Browsing Pathways

Uracil is a pyrimidine nucleobase found in RNA, and can be used as a source of nitrogen for E. coli. There are at least three pathways through which uracil is degraded. This one begins with uracil, which originates from purine degradation. The putative monooxygenase enzyme rutA catalyzes the breakdown of uracil into peroxyaminoacrylate, using FMNH2 as a cofactor. Peroxyaminoacrylate is then broken down into both carbamic acid and 3-aminoacrylate following the addition of a water molecule by the putative isochorismatase family protein rutB. Carbamic acid can then spontaneously, with the addition of a hydrogen ion, split into an ammonium ion and a molecule of carbon dioxide. 3-aminoacrylate, on the other hand, is catalyzed by the UPF0076 protein rutC to form 2-aminoacrylic acid. This compound enters into a reaction catalyzed by protein rutD, which adds a water molecule and hydrogen ion and forms malonic semialdehyde with ammonium being a byproduct. Finally, the putative NADH dehydrogenase/NAD(P)H nitroreductase rutE complex converts malonic semialdehyde into hydroxypropionic acid, which is then used to form other necessary chemicals. The ammonium ions produced will be the important source of nitrogen for the bacteria.

The process of phenylethylamine metabolism starts with 2-phenylethylamine interacting with an oxygen molecule and a water molecule in the periplasmic space through a phenylethylamine oxidase. This reaction results in the release of a hydrogen peroxide, ammonium and phenylacetaldehyde. Phenylacetaldehyde is introduced into the cytosol and degraded into phenylacetate by reaction with a phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenase. This reaction involves phenylacetaldehyde interacting with NAD, and a water molecule and then resulting in the release of NADH, and 2 hydrogen ion. Phenylacetate is then degraded. The first step involves phenylacetate interacting with an coenzyme A and an ATP driven phenylacetate-CoA ligase resulting in the release of a AMP, a diphosphate and a phenylacetyl-CoA. This resulting compound the interacts with a hydrogen ion, NADPH, and oxygen molecule through a ring 1,2-phenylacetyl-CoA epoxidase protein complex resulting in the release of a water molecule, an NADP and a 2-(1,2-epoxy-1,2-dihydrophenyl)acetyl-CoA. This compound is then metabolized by a ring 1,2 epoxyphenylacetyl-CoA isomerase resulting in a 2-oxepin-2(3H)-ylideneacetyl-CoA. This compound is then hydrolated through a oxepin-CoA hydrolase resulting in a 3-oxo-5,6-didehydrosuberyl-CoA semialdehyde. This commpound then interacts with a water molecule and NADP driven 3-oxo-5,6-dehydrosuberyl-CoA semialadehyde dehydrogenase resulting in 2 hydrogen ions, a NADPH and a 3-oxo-5,6-didehydrosuberyl-CoA. The resulting compound interacts with a coenzyme A and a 3-oxo-5,6 dehydrosuberyl-CoA thiolase resulting in an acetyl-CoA and a 2,3-didehydroadipyl-CoA. This resulting compound is the hydrated by a 2,3-dehydroadipyl-CoA hydratas resulting in a 3-hydroxyadipyl-CoA whuch is dehydrogenated through an NAD driven 3-hydroxyadipyl-CoA dehydrogenase resulting in a NADH, a hydrogen ion and a 3-oxoadipyl-CoA. The latter compound then interacts with conezyme A through a beta-ketoadipyl-CoA thiolase resulting in an acetyl-CoA and a succinyl-CoA. The succinyl-CoA is then integrated into the TCA cycle.

This pathway demonstrates the biosynthesis of tetrahydromonapterin in E.coli. However, it is still unclear about biological role of tetrahydromonapterin. GTP cyclohydrolase 1 generates formic acid and 7,8-dihydroneopterin 3'-triphosphate with cofactor GTP and water. 7,8-dihydroneopterin 3'-triphosphate is converted to dihydromonapterin-triphosphate by d-erythro-7,8-dihydroneopterin triphosphate epimerase (folX). Later, dihydromonapterin-triphosphate is hydroxylated to dihydromethysticin, and eventually form tetrahydromonapterin via dihydromonapterin reductase (folM) with cofactor NADPH.

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.

Diacetylchitobiose (also known as N,N'-diacetylchitobiose and chitobiose) is a sole source of carbon for E.coli. PTS system mannitol-specific EIICBA component facilitates the imports of diacetylchitobiose as well as the phosphorylation to diacetylchitobiose 6'-phosphate. Later on, diacetylchitobiose 6'-phosphate is hydrolyzed to N-monoacetylchitobiose 6'-phosphate, which also produce acetic acid. N-monoacetylchitobiose 6'-phosphate undergoes further hydrolyzation to form N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine 6-Phosphate and glucosamine by monoacetylchitobiose-6-phosphate hydrolase.

The biosynthesis of thiamin begins with a PRPP being degraded by reacting with a water molecule and an L-glutamine through a amidophosphoribosyl transferase resulting in the release of an L-glutamate, a diphosphate and a 5-phospho-beta-d-ribosylamine(PRA). The latter compound, PRA, is further degrade through a phosphoribosylamine glycine ligase by reacting with a glycine and an ATP. This reaction results in the release of a hydrogen ion, an ADP, a phosphate and a N1-(5-phospho-beta-d-ribosyl)glycinamide(GAR). GAR can be metabolized by two different phosphoribosylglycinamide formyltransferase. GAR reacts with a N10-formyl tetrahydrofolate, in this case 10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate mono-L-glutamate, through a phosphoribosylglycinamide formyltransferase 1 resulting in the release of a hydroge ion, a tetrahydrofolate and a N2-formyl-N1-(5-phospho-Beta-D-ribosyl)glycinamide(FGAR). On the other hand, GAR can react with a formate and an ATP molecule through a phosphoribosylglycinamide formyltransferase 2 resulting in a release of a ADP, a phosphate, a hydrogen ion and a FGAR. The FGAR compound gets degraded by interacting with a water molecule, an L-glutamine and an ATP molecule thorugh a phosphoribosylformylglycinamide synthase resulting in the release of a L-glutamate, a phosphate, an ADP molecule, a hydrogen ion and a 2-(formamido)-N1-(5-phopho-Beta-D-ribosyl)acetamidine (FGAM). This compound is further degraded by reacting with an ATP molecule through a phosphoribosylformylglycinamide cyclo-ligase resulting in the release of a phosphate, an ADP, a hydrogen ion and a 5-amino-1-(5-phospho-beta-d-ribosyl)imidazole (AIR). The AIR molecule is degraded by reacting with a S-adenosyl-L-methionine through a HMP-P synthase resulting in the release of 3 hydrogen ions, a carbon monoxide, a formate molecule, L-methionine, 5'-deoxyadenosine and 4- amino-2-methyl-5-phophomethylpyrimidine (HMP-P). This resulting compound is phosphorylated thorugh a ATP driven phosphohydroxymethylpyrimidine kinase resulting in the release of an ADP and 4-amino-2-methyl-5-diphosphomethylpyrimidine (HMP-PP). The resulting compound interacts with a thiazole tautomer and 2 hydrogen ion through a Thiamine phosphate synthase resulting in the release of a pyrophosphate, a carbon dioxide molecule and Thiamin phosphate. This compound is phosphorylated through an ATP driven thiamin monophosphate kinase resulting in a release of an ADP and a thiamin diphosphate.

This pathway demonstrates the biosynthesis of tetrahydromonapterin in E.coli. However, it is still unclear about biological role of tetrahydromonapterin. GTP cyclohydrolase 1 generates formic acid and 7,8-dihydroneopterin 3'-triphosphate with cofactor GTP and water. 7,8-dihydroneopterin 3'-triphosphate is converted to dihydromonapterin-triphosphate by d-erythro-7,8-dihydroneopterin triphosphate epimerase (folX). Later, dihydromonapterin-triphosphate is hydroxylated to dihydromethysticin, and eventually form tetrahydromonapterin via dihydromonapterin reductase (folM) with cofactor NADPH.

Uracil is a pyrimidine nucleobase found in RNA, and can be used as a source of nitrogen for E. coli. There are at least three pathways through which uracil is degraded. This one begins with uracil, which originates from purine degradation. The putative monooxygenase enzyme rutA catalyzes the breakdown of uracil into peroxyaminoacrylate, using FMNH2 as a cofactor. Peroxyaminoacrylate is then broken down into both carbamic acid and 3-aminoacrylate following the addition of a water molecule by the putative isochorismatase family protein rutB. Carbamic acid can then spontaneously, with the addition of a hydrogen ion, split into an ammonium ion and a molecule of carbon dioxide. 3-aminoacrylate, on the other hand, is catalyzed by the UPF0076 protein rutC to form 2-aminoacrylic acid. This compound enters into a reaction catalyzed by protein rutD, which adds a water molecule and hydrogen ion and forms malonic semialdehyde with ammonium being a byproduct. Finally, the putative NADH dehydrogenase/NAD(P)H nitroreductase rutE complex converts malonic semialdehyde into hydroxypropionic acid, which is then used to form other necessary chemicals. The ammonium ions produced will be the important source of nitrogen for the bacteria.

This pathway demonstrates the biosynthesis of tetrahydromonapterin in E.coli. However, it is still unclear about biological role of tetrahydromonapterin. GTP cyclohydrolase 1 generates formic acid and 7,8-dihydroneopterin 3'-triphosphate with cofactor GTP and water. 7,8-dihydroneopterin 3'-triphosphate is converted to dihydromonapterin-triphosphate by d-erythro-7,8-dihydroneopterin triphosphate epimerase (folX). Later, dihydromonapterin-triphosphate is hydroxylated to dihydromethysticin, and eventually form tetrahydromonapterin via dihydromonapterin reductase (folM) with cofactor NADPH.

Diacetylchitobiose (also known as N,N'-diacetylchitobiose and chitobiose) is a sole source of carbon for E.coli. PTS system mannitol-specific EIICBA component facilitates the imports of diacetylchitobiose as well as the phosphorylation to diacetylchitobiose 6'-phosphate. Later on, diacetylchitobiose 6'-phosphate is hydrolyzed to N-monoacetylchitobiose 6'-phosphate, which also produce acetic acid. N-monoacetylchitobiose 6'-phosphate undergoes further hydrolyzation to form N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine 6-Phosphate and glucosamine by monoacetylchitobiose-6-phosphate hydrolase.