Browsing Pathways

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 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 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.

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.

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.

Most bacteria, including Escherichia coli, are composed of murein which protects and stabilizes the cell wall. Over half of the murein is broken down by Escherichia coli and recycled for the next generation. The main muropeptide is GlcNAc-anhydro-N-acetylmuramic acid (anhMurNAc)-l-Ala-γ-d-Glu-meso-Dap-d-Ala which enters the cytoplasm by AmpG protein. The peptide is then released from the muropeptide. 1,6-Anhydro-N-acetylmuramic acid (anhMurNAc) is recycled by its conversion to N-acetylglucosamine-phosphate (GlcNAc-P). The sugar is phosphorylated by anhydro-N-acetylmuramic acid kinase (AnmK) to produce MurNAc-P. Etherase cleaves MurNAc-P to produce N-acetyl-D-glucosamine 6-phosphate. The product can undergo further degradation or be recycled into peptidoglycan monomers. The pathway's final product is a peptidoglycan biosynthesis precursor, UDP-N-acetyl-α-D-muramate. The enzyme muropeptide ligase (mpl), attaches the recovered Ala-Glu-DAP tripeptide to the precursor UDP-N-acetyl-α-D-muramate to return to the peptide to the peptidoglycan biosynthetic pathway to synthesize the cell wall.

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.