Browsing Pathways

The metabolism of pyrimidines begins with L-glutamine interacting with water molecule and a hydrogen carbonate through an ATP driven carbamoyl phosphate synthetase resulting in a hydrogen ion, an ADP, a phosphate, an L-glutamic acid and a carbamoyl phosphate. The latter compound interacts with an L-aspartic acid through a aspartate transcarbamylase resulting in a phosphate, a hydrogen ion and a N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. The latter compound interacts with a hydrogen ion through a dihydroorotase resulting in the release of a water molecule and a 4,5-dihydroorotic acid. This compound interacts with an ubiquinone-1 through a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, type 2 resulting in a release of an ubiquinol-1 and an orotic acid. The orotic acid then interacts with a phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate through a orotate phosphoribosyltransferase resulting in a pyrophosphate and an orotidylic acid. The latter compound then interacts with a hydrogen ion through an orotidine-5 '-phosphate decarboxylase, resulting in an release of carbon dioxide and an Uridine 5' monophosphate. The Uridine 5' monophosphate process to get phosphorylated by an ATP driven UMP kinase resulting in the release of an ADP and an Uridine 5--diphosphate. Uridine 5-diphosphate can be metabolized in multiple ways in order to produce a Deoxyuridine triphosphate. 1.-Uridine 5-diphosphate interacts with a reduced thioredoxin through a ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase 1 resulting in the release of a water molecule and an oxidized thioredoxin and an dUDP. The dUDP is then phosphorylated by an ATP through a nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in the release of an ADP and a DeoxyUridine triphosphate. 2.-Uridine 5-diphosphate interacts with a reduced NrdH glutaredoxin-like protein through a Ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase 1 resulting in a release of a water molecule, an oxidized NrdH glutaredoxin-like protein and a dUDP. The dUDP is then phosphorylated by an ATP through a nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in the release of an ADP and a DeoxyUridine triphosphate. 3.-Uridine 5-diphosphate is phosphorylated by an ATP-driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and an Uridinetriphosphate. The latter compound interacts with a reduced flavodoxin through ribonucleoside-triphosphate reductase resulting in the release of an oxidized flavodoxin, a water molecule and a Deoxyuridine triphosphate 4.-Uridine 5-diphosphate is phosphorylated by an ATP-driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and an Uridinetriphosphate The uridine triphosphate interacts with a L-glutamine and a water molecule through an ATP driven CTP synthase resulting in an ADP, a phosphate, a hydrogen ion, an L-glutamic acid and a cytidine triphosphate. The cytidine triphosphate interacts with a reduced flavodoxin through a ribonucleoside-triphosphate reductase resulting in the release of a water molecule, an oxidized flavodoxin and a dCTP. The dCTP interacts with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion through a dCTP deaminase resulting in a release of an ammonium molecule and a Deoxyuridine triphosphate. 5.-Uridine 5-diphosphate is phosphorylated by an ATP-driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and an Uridinetriphosphate The uridine triphosphate interacts with a L-glutamine and a water molecule through an ATP driven CTP synthase resulting in an ADP, a phosphate, a hydrogen ion, an L-glutamic acid and a cytidine triphosphate. The cytidine triphosphate then interacts spontaneously with a water molecule resulting in the release of a phosphate, a hydrogen ion and a CDP. The CDP then interacts with a reduced NrdH glutaredoxin-like protein through a ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase 2 resulting in the release of a water molecule, an oxidized NrdH glutaredoxin-like protein and a dCDP. The dCDP is then phosphorylated through an ATP driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and a dCTP. The dCTP interacts with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion through a dCTP deaminase resulting in a release of an ammonium molecule and a Deoxyuridine triphosphate. 6.-Uridine 5-diphosphate is phosphorylated by an ATP-driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and an Uridinetriphosphate The uridine triphosphate interacts with a L-glutamine and a water molecule through an ATP driven CTP synthase resulting in an ADP, a phosphate, a hydrogen ion, an L-glutamic acid and a cytidine triphosphate. The cytidine triphosphate then interacts spontaneously with a water molecule resulting in the release of a phosphate, a hydrogen ion and a CDP. The CDP interacts with a reduced thioredoxin through a ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase 1 resulting in a release of a water molecule, an oxidized thioredoxin and a dCDP. The dCDP is then phosphorylated through an ATP driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and a dCTP. The dCTP interacts with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion through a dCTP deaminase resulting in a release of an ammonium molecule and a Deoxyuridine triphosphate. The deoxyuridine triphosphate then interacts with a water molecule through a nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase resulting in a release of a hydrogen ion, a phosphate and a dUMP. The dUMP then interacts with a methenyltetrahydrofolate through a thymidylate synthase resulting in a dihydrofolic acid and a 5-thymidylic acid. Then 5-thymidylic acid is then phosphorylated through a nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in the release of an ADP and thymidine 5'-triphosphate.

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 through a 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. The latter is also involved in the D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism.

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 through a 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. The latter is also involved in the D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism.

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.

The degradation of galactose, also known as Leloir pathway, requires 3 main enzymes once Beta-D-galactose has been converted to galactose through an Aldose-1-epimerase. These are: galactokinase , galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase and UDP-glucose 4-epimerase. Beta-D-galactose can be uptaken from the environment through a galactose proton symporter. It 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. 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.

The metabolism of pyrimidines begins with L-glutamine interacting with water molecule and a hydrogen carbonate through an ATP driven carbamoyl phosphate synthetase resulting in a hydrogen ion, an ADP, a phosphate, an L-glutamic acid and a carbamoyl phosphate. The latter compound interacts with an L-aspartic acid through a aspartate transcarbamylase resulting in a phosphate, a hydrogen ion and a N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. The latter compound interacts with a hydrogen ion through a dihydroorotase resulting in the release of a water molecule and a 4,5-dihydroorotic acid. This compound interacts with an ubiquinone-1 through a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, type 2 resulting in a release of an ubiquinol-1 and an orotic acid. The orotic acid then interacts with a phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate through a orotate phosphoribosyltransferase resulting in a pyrophosphate and an orotidylic acid. The latter compound then interacts with a hydrogen ion through an orotidine-5 '-phosphate decarboxylase, resulting in an release of carbon dioxide and an Uridine 5' monophosphate. The Uridine 5' monophosphate process to get phosphorylated by an ATP driven UMP kinase resulting in the release of an ADP and an Uridine 5--diphosphate. Uridine 5-diphosphate can be metabolized in multiple ways in order to produce a Deoxyuridine triphosphate. 1.-Uridine 5-diphosphate interacts with a reduced thioredoxin through a ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase 1 resulting in the release of a water molecule and an oxidized thioredoxin and an dUDP. The dUDP is then phosphorylated by an ATP through a nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in the release of an ADP and a DeoxyUridine triphosphate. 2.-Uridine 5-diphosphate interacts with a reduced NrdH glutaredoxin-like protein through a Ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase 1 resulting in a release of a water molecule, an oxidized NrdH glutaredoxin-like protein and a dUDP. The dUDP is then phosphorylated by an ATP through a nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in the release of an ADP and a DeoxyUridine triphosphate. 3.-Uridine 5-diphosphate is phosphorylated by an ATP-driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and an Uridinetriphosphate. The latter compound interacts with a reduced flavodoxin through ribonucleoside-triphosphate reductase resulting in the release of an oxidized flavodoxin, a water molecule and a Deoxyuridine triphosphate 4.-Uridine 5-diphosphate is phosphorylated by an ATP-driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and an Uridinetriphosphate The uridine triphosphate interacts with a L-glutamine and a water molecule through an ATP driven CTP synthase resulting in an ADP, a phosphate, a hydrogen ion, an L-glutamic acid and a cytidine triphosphate. The cytidine triphosphate interacts with a reduced flavodoxin through a ribonucleoside-triphosphate reductase resulting in the release of a water molecule, an oxidized flavodoxin and a dCTP. The dCTP interacts with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion through a dCTP deaminase resulting in a release of an ammonium molecule and a Deoxyuridine triphosphate. 5.-Uridine 5-diphosphate is phosphorylated by an ATP-driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and an Uridinetriphosphate The uridine triphosphate interacts with a L-glutamine and a water molecule through an ATP driven CTP synthase resulting in an ADP, a phosphate, a hydrogen ion, an L-glutamic acid and a cytidine triphosphate. The cytidine triphosphate then interacts spontaneously with a water molecule resulting in the release of a phosphate, a hydrogen ion and a CDP. The CDP then interacts with a reduced NrdH glutaredoxin-like protein through a ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase 2 resulting in the release of a water molecule, an oxidized NrdH glutaredoxin-like protein and a dCDP. The dCDP is then phosphorylated through an ATP driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and a dCTP. The dCTP interacts with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion through a dCTP deaminase resulting in a release of an ammonium molecule and a Deoxyuridine triphosphate. 6.-Uridine 5-diphosphate is phosphorylated by an ATP-driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and an Uridinetriphosphate The uridine triphosphate interacts with a L-glutamine and a water molecule through an ATP driven CTP synthase resulting in an ADP, a phosphate, a hydrogen ion, an L-glutamic acid and a cytidine triphosphate. The cytidine triphosphate then interacts spontaneously with a water molecule resulting in the release of a phosphate, a hydrogen ion and a CDP. The CDP interacts with a reduced thioredoxin through a ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase 1 resulting in a release of a water molecule, an oxidized thioredoxin and a dCDP. The dCDP is then phosphorylated through an ATP driven nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in an ADP and a dCTP. The dCTP interacts with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion through a dCTP deaminase resulting in a release of an ammonium molecule and a Deoxyuridine triphosphate. The deoxyuridine triphosphate then interacts with a water molecule through a nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase resulting in a release of a hydrogen ion, a phosphate and a dUMP. The dUMP then interacts with a methenyltetrahydrofolate through a thymidylate synthase resulting in a dihydrofolic acid and a 5-thymidylic acid. Then 5-thymidylic acid is then phosphorylated through a nucleoside diphosphate kinase resulting in the release of an ADP and thymidine 5'-triphosphate.

Beta-D-glucuronosides, D-glucuronate and D-fructuronate can be used as a source of carbon for E.coli. They are imported into E.coli's periplasmic space by membrane-associated protein (UidC/gusC), and are further imported into cytoplasm by hydrogen symporter. Beta-glucuronides undergoes hydrolysis by beta-D-glucuronidase to form D-glucuronate. D-glucuronate is isomerized by D-glucuronate isomerase to form D-fructuronate. D-fructuronate is further reduced to D-mannonate by D-mannonate oxidoreductase. D-mannonate dehydratase dehydrated to yield 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-gluconate. At this point, a common enzyme, 2-keto-3-deoxygluconokinase, phosphorylates 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-gluconate to yield 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-gluconate-6-phosphate. This product is then process by KHG/KDPG aldolase which in turn produces D-Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and Pyruvic Acid which then go into their respective sub pathways: glycolysis and pyruvate dehydrogenase. The pathway can also start from 3 other points: a hydrogen ion symporter (gluconate/fructuronate transporter GntP) of D-fructuronate, a hydrogen ion symporter (Hexuronate transporter) of aldehydo-D-galacturonate that spontaneously turns into D-tagaturonate. This compound can also be obtained by the reaction of aldehydo-L-galactonate with a NAD dependent l-galactonate oxidoreductase resulting in the release of NADH, hydrogen ion. Tagaturonate then undergoes an NADH-dependent reduction to D-altronate through an altronate oxidoreductase. D-altronate undergoes dehydration to yield 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-gluconate, the third and last point where the reaction can start from a hydrogen symporter of a 2-dehydro-3-deoy-D-gluconate.

The colonic acid building blocks biosynthesis starts with a Beta-D-Glucose undergoing a transport reaction mediated by a glucose PTS permease. The permease phosphorylates the Beta-D-Glucose, producing a Beta-D-Glucose 6-phosphate. This compound can either change to an Alpha-D-Glucose 6-phosphate spontaneously or into a fructose 6-phosphate through a glucose-6-phosphate isomerase. The latter compound can also be present in E.coli through the interaction of D-fructose and a mannose PTS permease which phosphorylate the D-fructose. Fructose 6-phosphate interacts in a reversible reaction with mannose-6-phosphate isomerase in order to produce a Alpha-D-mannose 6-phosphate. This compound can also be present in E.coli through the interaction of Alpha-D-mannose and a mannose PTS permease which phosphorylates the alpha-D-mannose. Alpha-D-mannose 6-phosphate interacts in a reversible reaction with a phosphomannomutase to produce a alpha-D-mannose 1-phosphate. This compound in turn with a hydrogen ion and gtp undergoes a reaction with a mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase, releasing a pyrophosphate and producing a guanosine diphosphate mannose. Guanosine diphosphate mannose interacts with gdp-mannose 4,6-dehydratase releasing a water, and gdp-4-dehydro-6-deoxy-D-mannose. This compound in turn with hydrogen ion and NADPH interact with GDP-L-fucose synthase releasing NADP and producing a GDP-L-fucose. The Alpha-D-Glucose 6-phosphate interacts in a reversible reaction with phosphoglucomutase-1 to produce a alpha-D-glucose 1-phosphate. This in turn with UTP and hydrogen ion interact with UTP--glucose-1-phosphate uridyleltransferase releasing a pyrophosphate and UDP-glucose. UDP-glucose can either interact with galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase to produce a UDP-galactose or in turn with NAD and water interact with UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase releasing a NADH and a hydrogen ion and producing a UDP-glucuronate. GDP-L-fucose, UDP-glucose, UDP-galactose and UDP-glucuronate are sugars that need to be activated in the form of nucleotide sugar prior to their assembly into colanic acid, also known as M antigen. Colanic acid is an extracellular polysaccharide which has been linked to a cluster of 19 genes(wca).