Browsing Pathways

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.

Asparagine is an amino acid used in protein synthesis, specifically the biosynthesis of glycoproteins. In E.coli, L-asparagine can be synthesized from L-aspartic acid by either utilizing asparagine synthetase B with L-glutamine or ammonia. Both reactions are driven by ATP however the reaction with ammonia utilizes both asparagine synthetase B and aspartate-ammonia ligase.

Galactose can be synthesized through two pathways: melibiose degradation involving an alpha galactosidase and lactose degradation involving a beta galactosidase. Melibiose is first transported inside the cell through the melibiose:Li+/Na+/H+ symporter. Once inside the cell, melibiose is degraded through alpha galactosidase into an alpha-D-galactose and a beta-D-glucose. The beta-D-glucose is phosphorylated by a glucokinase to produce a beta-D-glucose-6-phosphate which can spontaneously be turned into a alpha D glucose 6 phosphate. This alpha D-glucose-6-phosphate is metabolized into a glucose -1-phosphate through a phosphoglucomutase-1. The glucose -1-phosphate is transformed into a uridine diphosphate glucose through UTP--glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase. The product, uridine diphosphate glucose, can undergo a reversible reaction in which it can be turned into uridine diphosphategalactose through an UDP-glucose 4-epimerase. Galactose can also be produced by lactose degradation involving a lactose permease to uptake lactose from the environment and a beta-galactosidase to turn lactose into Beta-D-galactose. Beta-D-galactose can also be uptaken from the environment through a galactose proton symporter. Galactose is degraded through the following process: Beta-D-galactose is introduced into the cytoplasm through a galactose proton symporter, or it can be synthesized from an alpha lactose that is introduced into the cytoplasm through a lactose permease. Alpha lactose interacts with water through a beta-galactosidase resulting in a beta-D-glucose and beta-D-galactose. Beta-D-galactose is isomerized into D-galactose. D-Galactose undergoes phosphorylation through a galactokinase, hence producing galactose 1 phosphate. On the other side of the pathway, a gluose-1-phosphate (product of the interaction of alpha-D-glucose 6-phosphate with a phosphoglucomutase resulting in a alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate, an isomer of Glucose 1-phosphate, or an isomer of Beta-D-glucose 1-phosphate) interacts with UTP and a hydrogen ion in order to produce a uridine diphosphate glucose. This is followed by the interaction of galactose-1-phosphate with an established amount of uridine diphosphate glucose through a galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, which in turn output a glucose-1-phosphate and a uridine diphosphate galactose. The glucose -1-phosphate is transformed into a uridine diphosphate glucose through UTP--glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase. The product, uridine diphosphate glucose, can undergo a reversible reaction in which it can be turned into uridine diphosphategalactose through an UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, and so the cycle can keep going as long as more lactose or galactose is imported into the cell

Galactose can be synthesized through two pathways: melibiose degradation involving an alpha galactosidase and lactose degradation involving a beta galactosidase. Melibiose is first transported inside the cell through the melibiose:Li+/Na+/H+ symporter. Once inside the cell, melibiose is degraded through alpha galactosidase into an alpha-D-galactose and a beta-D-glucose. The beta-D-glucose is phosphorylated by a glucokinase to produce a beta-D-glucose-6-phosphate which can spontaneously be turned into a alpha D glucose 6 phosphate. This alpha D-glucose-6-phosphate is metabolized into a glucose -1-phosphate through a phosphoglucomutase-1. The glucose -1-phosphate is transformed into a uridine diphosphate glucose through UTP--glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase. The product, uridine diphosphate glucose, can undergo a reversible reaction in which it can be turned into uridine diphosphategalactose through an UDP-glucose 4-epimerase. Galactose can also be produced by lactose degradation involving a lactose permease to uptake lactose from the environment and a beta-galactosidase to turn lactose into Beta-D-galactose. Beta-D-galactose can also be uptaken from the environment through a galactose proton symporter. Galactose is degraded through the following process: Beta-D-galactose is introduced into the cytoplasm through a galactose proton symporter, or it can be synthesized from an alpha lactose that is introduced into the cytoplasm through a lactose permease. Alpha lactose interacts with water through a beta-galactosidase resulting in a beta-D-glucose and beta-D-galactose. Beta-D-galactose is isomerized into D-galactose. D-Galactose undergoes phosphorylation through a galactokinase, hence producing galactose 1 phosphate. On the other side of the pathway, a gluose-1-phosphate (product of the interaction of alpha-D-glucose 6-phosphate with a phosphoglucomutase resulting in a alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate, an isomer of Glucose 1-phosphate, or an isomer of Beta-D-glucose 1-phosphate) interacts with UTP and a hydrogen ion in order to produce a uridine diphosphate glucose. This is followed by the interaction of galactose-1-phosphate with an established amount of uridine diphosphate glucose through a galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, which in turn output a glucose-1-phosphate and a uridine diphosphate galactose. The glucose -1-phosphate is transformed into a uridine diphosphate glucose through UTP--glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase. The product, uridine diphosphate glucose, can undergo a reversible reaction in which it can be turned into uridine diphosphategalactose through an UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, and so the cycle can keep going as long as more lactose or galactose is imported into the cell

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.

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.

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.

Glycolic acid is introduced into the cytoplasm through either a glycolate / lactate:H+ symporter or a acetate / glycolate transporter. Once inside, glycolic acid reacts with an oxidized electron-transfer flavoprotein through a glycolate oxidase resulting in a reduced acceptor and glyoxylic acid. Glyoxylic acid can also be obtained from the introduction of glyoxylic acid. It can also be obtained from the metabolism of (S)-allantoin. S-allantoin is introduced into the cytoplasm through a purine and pyrimidine transporter(allantoin specific). Once inside, the compound reacts with water through a allantoinase resulting in hydrogen ion and allantoic acid. Allantoic acid then reacts with water and hydrogen ion through a allantoate amidohydrolase resulting in a carbon dioxide, ammonium and S-ureidoglycine. The latter compound reacts with water through a S-ureidoglycine aminohydrolase resulting in ammonium and S-ureidoglycolic acid which in turn reacts with a Ureidoglycolate lyase resulting in urea and glyoxylic acid. Glyoxylic acid can either be metabolized into L-malic acid by a reaction with acetyl-CoA and Water through a malate synthase G which also releases hydrogen ion and Coenzyme A. L-malic acid is then incorporated into the TCA cycle. Glyoxylic acid can also be metabolized by glyoxylate carboligase, releasing a carbon dioxide and tartronate semialdehyde. The latter compound is then reduced by an NADH driven tartronate semialdehyde reductase 2 resulting in glyceric acid. Glyceric acid is phosphorylated by a glycerate kinase 2 resulting in a 3-phosphoglyceric acid. This compound is then integrated into various other pathways: cysteine biosynthesis, serine biosynthesis and glycolysis and pyruvate dehydrogenase.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) can be biosynthesized from L-aspartic acid. This amino acid reacts with oxygen through an L-aspartate oxidase resulting in a hydrogen ion, hydrogen peroxide and an iminoaspartic acid. The latter compound interacts with dihydroxyacetone phosphate through a quinolinate synthase A, resulting in a phosphate, water, and a quinolic acid. Quinolic acid interacts with phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate and hydrogen ion through a quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase resulting in pyrophosphate, carbon dioxide and nicotinate beta-D-ribonucleotide. The latter is adenylated through an ATP driven nicotinate-mononucleotide adenylyltransferase releasing a pyrophosphate and resulting in a nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide. Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide is processed through an NAD synthetase, NH3-dependent in two different manners. In the first case, Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide interacts with ATP, L-glutamine and water through the enzyme and results in hydrogen ion, AMP, pyrophosphate, L-glutamic acid and NAD. In the second case, Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide interacts with ATP and ammonium through the enzyme resulting in a pyrophosphate, AMP, hydrogen ion and NAD. NAD then proceeds to regulate its own pathway by repressing L-aspartate oxidase. As a general rule, most prokaryotes utilize the aspartate de novo pathway, in which the nicotinate moiety of NAD is synthesized from aspartate , while in eukaryotes, the de novo pathway starts with tryptophan.

Histidine biosynthesis starts with a product of PRPP biosynthesis pathway, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate which interacts with a hydrogen ion through an ATP phosphoribosyltransferase resulting in an pyrophosphate and a phosphoribosyl-ATP. The phosphoribosyl-ATP interacts with water through a phosphoribosyl-AMP cyclohydrolase / phosphoribosyl-ATP pyrophosphatase resulting in the release of pyrophosphate, hydrogen ion and a phosphoribosyl-AMP. The same enzyme proceeds to interact with phosphoribosyl-AMP and water resulting in a 1-(5'-Phosphoribosyl)-5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide. The product is then isomerized by a N-(5'-phospho-L-ribosyl-formimino)-5-amino-1-(5'-phosphoribosyl)-4-imidazolecarboxamide isomerase resulting in a PhosphoribosylformiminoAICAR-phosphate, which reacts with L-glutamine through an imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase resulting in a L-glutamic acid, hydrogen ion, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide and a D-erythro-imidazole-glycerol-phosphate. D-erythro-imidazole-glycerol-phosphate reacts with a imidazoleglycerol-phosphate dehydratase / histidinol-phosphatase, dehydrating the compound and resulting in a imidazole acetol-phosphate. Next, imidazole acetol-phosphate reacts with L-glutamic acid through a histidinol-phosphate aminotransferase, releasing oxoglutaric acid and L-histidinol-phosphate. The latter compound interacts with water and a imidazoleglycerol-phosphate dehydratase / histidinol-phosphatase resulting in L-histidinol and phosphate. L-histidinol interacts with a NAD-driven histidinol dehydrogenase resulting in a Histidinal. Histidinal in turn reacts with water in a NAD driven histidinal dehydrogenase resulting in L-Histidine. L-Histidine then represses ATP phosphoribosyltransferase, regulation its own biosynthesis.