Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Intramolecular Transferases”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Interaction of FLU, a negative regulator of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, with the glutamyl-tRNA reductase requires the tetratricopeptide repeat domain of FLU.

Regulation of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in plants has been attributed to feedback control of glutamyl-tRNA reductase (GLU-TR) by heme. Recently, another negative regulator, the FLU protein, has been discovered that operates independently of heme. A truncated form of FLU that contains two domains implicated in protein-protein interaction was co-expressed in yeast with either GLU-TR or glutamate-1-semialdehyde-2-1-aminotransferase (GSA-AT), the second enzyme involved in delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) biosynthesis. FLU interacts strongly with GLU-TR but not with GSA-AT. Two variants of FLU that carry single amino acid exchanges within their coiled coil and tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains, respectively, were also tested. Only the FLU variant with the mutated TPR motif lost the capacity to interact with GLU-TR.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

A motif rich in charged residues determines product specificity in isomaltulose synthase.

Isomaltulose synthase (PalI) catalyzes hydrolysis of sucrose and formation of alpha-1,6 and alpha-1,1 bonds to produce isomaltulose (alpha-D-glucosylpyranosyl-1,6-D-fructofranose) and small amount of trehalulose (alpha-D-glucosylpyranosyl-1,1-D-fructofranose). A potential isomaltulose synthase-specific motif ((325)RLDRD(329)), that contains a 'DxD' motif conserved in many glycosyltransferases, was identified based on sequence comparison with reference to the secondary structural features of PalI and homologs. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis of the motif showed that the four charged amino acid residues (Arg(325), Arg(328), Asp(327) and Asp(329)) influence the enzyme kinetics and determine the product specificity. Mutation of these four residues increased trehalulose formation by 17-61% and decreased isomaltulose by 26-67%. We conclude that the 'RLDRD' motif controls the product specificity of PalI.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Synechococcus mutants resistant to an enamine mechanism inhibitor of glutamate-1-semialdehyde aminotransferase.

An enamine mechanism-based inactivator of mammalian delta-aminobutyric acid aminotransferase, 4-amino 5-fluoropentanoic acid is a potent inhibitor of cell growth and pigment formation in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 6301. It was demonstrated that 4-amino 5-fluoropentanoic acid inhibits the aminolaevulinate synthesis at glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase and that in the mutant obtained by exposing cells to 40 microM 4-amino 5-fluoropentanoic acid, this enzyme was insensitive to the inhibitor. The specific activity of glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase in cell extracts was lower in the mutant, although the cell growth rate was unaffected. The decrease in sensitivity to 4-amino 5-fluoropentanoic acid in the mutant is due to a structural gene mutation, a single base change in the hemL gene resulting in a S162T substitution in the gene product.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗

Biosynthesis of riboflavin in plants. The ribA gene of Arabidopsis thaliana specifies a bifunctional GTP cyclohydrolase II/3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase.

A cDNA segment from Arabidopsis thaliana with similarity to the ribA gene of Bacillus subtilis was sequenced. A similar gene was cloned from tomato. The open reading frame of A. thaliana was fused to the malE gene of Escherichia coli and was expressed in a recombinant E. coli strain. The recombinant fusion protein was purified and shown to have GTP cyclohydrolase II activity as well as 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase activity. The cognate gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from chromosomal Arabidopsis DNA and was shown to contain six introns. Intron 4 is located in the region connecting the GTP cyclohydrolase II and 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase domain of the putative domains catalyzing the two reaction steps. By comparison with the bacterial ribA gene, the Arabidopsis gene contains an additional 5' element specifying about 120 amino acid residues. This segment contains numerous serine and threonine residues and does not show similarity with other known sequences. The N-terminal segment is not required for catalytic activity and is likely to serve as signal sequence for import into chloroplasts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Biosynthesis of avenacins and phytosterols in roots of Avena sativa cv. Image.

In keeping with the proposal that avenacin biosynthesis is restricted to the tips of primary roots of oat seedlings, the incorporation of radioactivity from R-[2-(14)C]mevalonic acid (MVA) into avenacins and beta-amyrin by serial sections of primary roots was found to be more-or-less restricted to root tip sections. Squalene synthase (SQS) (EC 2.5.1.21) and 2,3-oxidosqualene:beta-amyrin cyclase (OS beta AC) (EC 5.4.99) were also most active in these sections. The incorporation of radiolabel from R-[2-(14)C]MVA into cycloartenol and 24-methylene cycloartanol by, and the 2,3-oxidosqualene:cycloartenol cyclase (OSCC) (EC 5.4.99) activity in, the various serial sections were consistent with phytosterol biosynthesis occurring in all the sections of the root with some tailing-off in the rate of synthesis in the more distal sections.

Avena↗

Investigation of avenacin-deficient mutants of Avena strigosa.

The biosynthesis of cyclic triterpenoids in ten saponin-deficient (sad) mutant varieties of the diploid oat Avena strigosa is reported. Two mutants were found to be deficient in 2,3-oxidosqualene:beta-amyrin cyclase (OSbetaAC) (EC 5.4.99) and thus unable to produce the beta-amyrin necessary for the production of avenacins. The other mutants studied had post beta-amyrin lesions. 2,3-Oxidosqualene:cycloartenol cyclase (OSCC) (EC 5.4.99.8) needed for sterol formation was present in all ten mutants.

Avena↗

Cloning and characterization of the Arabidopsis thaliana lupeol synthase gene.

A 2274 bp Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA was isolated that encodes a protein 57% identical to cycloartenol synthase from the same organism. The expressed recombinant protein encodes lupeol synthase, which converts oxidosqualene to the triterpene lupeol as the major product. Lupeol synthase is a multifunctional enzyme that forms other triterpene alcohols, including beta-amyrin, as minor products. Sequence analysis suggests that lupeol synthase diverged from cycloartenol synthase after plants diverged from fungi and animals. This evolutionary order is the reason that fungi and animals do not make lupeol.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Biosynthesis of menaquinone (vitamin K2) and ubiquinone (coenzyme Q): a perspective on enzymatic mechanisms.

The benzoquinone ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) and the naphthoquinones menaquinone (vitamin K2) and demethylmenaquinone are derived from the shikimate pathway, which has been described as a "metabolic tree with many branches." Menaquinone (MK) is considered a vitamin, but coenzyme (Q) is not; MK is an essential nutrient (it cannot be synthesized by mammals), whereas Q is not considered an essential nutrient since it can be synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine. The quinone nucleus of Q is derived directly from chorismate, whereas that of MK is derived from chorismate via isochorismate. The prenyl side chain of both quinones is derived from prenyl diphosphate, and the methyl groups are derived from S-adenosylmethionine. MK biosynthesis requires 2-ketoglutarate and the cofactors ATP, coenzyme A (CoASH), and thiamine pyrophosphate. In spite of the fact that both quinones originate from the shikimate pathway, there are important differences in their biosynthesis. In MK biosynthesis, the prenyl side chain is introduced in the next to last step, which is accompanied by loss of the carboxyl group, whereas in Q biosynthesis, the prenyl side chain is introduced at the second step, with retention of the carboxyl group. In MK biosynthesis, all the reactions of the pathway up to the prenylation (next to last step) are carried out by soluble enzymes, whereas all the enzymes involved in Q biosynthesis except the first are membrane bound. In MK biosynthesis the last step is a C-methylation; in Q biosynthesis, the last step is an O-methylation. In Q biosynthesis a second C-methylation and O-methylation take place in the middle part of the pathway. In spite of the fact that Q and MK biosynthesis diverges at chorismate, the C-methylations involved in both pathways are carried out by the same enzyme. Finally, Q biosynthesis under aerobic conditions requires molecular oxygen; anaerobic biosynthesis of Q and MK incorporates oxygen atoms derived from water. The current status of the pathways with particular emphasis on the reaction mechanisms, is discussed in this review.

Escherichia coli↗

Degradation signal masking by heterodimerization of MATalpha2 and MATa1 blocks their mutual destruction by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Proteolysis by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is often regulated, but the mechanisms underlying such regulation remain ill-defined. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cell type is controlled by the MAT transcription factors. The alpha2 repressor is a known ubiquitin pathway substrate in alpha haploid cells. We show that a1 is rapidly degraded in a haploids. In a/alpha diploids, alpha2 and a1 are stabilized by heterodimerization. Association depends on N-terminal coiled-coil interactions between a1 and alpha2. Residues in alpha2 important for these interactions overlap a critical determinant of an alpha2 degradation signal, which we delimit by extensive mutagenesis. Our data provide a detailed description of a natural ubiquitin-dependent degradation signal and point to a molecular mechanism for regulated turnover in which proteolytic signals are differentially masked in alternative multiprotein complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cocrystal structure of a tRNA Psi55 pseudouridine synthase: nucleotide flipping by an RNA-modifying enzyme.

Pseudouridine (Psi) synthases catalyze the isomerization of specific uridines in cellular RNAs to pseudouridines and may function as RNA chaperones. TruB is responsible for the Psi residue present in the T loops of virtually all tRNAs. The close homolog Cbf5/dyskerin is the catalytic subunit of box H/ACA snoRNPs. These carry out the pseudouridylation of eukaryotic rRNA and snRNAs. The 1.85 A resolution structure of TruB bound to RNA reveals that this enzyme recognizes the preformed three-dimensional structure of the T loop, primarily through shape complementarity. It accesses its substrate uridyl residue by flipping out the nucleotide and disrupts the tertiary structure of tRNA. Structural comparisons with TruB demonstrate that all Psi synthases are descended from a common molecular ancestor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Discovering modes of action for therapeutic compounds using a genome-wide screen of yeast heterozygotes.

Modern medicine faces the challenge of developing safer and more effective therapies to treat human diseases. Many drugs currently in use were discovered without knowledge of their underlying molecular mechanisms. Understanding their biological targets and modes of action will be essential to design improved second-generation compounds. Here, we describe the use of a genome-wide pool of tagged heterozygotes to assess the cellular effects of 78 compounds in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Specifically, lanosterol synthase in the sterol biosynthetic pathway was identified as a target of the antianginal drug molsidomine, which may explain its cholesterol-lowering effects. Further, the rRNA processing exosome was identified as a potential target of the cell growth inhibitor 5-fluorouracil. This genome-wide screen validated previously characterized targets or helped identify potentially new modes of action for over half of the compounds tested, providing proof of this principle for analyzing the modes of action of clinically relevant compounds.

Drug Evaluation, Preclinical↗