Browsing Pathways

Isoleucine biosynthesis begins with L-threonine from the threonine biosynthesis pathway. L-threonine interacts with threonine dehydratase biosynthetic releasing water, a hydrogen ion and (2Z)-2-aminobut-2-enoate. The latter is isomerized into a 2-iminobutanoate which interacts with water and a hydrogen ion spontaneously, resulting in the release of ammonium and 2-ketobutyric acid. 2-ketobutyric acid reacts with pyruvic acid and hydrogen ions through an acetohydroxybutanoate synthase / acetolactate synthase 2 resulting in carbon dioxide and (S)-2-Aceto-2-hydroxybutanoic acid. (S)-2-Aceto-2-hydroxybutanoic acid is reduced by an NADPH driven acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase releasing NADP and acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase. The latter compound is dehydrated by a dihydroxy acid dehydratase resulting in 3-methyl-2-oxovaleric acid. This compound reacts in a reversible reaction with L-glutamic acid through a Branched-chain-amino-acid aminotransferase resulting in oxoglutaric acid and L-isoleucine. L-isoleucine can also be transported into the cytoplasm through two different methods: a branched chain amino acid ABC transporter or a branched chain amino acid transporter BrnQy.

The metabolism of 1-Acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine compounds represents a tightly coordinated sequence of biosynthetic and degradative processes that connect lipid metabolism with central carbon pathways such as glycolysis. The pathway typically begins with the formation of glycerol 3-phosphate, generated through the NADPH-dependent reduction of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, linking the lipid pathway to glycolytic intermediates. This glycerol 3-phosphate then serves as a foundational scaffold for phospholipid biosynthesis. In the first acylation step, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase transfers an acyl group from a corresponding acyl-CoA (such as lauroyl-, myristoyl-, or palmitoyl-CoA) to the sn-1 position, producing a lysophosphatidic acid (LysoPA) species. A second acyl chain, typically unsaturated, is added at the sn-2 position by 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase, forming a fully acylated phosphatidic acid (PA). This PA is then activated by CDP-diglyceride synthetase using cytidine triphosphate (CTP) to yield CDP-diacylglycerol (CDP-DG), a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of phospholipids. Through the action of phosphatidylserine synthase, L-serine is incorporated to form phosphatidylserine (PS), which is subsequently decarboxylated by phosphatidylserine decarboxylase to produce phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). This PE can then undergo N-acylation of its ethanolamine headgroup, catalyzed by phospholipase A1, which transfers an additional acyl group (often saturated) from an acyl-CoA to form 1-Acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (N-acyl-PE). At this point, the N-acyl-PE molecule may function as a membrane-associated signaling or structural lipid. However, it can also be routed back into central metabolism. Glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterase hydrolyzes the compound to yield 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate, ethanolamine, and a proton. The liberated ethanolamine is further catabolized by ethanolamine ammonia-lyase, which converts it into acetaldehyde and ammonia. Acetaldehyde is then oxidized by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in the presence of NAD⁺ and Coenzyme A to form acetyl-CoA, a core metabolic intermediate that feeds directly into the TCA cycle or glycolysis via the acetyl-CoA.

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.

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.

E. coli lipid A is synthesized on the cytoplasmic surface of the inner membrane. Starting with either the fructose 6-phosphate produced by glycolysis and pyruvate dehydrogenase or obtained from the interaction with D-fructose interacting with a mannose PTS permease. Fructose 6-phosphate interacts with L-glutamine through a D-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase resulting into a L-glutamic acid and a glucosamine 6-phosphate. The latter compound is isomerized through a phosphoglucosamine mutase resulting a glucosamine 1-phosphate. This compound is acetylated, interacting with acetyl-CoA through a bifunctional protein glmU resulting in a Coenzyme A, hydrogen ion and N-acetyl-glucosamine 1-phosphate. The latter interacts with UTP and hydrogen ion through the bifunctional protein glmU resulting in a pyrophosphate and a UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine iinteracts with (3R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl-[acp] through an UDP-N-acetylglucosamine acyltransferase resulting in a holo-[acp] and a UDP-3-O[(3R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosamine. The latter continues and reacts with water through UDP-3-O-acyl-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase resulting in an acetic acid and UDP-3-O-(3-hydroxymyristoyl)-α-D-glucosamine. The latter compound interacts with (3R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl-[acp] through UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-glucosamine N-acyltransferase releasing a hydrogen ion, a holo-acp and UDP-2-N,3-O-bis[(3R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-α-D-glucosamine. The latter compound is hydrolase by interacting with water and a UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine hydrolase resulting in UMP, hydrogen ion and 2,3-bis[(3R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-α-D-glucosaminyl 1-phosphate. The latter interacts with a UDP-2-N,3-O-bis[(3R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-α-D-glucosamine through a lipid A disaccharide synthase resulting in a release of UDP, hydrogen ion and a lipid A disaccharide. The lipid A disaccharide is phosphorylated by an ATP mediated tetraacyldisaccharide 4'-kinase resulting in the release of hydrogen ion and lipid IVA. A D-ribulose 5-phosphate is isomerized with D-arabinose 5-phosphate isomerase 2 resulting in a D-arabinose 5-phosphate. D-arabinose 5-phosphate interacts with water and phosphoenolpyruvic acid through a 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate synthase resulting in the release of phosphate and 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate. This compound interacts with water through a 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate phosphatase thus releasing a phosphate and a 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate. The latter compound interacts with CTP through a 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate cytidylyltransferase resulting in a pyrophosphate and CMP-3-deoxy-α-D-manno-octulosonate. CMP-3-deoxy-α-D-manno-octulosonate and lipid IVA interact with each other through a KDO transferase resulting in CMP, hydrogen ion and alpha-Kdo-(2-->6)-lipid IVA. The latter compound reacts with CMP-3-deoxy-α-D-manno-octulosonate through a KDO transferase resulting in a CMP, hydrogen ion, and a a-Kdo-(2->4)-a-Kdo-(2->6)-lipid IVA. The latter compound can either react with a palmitoleoyl-acp through a palmitoleoyl acyltransferase resulting in the release of a holo-acyl carriere protein and a Kdo2-palmitoleoyl-lipid IVa which in turn reacts with a myristoyl-acp through a myristoyl-acp dependent acyltransferase resulting in a release of a holo-acp and a Kdo2-lipid A, cold adapted, or it can interact with a dodecanoyl-[acp] lauroyl acyltransferase resulting in a holo-[acp] and a (KDO)2-(lauroyl)-lipid IVA. The latter compound reacts with a myristoyl-[acp] through a myristoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP)-dependent acyltransferase resulting in a holo-[acp], (KDO)2-lipid A. The latter compound reacts with ADP-L-glycero-beta-D-manno-heptose through ADP-heptose:LPS heptosyltransferase I resulting hydrogen ion, ADP, heptosyl-KDO2-lipid A. The latter compound interacts with ADP-L-glycero-beta-D-manno-heptose through ADP-heptose:LPS heptosyltransferase II resulting in ADP, hydrogen ion and (heptosyl)2-Kdo2-lipid A. The latter compound UDP-glucose interacts with (heptosyl)2-Kdo2-lipid A resulting in UDP, hydrogen ion and glucosyl-(heptosyl)2-Kdo2-lipid A. Glucosyl-(heptosyl)2-Kdo2-lipid A (Escherichia coli) is phosphorylated through an ATP-mediated lipopolysaccharide core heptose (I) kinase resulting in ADP, hydrogen ion and glucosyl-(heptosyl)2-Kdo2-lipid A-phosphate. The latter compound interacts with ADP-L-glycero-beta-D-manno-heptose through a lipopolysaccharide core heptosyl transferase III resulting in ADP, hydrogen ion, and glucosyl-(heptosyl)3-Kdo2-lipid A-phosphate. The latter compound is phosphorylated through an ATP-driven lipopolysaccharide core heptose (II) kinase resulting in ADP, hydrogen ion and glucosyl-(heptosyl)3-Kdo2-lipid A-bisphosphate. The latter compound interacts with UDP-alpha-D-galactose through a UDP-D-galactose:(glucosyl)lipopolysaccharide-1,6-D-galactosyltransferase resulting in a UDP, a hydrogen ion and a galactosyl-glucosyl-(heptosyl)3-Kdo2-lipid A-bisphosphate. The latter compound interacts with UDP-glucose through a (glucosyl)LPS α-1,3-glucosyltransferase resulting in a hydrogen ion, a UDP and galactosyl-(glucosyl)2-(heptosyl)3-Kdo2-lipid A-bisphosphate. This compound then interacts with UDP-glucose through a UDP-glucose:(glucosyl)LPS α-1,2-glucosyltransferase resulting in UDP, a hydrogen ion and galactosyl-(glucosyl)3-(heptosyl)3-Kdo2-lipid A-bisphosphate. This compound then interacts with ADP-L-glycero-beta-D-manno-heptose through a lipopolysaccharide core biosynthesis; heptosyl transferase IV; probably hexose transferase resulting in a Lipid A-core. A lipid A-core is then exported into the periplasmic space by a lipopolysaccharide ABC transporter. The lipid A-core is then flipped to the outer surface of the inner membrane by the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, MsbA. An additional integral membrane protein, YhjD, has recently been implicated in LPS export across the IM. The smallest LPS derivative that supports viability in E. coli is lipid IVA. However, it requires mutations in either MsbA or YhjD, to suppress the normally lethal consequence of an incomplete lipid A . Recent studies with deletion mutants implicate the periplasmic protein LptA, the cytosolic protein LptB, and the IM proteins LptC, LptF, and LptG in the subsequent transport of nascent LPS to the outer membrane (OM), where the LptD/LptE complex flips LPS to the outer surface.

The metabolism of 1-Acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine compounds represents a tightly coordinated sequence of biosynthetic and degradative processes that connect lipid metabolism with central carbon pathways such as glycolysis. The pathway typically begins with the formation of glycerol 3-phosphate, generated through the NADPH-dependent reduction of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, linking the lipid pathway to glycolytic intermediates. This glycerol 3-phosphate then serves as a foundational scaffold for phospholipid biosynthesis. In the first acylation step, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase transfers an acyl group from a corresponding acyl-CoA (such as lauroyl-, myristoyl-, or palmitoyl-CoA) to the sn-1 position, producing a lysophosphatidic acid (LysoPA) species. A second acyl chain, typically unsaturated, is added at the sn-2 position by 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase, forming a fully acylated phosphatidic acid (PA). This PA is then activated by CDP-diglyceride synthetase using cytidine triphosphate (CTP) to yield CDP-diacylglycerol (CDP-DG), a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of phospholipids. Through the action of phosphatidylserine synthase, L-serine is incorporated to form phosphatidylserine (PS), which is subsequently decarboxylated by phosphatidylserine decarboxylase to produce phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). This PE can then undergo N-acylation of its ethanolamine headgroup, catalyzed by phospholipase A1, which transfers an additional acyl group (often saturated) from an acyl-CoA to form 1-Acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (N-acyl-PE). At this point, the N-acyl-PE molecule may function as a membrane-associated signaling or structural lipid. However, it can also be routed back into central metabolism. Glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterase hydrolyzes the compound to yield 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate, ethanolamine, and a proton. The liberated ethanolamine is further catabolized by ethanolamine ammonia-lyase, which converts it into acetaldehyde and ammonia. Acetaldehyde is then oxidized by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in the presence of NAD⁺ and Coenzyme A to form acetyl-CoA, a core metabolic intermediate that feeds directly into the TCA cycle or glycolysis via the acetyl-CoA.

In E. coli, L-fucose and L-rhamnose are metabolized through parallel pathways. The pathways converge after their corresponding aldolase reactions yielding the same products: lactaldehye. Proton symporter can facilitate the import of alpha-L-rhamnopyranose, methylpentose and beta-L-rhamnopyranose into cell for further metabolism, which allow E.coli to grow with carbon and energy. For alpha-L-rhamnopyranose, it is isomerized by a l-rhamnose mutarotase resulting in a beta-L-rhamnopyranose which is then isomerized into a keto-L-rhamnulose by a l-rhamnose isomerase. The keto-L-rhamnulose spontaneously changes into a L-rhamnulofuranose which is phosphorylated by a rhamnulokinase resulting in a L-rhamnulose 1-phosphate. This compound reacts with a rhamnulose-1-phosphate aldolase resulting in a dihydroxyacetone phosphate and a lactaldehyde. For beta-L-rhamnopyranose, it is isomerized by a L-fucose mutarotase resulting in a alpha-L-fucopyranose. This compound is then isomerized by an L-fucose isomerase resulting in a L-fuculose which in turn gets phosphorylated into an L-fuculose 1-phosphate through an L-fuculokinase. The compound L-fuculose 1-phosphate reacts with an L-fuculose phosphate aldolase through a dihydroxyacetone phosphate and a lactaldehyde. Two pathways can both be used for degrading L-lactaldehyde, which the aerobic pathway facilitates the conversion from L-lactic acid to pyruvic acid via L-lactate dehydrogenase, and the anaerobic pathway facilitates conversion from lactaldehyde to propane-1,2-diol via lactaldehyde reductase. Under aerobic conditions, L-lactaldehyde is oxidized in two steps to pyruvate, thereby channeling all the carbons from fucose or rhamnose into central metabolic pathways. Under anaerobic conditions, L-lactaldehyde is reduced to L-1,2-propanediol, which is secreted into the environment.

The metabolism of 1-Acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine compounds represents a tightly coordinated sequence of biosynthetic and degradative processes that connect lipid metabolism with central carbon pathways such as glycolysis. The pathway typically begins with the formation of glycerol 3-phosphate, generated through the NADPH-dependent reduction of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, linking the lipid pathway to glycolytic intermediates. This glycerol 3-phosphate then serves as a foundational scaffold for phospholipid biosynthesis. In the first acylation step, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase transfers an acyl group from a corresponding acyl-CoA (such as lauroyl-, myristoyl-, or palmitoyl-CoA) to the sn-1 position, producing a lysophosphatidic acid (LysoPA) species. A second acyl chain, typically unsaturated, is added at the sn-2 position by 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase, forming a fully acylated phosphatidic acid (PA). This PA is then activated by CDP-diglyceride synthetase using cytidine triphosphate (CTP) to yield CDP-diacylglycerol (CDP-DG), a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of phospholipids. Through the action of phosphatidylserine synthase, L-serine is incorporated to form phosphatidylserine (PS), which is subsequently decarboxylated by phosphatidylserine decarboxylase to produce phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). This PE can then undergo N-acylation of its ethanolamine headgroup, catalyzed by phospholipase A1, which transfers an additional acyl group (often saturated) from an acyl-CoA to form 1-Acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (N-acyl-PE). At this point, the N-acyl-PE molecule may function as a membrane-associated signaling or structural lipid. However, it can also be routed back into central metabolism. Glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterase hydrolyzes the compound to yield 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate, ethanolamine, and a proton. The liberated ethanolamine is further catabolized by ethanolamine ammonia-lyase, which converts it into acetaldehyde and ammonia. Acetaldehyde is then oxidized by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in the presence of NAD⁺ and Coenzyme A to form acetyl-CoA, a core metabolic intermediate that feeds directly into the TCA cycle or glycolysis via the acetyl-CoA.

Escherichia coli can utilize D-mannose for its sole carbon and energy source. Alpha-D-mannose is introduced into the cytoplasm through a mannose PTS permease. A phosphotransferase system (PTS) takes up mannose producing D-mannose-6-phosphate which is then converted to D-fructose-6-phosphate via an isomerase. D-fructose-6-phosphate is an intermediate of glycolysis and can enter the pathways of metabolism. The first two enzymes in the pathway catalyze isomerizations that interconvert phosphorylated aldohexoses (β-D-glucose-6-phosphate, D-mannose-6-phosphate) and phosphorylated ketohexoses (D-fructose-6-phosphate). The reaction catalyzed by mannose-6-phosphate isomerase that produces D-mannose-6-phosphate is the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the activated mannose donor GDP-α-D-mannose. D-mannose-6-phosphate is then converted to GDP-D-mannose by the interaction of phosphomannomutase and mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase. GDP-D-mannose produces GDP-L-fucose beginning with the dehydration to GDP-4-dehydro-6-deoxy-D-mannose. GDP-fucose is synthesized by a two step epimerase and reductase of GDP-4-dehydro-6-deoxy-D-mannose. L-fucose then enters the colanic acid building blocks biosynthesis pathway.