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.

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 sulfur metabolism pathway starts in three possible ways. The first is the uptake of sulfate through an active transport reaction via a sulfate transport system containing an ATP-binding protein which hydrolyses ATP. Sulfate is converted by the sulfate adenylyltransferase enzymatic complex to adenosine phosphosulfate through the addition of adenine from a molecule of ATP, along with one phosphate group. Adenosine phosphosulfate is further converted to phoaphoadenosine phosphosulfate through an ATP hydrolysis and dehydrogenation reaction by the adenylyl-sulfate kinase. Phoaphoadenosine phosphosulfate is finally dehydrogenated and converted to sulfite by phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate reductase. This reaction requires magnesium, and adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate is the bi-product. A thioredoxin is also oxidized. Sulfite can also be produced from the dehydrogenation of cyanide along with the conversion of thiosulfate to thiocyanate by the thiosulfate sulfurtransferase enzymatic complex. Sulfite next undergoes a series of reactions that lead to the production of pyruvic acid, which is a precursor for pathways such as gluconeogenesis. The first reaction in this series is the conversion of sulfite to hydrogen sulfide through hygrogenation and the deoxygenation of sulfite to form a water molecule. The reaction is catalyzed by the sulfite reductase [NADPH] flavoprotein alpha and beta components. Siroheme, 4Fe-4S, flavin mononucleotide, and FAD function as cofactors or prosthetic groups. Hydrogen sulfide next undergoes dehydrogenation in a reversible reaction to form L-Cysteine and acetic acid, via the cysteine synthase complex and the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. L-Cysteine is dehydrogenated and converted to 2-aminoacrylic acid (a bronsted acid) and hydrogen sulfide(which may be reused) by a larger enzymatic complex composed of cysteine synthase A/B, protein malY, cystathionine-β-lyase, and tryptophanase, along with the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. 2-aminoacrylic acid isomerizes to 2-iminopropanoate, which along with a water molecule and a hydrogen ion is lastly converted to pyruvic acid and ammonium in a spontaneous fashion. The second possible initial starting point for sulfur metabolism is the import of taurine(an alternate sulfur source) into the cytoplasm via the taurine ABC transporter complex. Taurine, oxoglutaric acid, and oxygen are converted to sulfite by the alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent taurine dioxygenase. Carbon dioxide, succinic acid, and aminoacetaldehyde are bi-products of this reaction. Sulfite next enters pyruvic acid synthesis as already described. The third variant of sulfur metabolism starts with the import of an alkyl sulfate, in this case 1-butanesulfonate, into the cytoplasm via an aliphatic sulfonate ABC transporter complex which hydrolyses ATP. 1-butanesulfonate is dehydrogenated and along with oxygen is converted to sulfite and betaine aldehyde by the FMNH2-dependent alkanesulfonate monooxygenase enzyme. Water and flavin mononucleotide(which is used in a subsequent reaction as a prosthetic group) are also produced. Sulfite is next converted to pyruvic acid by the process already described.

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 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.

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.