with a hydrogen ion through a acetolactate synthase / acetohydroxybutanoate synthase or a acetohydroxybutanoate synthase / acetolactate synthase resulting in the release of carbon dioxide and (S)-2-acetolactate. The latter compound then interacts with a hydrogen ion through an NADPH driven acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase resulting in the release of a NADP and an (R) 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylvalerate. The latter compound is then dehydrated by a dihydroxy acid dehydratase resulting in the release of water and isovaleric acid. Isovaleric acid interacts with an L-glutamic acid through a Valine Transaminase resulting in a oxoglutaric acid and an L-valine. L-valine is then transported into the periplasmic space through a L-valine efflux transporter.

This pathway shows the biosynthesis of methionine, which is an energy-costly process. Lysine biosynthesis produces L-Aspartate-semialdehyde, which later on is catalyzed to L-homoserine by bifunctional aspartokinase (also named homoserine dehydrogenase) 1 and 2. Homoserine is then activated by O-succinylation to form O-succinyl-L-homoserine via homoserine O-succinyltransferase (metA). Combining with L-cysteine, O-succinyl-L-homoserine form L-cystathionine and succinic acid by cystathionine gamma-synthase (metB). Cleavage of L-cystathionine by cystathionine beta-lyase (metC) or Protein MalY(as ) generates two small molecules: homocysteine and 2-aminoprop-2-enoate. Methionine synthase(MetH) or 5-methyltetrahydropteroyltriglutamate--homocysteine methyltransferase(MetE) will catalyzehomocysteine to form the final product: methionine. In E.coli, MetH can only function with existence of cobalamin (Vitamin B12), which can be available in the guy; without cobalamin, MetE will not be repressed so that it will catalyze the methionine. Methionine can be transported out of cell (into periplasmic space) by leucine efflux transporter.

Cardiolipin (CL) is an important component of the inner mitochondrial membrane where it constitutes about 20% of the total lipid composition. It is essential for the optimal function of numerous enzymes that are involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism (Wikipedia). Cardiolipin biosynthesis occurs mainly in the mitochondria, but there also exists an alternative synthesis route for CDP-diacylglycerol that takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum. This second route may supplement this pathway. All membrane-localized enzymes are coloured dark green in the image. First, dihydroxyacetone phosphate (or glycerone phosphate) from glycolysis is used by the cytosolic enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [NAD(+)] to synthesize sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. Second, the mitochondrial outer membrane enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase esterifies an acyl-group to the sn-1 position of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate to form 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (lysophosphatidic acid or LPA). Third, the enzyme 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase converts LPA into phosphatidic acid (PA or 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate) by esterifying an acyl-group to the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone. PA is then transferred to the inner mitochondrial membrane to continue cardiolipin synthesis. Fourth, magnesium-dependent phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase catalyzes the conversion of PA into CDP-diacylglycerol. Fifth, CDP-diacylglycerol--glycerol-3-phosphate 3-phosphatidyltransferase synthesizes phosphatidylglycerophosphate (PGP). Sixth, phosphatidylglycerophosphatase and protein-tyrosine phosphatase dephosphorylates PGP to form phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Last, cardiolipin synthase catalyzes the synthesis of cardiolipin by transferring a phosphatidyl group from a second CDP-diacylglycerol to PG. It requires a divalent metal cation cofactor.

The pathway of valine biosynthesis starts with pyruvic acid interacting with a hydrogen ion through a acetolactate synthase / acetohydroxybutanoate synthase or a acetohydroxybutanoate synthase / acetolactate synthase resulting in the release of carbon dioxide and (S)-2-acetolactate. The latter compound then interacts with a hydrogen ion through an NADPH driven acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase resulting in the release of a NADP and an (R) 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylvalerate. The latter compound is then dehydrated by a dihydroxy acid dehydratase resulting in the release of water and isovaleric acid. Isovaleric acid interacts with an L-glutamic acid through a Valine Transaminase resulting in a oxoglutaric acid and an L-valine. L-valine is then transported into the periplasmic space through a L-valine efflux transporter.

Leucine biosynthesis involves a five-step conversion process starting with the valine precursor 2-keto-isovalerate interacting with acetyl-CoA and water through a 2-isopropylmalate synthase resulting in Coenzyme A, hydrogen Ion and 2-isopropylmalic acid. The latter compound reacts with isopropylmalate isomerase which dehydrates the compound resulting in a Isopropylmaleate. This compound reacts with water through a isopropylmalate isomerase resulting in 3-isopropylmalate. This compound interacts with a NAD-driven D-malate / 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase results in 2-isopropyl-3-oxosuccinate. This compound interacts spontaneously with hydrogen resulting in the release of carbon dioxide and ketoleucine. Ketoleucine interacts in a reversible reaction with L-glutamic acid through a branched-chain amino-acid aminotransferase resulting in Oxoglutaric acid and L-leucine. L-leucine can then be exported outside the cytoplasm through a transporter: L-amino acid efflux transporter. In the final step, ketoleucine can be catalyzed to form L-leucine by branched-chain amino-acid aminotransferase (IlvE) and tyrosine aminotransferase (TryB). L-Glutamic acid can also be transformed into oxoglutaric acid by these two enzymes. Tyrosine aminotransferase can be suppressed by lecuine, and inhibited by 2-keto-isovarlerate and its end product, tyrosine. 2-ketoisocaproate can not be introduced if 2-keto-isovarlerate inhibit TyrB and IlvE is absent.

Cardiolipin (CL) is an important component of the inner mitochondrial membrane where it constitutes about 20% of the total lipid composition. It is essential for the optimal function of numerous enzymes that are involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism (Wikipedia). Cardiolipin biosynthesis occurs mainly in the mitochondria, but there also exists an alternative synthesis route for CDP-diacylglycerol that takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum. This second route may supplement this pathway. All membrane-localized enzymes are coloured dark green in the image. First, dihydroxyacetone phosphate (or glycerone phosphate) from glycolysis is used by the cytosolic enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [NAD(+)] to synthesize sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. Second, the mitochondrial outer membrane enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase esterifies an acyl-group to the sn-1 position of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate to form 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (lysophosphatidic acid or LPA). Third, the enzyme 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase converts LPA into phosphatidic acid (PA or 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate) by esterifying an acyl-group to the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone. PA is then transferred to the inner mitochondrial membrane to continue cardiolipin synthesis. Fourth, magnesium-dependent phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase catalyzes the conversion of PA into CDP-diacylglycerol. Fifth, CDP-diacylglycerol--glycerol-3-phosphate 3-phosphatidyltransferase synthesizes phosphatidylglycerophosphate (PGP). Sixth, phosphatidylglycerophosphatase and protein-tyrosine phosphatase dephosphorylates PGP to form phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Last, cardiolipin synthase catalyzes the synthesis of cardiolipin by transferring a phosphatidyl group from a second CDP-diacylglycerol to PG. It requires a divalent metal cation cofactor.

This pathway shows the biosynthesis of methionine, which is an energy-costly process. Lysine biosynthesis produces L-Aspartate-semialdehyde, which later on is catalyzed to L-homoserine by bifunctional aspartokinase (also named homoserine dehydrogenase) 1 and 2. Homoserine is then activated by O-succinylation to form O-succinyl-L-homoserine via homoserine O-succinyltransferase (metA). Combining with L-cysteine, O-succinyl-L-homoserine form L-cystathionine and succinic acid by cystathionine gamma-synthase (metB). Cleavage of L-cystathionine by cystathionine beta-lyase (metC) or Protein MalY(as ) generates two small molecules: homocysteine and 2-aminoprop-2-enoate. Methionine synthase(MetH) or 5-methyltetrahydropteroyltriglutamate--homocysteine methyltransferase(MetE) will catalyzehomocysteine to form the final product: methionine. In E.coli, MetH can only function with existence of cobalamin (Vitamin B12), which can be available in the guy; without cobalamin, MetE will not be repressed so that it will catalyze the methionine. Methionine can be transported out of cell (into periplasmic space) by leucine efflux transporter.

Escherichia coli can solely use D-galactonate as a carbon and energy source. The initial step, after the transport of galactonic acid into the cell is the dehydration of D-galactonate to 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-galactonate by D-galactonate dehydratase. Subsequent phosphorylation by 2-dehydro-3-deoxygalactonate kinase and aldol cleavage by 2-oxo-3-deoxygalactonate 6-phosphate aldolase produces pyruvate and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, which enter central metabolism. Galactitol can also be utilized by E. coli K-12 as the sole source of carbon and energy. Each enters the cell via a specific phosphotransferase system, so the first intracellular species is D-galactitol-1-phosphate or D-galactitol-6-phosphate, which are identical. This sugar alcohol phosphate becomes the substrate for a dehydrogenase that oxidizes its 2-alcohol group to a keto group. Galactitol-1-phosphate is dehydrogenated to tagatose-6-phosphate which is then acted on by a kinase and an aldose and eventually is converted to glycolysis intermediates.

Isoleucine biosynthesis begins with L-threonine from the threonine biosynthesis pathway. L-threonine interacts with threonine dehydratase biosynthetic releasing water, a hydrogen ion and (2Z)-2-aminobut-2-enoate. The latter is isomerized into a 2-iminobutanoate which interacts with water and a hydrogen ion spontaneously, resulting in the release of ammonium and 2-ketobutyric acid. 2-ketobutyric acid reacts with pyruvic acid and hydrogen ions through an acetohydroxybutanoate synthase / acetolactate synthase 2 resulting in carbon dioxide and (S)-2-Aceto-2-hydroxybutanoic acid. (S)-2-Aceto-2-hydroxybutanoic acid is reduced by an NADPH driven acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase releasing NADP and acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase. The latter compound is dehydrated by a dihydroxy acid dehydratase resulting in 3-methyl-2-oxovaleric acid. This compound reacts in a reversible reaction with L-glutamic acid through a Branched-chain-amino-acid aminotransferase resulting in oxoglutaric acid and L-isoleucine. L-isoleucine can also be transported into the cytoplasm through two different methods: a branched chain amino acid ABC transporter or a branched chain amino acid transporter BrnQy.

The biosynthesis of threonine starts with oxalacetic acid interacting with an L-glutamic acid through an aspartate aminotransferase resulting in a oxoglutaric acid and an L-aspartic acid. The latter compound is then phosphorylated by an ATP driven Aspartate kinase resulting in an a release of an ADP and an L-aspartyl-4-phosphate. L-aspartyl-4-phosphate then interacts with a hydrogen ion through an NADPH driven aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase resulting in the release of a phosphate, an NADP and a L-aspartate-semialdehyde. The latter compound interacts with a hydrogen ion through a NADPH driven aspartate kinase / homoserine dehydrogenase resulting in the release of an NADP and a L-homoserine. L-homoserine is phosphorylated through an ATP driven homoserine kinase resulting in the release of an ADP, a hydrogen ion and a O-phosphohomoserine. O-phosphohomoserine then interacts with a water molecule and threonine synthase resulting in the release of a phosphate and an L-threonine.