Browsing Pathways

The synthesis of amino sugars and nucleotide sugars starts with the phosphorylation of N-Acetylmuramic acid (MurNac) through its transport from the periplasmic space to the cytoplasm. Once in the cytoplasm, MurNac and water undergo a reversible reaction catalyzed by N-acetylmuramic acid 6-phosphate etherase, producing a D-lactic acid and N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine 6-phosphate. This latter compound can also be introduced into the cytoplasm through a phosphorylating PTS permase in the inner membrane that allows for the transport of N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine from the periplasmic space. N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine 6-phosphate can also be obtained from chitin dependent reactions. Chitin is hydrated through a bifunctional chitinase to produce chitobiose. This in turn gets hydrated by a beta-hexosaminidase to produce N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The latter undergoes an atp dependent phosphorylation leading to the production of N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine 6-phosphate. N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine 6-phosphate is then be deacetylated in order to produce Glucosamine 6-phosphate through a N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase. This compound can either be isomerized or deaminated into Beta-D-fructofuranose 6-phosphate through a glucosamine-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase and a glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase respectively. Glucosamine 6-phosphate undergoes a reversible reaction to glucosamine 1 phosphate through a phosphoglucosamine mutase. This compound is then acetylated through a bifunctional protein glmU to produce a N-Acetyl glucosamine 1-phosphate. N-Acetyl glucosamine 1-phosphate enters the nucleotide sugar synthesis by reacting with UTP and hydrogen ion through a bifunctional protein glmU releasing pyrophosphate and a Uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine.This compound can either be isomerized into a UDP-N-acetyl-D-mannosamine or undergo a reaction with phosphoenolpyruvic acid through UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 1-carboxyvinyltransferase releasing a phosphate and a UDP-N-Acetyl-alpha-D-glucosamine-enolpyruvate. UDP-N-acetyl-D-mannosamine undergoes a NAD dependent dehydrogenation through a UDP-N-acetyl-D-mannosamine dehydrogenase, releasing NADH, a hydrogen ion and a UDP-N-Acetyl-alpha-D-mannosaminuronate, This compound is then used in the production of enterobacterial common antigens. UDP-N-Acetyl-alpha-D-glucosamine-enolpyruvate is reduced through a NADPH dependent UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvoylglucosamine reductase, releasing a NADP and a UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-muramate. This compound is involved in the D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism.

The biosynthesis of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate begins as a product of the pentose phosphate and D-ribose 5-phosphate interaction. When catalyzed with a phosphopentomutase, the product is a ribose 1-phosphate. Ribose 1-phosphate can interact spontaneously with ATP resulting in a release of hydrogen ion, ADP and a ribose 1,5-biphosphate. Ribose 1,5-biphosphate is then phosphorylated through a ribose 1,5-bisphosphokinase resulting in the release of ADP and phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate. Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate will then participate in the purine nucleotides de novo biosynthesis pathway. Alternatively pentose phosphate and D-ribose 5-phosphate's interaction can be phosphorylated through an ATP driven ribose-phosphate diphosphokinase resulting in a release of a hydrogen ion, an AMP and a phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate which will again participate in the purine nucleotides de novo biosynthesis pathway.

The biosynthesis of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate begins as a product of the pentose phosphate and D-ribose 5-phosphate interaction. When catalyzed with a phosphopentomutase, the product is a ribose 1-phosphate. Ribose 1-phosphate can interact spontaneously with ATP resulting in a release of hydrogen ion, ADP and a ribose 1,5-biphosphate. Ribose 1,5-biphosphate is then phosphorylated through a ribose 1,5-bisphosphokinase resulting in the release of ADP and phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate. Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate will then participate in the purine nucleotides de novo biosynthesis pathway. Alternatively pentose phosphate and D-ribose 5-phosphate's interaction can be phosphorylated through an ATP driven ribose-phosphate diphosphokinase resulting in a release of a hydrogen ion, an AMP and a phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate which will again participate in the purine nucleotides de novo biosynthesis pathway.

The biosynthesis of glutathione starts with the introduction of L-glutamic acid through either a glutamate:sodium symporter, glutamate / aspartate : H+ symporter GltP or a glutamate / aspartate ABC transporter. Once in the cytoplasm, L-glutamice acid reacts with L-cysteine through an ATP glutamate-cysteine ligase resulting in gamma-glutamylcysteine. This compound reacts which Glycine through an ATP driven glutathione synthetase thus catabolizing Glutathione. This compound is metabolized through a spontaneous reaction with an oxidized glutaredoxin resulting in a reduced glutaredoxin and an oxidized glutathione. This compound is reduced by a NADPH glutathione reductase resulting in a glutathione. Glutathione can then be degraded into various different glutathione containing compounds by reacting with a napthalene or Bromobenzene-2,3-oxide through a glutathione S-transferase.

Beta-Alanine metabolism starts as a product of aspartate metabolism. Aspartate is decarboxylated by aspartate 1-decarboxylase, releasing carbon dioxide and beta-alanine. Beta-Alanine is then metabolized through a pantothenate synthease resulting in pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid then undergoes phosphorylation through an ATP-driven pantothenate kinase, resulting in D-4-phosphopantothenate. Pantothenate, vitamin B5, is a precursor for synthesis of 4'-phosphopantetheine moiety of coenzyme A and acyl carrier protein. Plants and microorganisms can synthesize pantothenate de novo, but animals must obtain it from diet. Enzymes of beta-alanine metabolism are targets for anti-microbial drugs.

The fatty acid biosynthesis starts from acetyl-CoA reacting either with a holo-[acp] through a 3-oxoacyl-[acp] synthase 3 resulting in an acetyl-[acp] or react with hydrogen carbonate through an ATP driven acetyl-CoA carboxylase resulting in a malonyl-CoA. Malonyl-CoA reacts with a holo-acp] through a malonyl-CoA-ACP transacylase resulting in a malonyl-[acp]. This compound can react with a KASI protein resulting in an acetyl-[acp]. A malonyl-[acp] can also react with an acetyl-[acp] through KASI and KASII or with acetyl-CoA through a beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase to produce an acetoacetyl-[acp]. An acetoacetyl-[acp] is also known as a 3-oxoacyl-[acp]. A 3-oxoacyl-[acp] is reduced through a NDPH mediated 3-oxoacyl-[acp] reductase resulting in a (3R)-3-hydroxyacyl-[acp] (R3 hydroxydecanoyl-[acp]) which can either join the fatty acid metabolism, be dehydrated by an 3R-hydroxymyristoyl-[acp] dehydratase to produce a trans-2-enoyl-[acp] or be dehydrated by a hydroxydecanoyl-[acp] to produce a trans-delta2 decenoyl-[acp]. Trans-2-enoyl-[acp] is reduced by a NADH driven enoyl-[acp] reductase resulting in a 2,3,4-saturated fatty acyl-[acp]. This product then reacts with malonyl-[acp] through KASI and KASII resulting in a holo-acyl carrier protein and a 3- oxoacyl-[acp]. Trans-delta2 decenoyl-[acp] reacts with a 3-hydroxydecanoyl-[acp] dehydrase producing a cis-delta 3-decenoyl-ACP. This product then reacts with KASI to produce a 3-oxo-cis-delta5-dodecenoyl-[acp], which in turn is reduced by a NADPH driven 3-oxoacyl-[acp] resulting in a 3R-hydroxy cis delta5-dodecenoyl-acp. This product is dehydrated by a (3R)-hydroxymyristoyl-[acp] dehydratase resulting in a trans-delta 3- cis-delta 5-dodecenoyl-[acp] which in turn is reduced by a NADH driven enoyl-[acp] reductase resulting in a cis-delta5-dodecenoyl-acp which becomes a metabolite of fatty acid metabolism

The pathways of the metabolism of phenylalaline begins with the conversion of chorismate to prephenate through a P-protein (chorismate mutase:pheA). Prephenate then interacts with a hydrogen ion through the same previous enzyme resulting in a release of carbon dioxide, water and a phenolpyruvic acid. Three enzymes those enconde by tyrB, aspC and ilvE are involved in catalyzing the third step of these pathways, all three can contribute to the synthesis of phenylalanine: only tyrB and aspC contribute to biosynthesis of tyrosine. Phenolpyruvic acid can also be obtained from a reversivle reaction with ammonia, a reduced acceptor and a D-amino acid dehydrogenase, resulting in a water, an acceptor and a D-phenylalanine, which can be then transported into the periplasmic space by aromatic amino acid exporter. L-phenylalanine also interacts in two reversible reactions, one involved with oxygen through a catalase peroxidase resulting in a carbon dioxide and 2-phenylacetamide. The other reaction involved an interaction with oxygen through a phenylalanine aminotransferase resulting in a oxoglutaric acid and phenylpyruvic acid. L-phenylalanine can be imported into the cytoplasm through an aromatic amino acid:H+ symporter AroP. The compound can also be imported into the periplasmic space through a transporter: L-amino acid 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 sulfur metabolism pathway starts in three possible ways. The first is the uptake of sulfate through an active transport reaction via a sulfate transport system containing an ATP-binding protein which hydrolyses ATP. Sulfate is converted by the sulfate adenylyltransferase enzymatic complex to adenosine phosphosulfate through the addition of adenine from a molecule of ATP, along with one phosphate group. Adenosine phosphosulfate is further converted to phoaphoadenosine phosphosulfate through an ATP hydrolysis and dehydrogenation reaction by the adenylyl-sulfate kinase. Phoaphoadenosine phosphosulfate is finally dehydrogenated and converted to sulfite by phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate reductase. This reaction requires magnesium, and adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate is the bi-product. A thioredoxin is also oxidized. Sulfite can also be produced from the dehydrogenation of cyanide along with the conversion of thiosulfate to thiocyanate by the thiosulfate sulfurtransferase enzymatic complex. Sulfite next undergoes a series of reactions that lead to the production of pyruvic acid, which is a precursor for pathways such as gluconeogenesis. The first reaction in this series is the conversion of sulfite to hydrogen sulfide through hygrogenation and the deoxygenation of sulfite to form a water molecule. The reaction is catalyzed by the sulfite reductase [NADPH] flavoprotein alpha and beta components. Siroheme, 4Fe-4S, flavin mononucleotide, and FAD function as cofactors or prosthetic groups. Hydrogen sulfide next undergoes dehydrogenation in a reversible reaction to form L-Cysteine and acetic acid, via the cysteine synthase complex and the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. L-Cysteine is dehydrogenated and converted to 2-aminoacrylic acid (a bronsted acid) and hydrogen sulfide(which may be reused) by a larger enzymatic complex composed of cysteine synthase A/B, protein malY, cystathionine-β-lyase, and tryptophanase, along with the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. 2-aminoacrylic acid isomerizes to 2-iminopropanoate, which along with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion is lastly converted to pyruvic acid and ammonium in a spontaneous fashion. The second possible initial starting point for sulfur metabolism is the import of taurine(an alternate sulfur source) into the cytoplasm via the taurine ABC transporter complex. Taurine, oxoglutaric acid, and oxygen are converted to sulfite by the alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent taurine dioxygenase. Carbon dioxide, succinic acid, and aminoacetaldehyde are bi-products of this reaction. Sulfite next enters pyruvic acid synthesis as already described. The third variant of sulfur metabolism starts with the import of an alkyl sulfate, in this case 1-butanesulfonate, into the cytoplasm via an aliphatic sulfonate ABC transporter complex which hydrolyses ATP. 1-butanesulfonate is dehydrogenated and along with oxygen is converted to sulfite and betaine aldehyde by the FMNH2-dependent alkanesulfonate monooxygenase enzyme. Water and flavin mononucleotide(which is used in a subsequent reaction as a prosthetic group) are also produced. Sulfite is next converted to pyruvic acid by the process already described.

The sulfur metabolism pathway starts in three possible ways. The first is the uptake of sulfate through an active transport reaction via a sulfate transport system containing an ATP-binding protein which hydrolyses ATP. Sulfate is converted by the sulfate adenylyltransferase enzymatic complex to adenosine phosphosulfate through the addition of adenine from a molecule of ATP, along with one phosphate group. Adenosine phosphosulfate is further converted to phoaphoadenosine phosphosulfate through an ATP hydrolysis and dehydrogenation reaction by the adenylyl-sulfate kinase. Phoaphoadenosine phosphosulfate is finally dehydrogenated and converted to sulfite by phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate reductase. This reaction requires magnesium, and adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate is the bi-product. A thioredoxin is also oxidized. Sulfite can also be produced from the dehydrogenation of cyanide along with the conversion of thiosulfate to thiocyanate by the thiosulfate sulfurtransferase enzymatic complex. Sulfite next undergoes a series of reactions that lead to the production of pyruvic acid, which is a precursor for pathways such as gluconeogenesis. The first reaction in this series is the conversion of sulfite to hydrogen sulfide through hygrogenation and the deoxygenation of sulfite to form a water molecule. The reaction is catalyzed by the sulfite reductase [NADPH] flavoprotein alpha and beta components. Siroheme, 4Fe-4S, flavin mononucleotide, and FAD function as cofactors or prosthetic groups. Hydrogen sulfide next undergoes dehydrogenation in a reversible reaction to form L-Cysteine and acetic acid, via the cysteine synthase complex and the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. L-Cysteine is dehydrogenated and converted to 2-aminoacrylic acid (a bronsted acid) and hydrogen sulfide(which may be reused) by a larger enzymatic complex composed of cysteine synthase A/B, protein malY, cystathionine-β-lyase, and tryptophanase, along with the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. 2-aminoacrylic acid isomerizes to 2-iminopropanoate, which along with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion is lastly converted to pyruvic acid and ammonium in a spontaneous fashion. The second possible initial starting point for sulfur metabolism is the import of taurine(an alternate sulfur source) into the cytoplasm via the taurine ABC transporter complex. Taurine, oxoglutaric acid, and oxygen are converted to sulfite by the alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent taurine dioxygenase. Carbon dioxide, succinic acid, and aminoacetaldehyde are bi-products of this reaction. Sulfite next enters pyruvic acid synthesis as already described. The third variant of sulfur metabolism starts with the import of an alkyl sulfate, in this case 1-butanesulfonate, into the cytoplasm via an aliphatic sulfonate ABC transporter complex which hydrolyses ATP. 1-butanesulfonate is dehydrogenated and along with oxygen is converted to sulfite and betaine aldehyde by the FMNH2-dependent alkanesulfonate monooxygenase enzyme. Water and flavin mononucleotide(which is used in a subsequent reaction as a prosthetic group) are also produced. Sulfite is next converted to pyruvic acid by the process already described.