Browsing Pathways

Fatty acid oxidation is also known as beta-oxidation. Fatty acids are an important energy source because they are anhydrous and can be reduced. Fatty acids are good sources of energy as they yield more energy than carbohydrates. The fatty acid oxidation pathway degrades fatty acids into acetyl-CoA under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Enzymes of this pathway can process short and long chain fatty acids. The first step in the pathway is the conversion of acyl-CoA to enoyl-CoA. The pathway continues in a cycle, each turn removing two carbon atoms from the input acyl-CoA to produce acetyl-CoA. Each turn also produces NADH.

Fatty acid oxidation is also known as beta-oxidation. Fatty acids are an important energy source because they are anhydrous and can be reduced. Fatty acids are good sources of energy as they yield more energy than carbohydrates. The fatty acid oxidation pathway degrades fatty acids into acetyl-CoA under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Enzymes of this pathway can process short and long chain fatty acids. The first step in the pathway is the conversion of acyl-CoA to enoyl-CoA. The pathway continues in a cycle, each turn removing two carbon atoms from the input acyl-CoA to produce acetyl-CoA. Each turn also produces NADH.

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.

Trehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules that can be used as a store of energy, as well as water retention and protection from freezing at low temperatures. In this pathway, glucose-6-phosphate from the galactose metabolism pathway combines with uridine diphosphate glucose to form alpha,alpha-trehalose 6-phosphate, as well as uridine 5’-diphosphate and a hydrogen ion as byroducts in a reaction catalyzed by alpha,alpha-trehalose-phosphate synthase [UDP-forming]. Following this, alpha,alpha-trehalose 6-phosphate is converted to alpha,alpha-trehalose following the hydrolytic cleavage of its phosphate group by trehalose-phosphate phosphatase. Alpha,alpha-trehalose can then function as energy stores until it is broken down as a part of the trehalose degradation pathway when needed.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major component of outer membrane which is consisted of lipid A-core (oligosaccharide) on both inner and outer region and O-antigen (known as distal repeating unit with four sugars: N-acetylglucosamine, glucose, rhamnose and galactose). O-antigen is part of three domains of LPS, which is attached to lipid A-core; however, O-antigen and lipid A-core are synthesized separately. In this pathway, synthesis of three of O-antigen sugars is demonstrated. UDP-α-D-galactose is converted to UDP-D-Galacto-1,4-furanose by facilitation of UDP-galactopyranose mutase. dTTP glucose-1-phosphate is derivatized to dTDP-rhamnose. Fructose-6-phosphate gains an amino group, incorporates an acetate moiety and then acquires a nucleoside diphosphate resulting in UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine.

L-threonine is degrade into methylglyoxal (pyruvaldehyde) by first reacting with a NDA dependent threonine dehydrogenase resulting in the release of a hydrogen ion, an NADH and a 2-amino-3-oxobutanoate. The latter compound reacts spontaneously with a hydrogen ion resulting in the release of a carbon dioxide and a aminoacetone. The aminoacetone in turn reacts with an oxygen and a water molecule through an aminoacetone oxidase resulting in the release of a hydrogen peroxide, ammonium and a methylglyoxal which can then be incorporated in the methylglyoxal degradation pathways.

Cytidine and uridine are transported through their corresponding nucleoside hydrogen symporters. Once cytidine is incorporated into the cytosol, it is deaminated through a reaction with water and a hydrogen ion through a cytidine deaminase resulting in the release of ammonium and uridine. Uridine is then lyased by a phosphate through a uridine phosphorylase resulting in the release of a uracil and an alpha-D-ribose-1-phosphate. This compound is then transformed into an isomer D-ribose 5-phosphate through an alpha-D-ribose 1,5-phosphomutase. This compound is then incorporated into the pentose phosphate pathway.

The degradation of deoxycytidine starts with deoxycytidine being introduced into the cytosol through either a nupG or nupC symporter. Once inside, it can can be degrade through water,a hydrogen ion and a deoxycytidien deaminsa resultin in the release of a ammonium and a a deoxyuridine. The deoxyuridine is then degraded through a uracil phosphorylase resulting in the release of a deoxyribose 1-phosphate and a uracil. The degradation of thymidine starts with thymidine being introduced into the cytosol through either a nupG or nupC symporter. Thymidine is then degrades through a phosphorylase resulting in the release of a thymine and a deoxyribose 1-phosphate.

Spermidine metabolism starts with S-adenosyl-L-methionine reacting with a hydrogen ion through a adenosylmethionine decarboxylase resulting in the release of a carbon dioxide and a S-adenosyl 3-(methylthio)propylamine. The later compound in turn reacts with putrescine resulting in the release of a hydrogen ion, a spermidine and a S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine. S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine in turn reacts with a water molecule through a 5-methylthioadenosine nucleosidase resulting in the release of a adenine and a S-methyl-5-thio-D-ribose which in in turn is released into the environment.