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Glyphosate inhibits the translocation of green fluorescent protein and sucrose from a transgenic tobacco host to Cuscuta campestris Yunk.

The parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris is dependent on its host for water, assimilates and amino acids. It can be controlled by the herbicide glyphosate, which inhibits 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), resulting in shikimate accumulation. In this study, C. campestris was parasitic on transgenic tobacco plants expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the phloem. Changes in [14C]sucrose and GFP accumulation in the parasite were used as indicators of the herbicide's effect on translocation between the host and parasite. Host plants were treated with glyphosate 22 days after sowing. Shikimate accumulation in the parasite 1 day after glyphosate treatment (DAGT) confirmed EPSPS inhibition in C. campestris. No damage was visible in the host plants for the first 3 DAGT, while during that same time, a significant reduction in [14C]sucrose and GFP accumulation was observed in the parasite. Thus, we propose that the parallel reduction in GFP and sucrose accumulation in C. campestris is a result of a glyphosate effect on the parasite's ability to withdraw assimilates from the host.

Cuscuta↗

Characterization of the enzymatic domains in the modular polyketide synthase involved in rifamycin B biosynthesis by Amycolatopsis mediterranei.

Five clustered polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, rifA-rifE, involved in rifamycin (Rf) biosynthesis in Amycolatopsis mediterranei S699 have been cloned and sequenced (August, P.R. et al., 1998. Chem. Biol. 5, 69-79). The five multifunctional polypeptides constitute a type I modular PKS that contains ten modules, each responsible for a specific round of polyketide chain elongation. Sequence comparisons of the Rf PKS proteins with other prokaryotic modular PKSs elucidated the regions that have an important role in enzyme activity and specificity. The beta-ketoacyl:acyl carrier protein synthase (KS) domains show the highest degree of similarity between themselves (86-90%) and to other PKSs (78-85%) among all the constituent domains. Both malonyl-coenzyme A (MCoA) and methylmalonyl-coenzyme A (mMCoA) are substrates for chain elongation steps carried out by the Rf PKS. Since acyltransferase (AT) domains of modular PKSs can distinguish between these two substrates, comparison of the sequence of all ten AT domains of the Rf PKS with those found in the erythromycin (Er) (Donadio, S. and Katz, L., 1992. Gene 111, 51-60) and rapamycin (Rp) (Haydock, S. et al., 1995. FEBS Lett. 374, 246-248) PKSs revealed that the AT domains in module 2 of RifA and module 9 of RifE are specific for MCoA, whereas the other eight modules specify mMCoA. Dehydration of the beta-hydroxyacylthioester intermediates should occur during the reactions catalysed by module 4 of RifB and modules 9 and 10 of RifE, yet only the active site region of module 4 conforms closely to the dehydratase (DH) motifs in the Er and Rp PKSs. The DH domains of modules 9 and 10 diverge significantly from the consensus sequence defined by the Er and Rp PKSs, except for the active site His residues. Deletions in the DH active sites of module 1 in RifA and module 5 in RifB and in the N- and C-terminal regions of module 8 of RifD should inactivate these domains, and module 2 of RifA lacks a DH domain, all of which are consistent with the proposed biosynthesis of Rf. In contrast, module 6 of RifB and module 7 of RifC appear to contain intact DH domains even though DH activity is not apparently required in these modules. Module 2 of RifA lacks a beta-ketoacyl:acyl carrier protein reductase (KR) domain and the one in module 3 has an apparently inactive NADPH binding motif, similar to one found in the Er PKS, while the other eight KR domains of the Rf PKS should be functional. These observations are consistent with biosynthetic predictions. All the acyl carrier protein (ACP) domains, while clearly functional, nevertheless have active site signature sequences distinctive from those of the Er and Rp PKSs. Module 2 of RifA has only the core domains (KS, AT and ACP). The starter unit ligase (SUL) and ACP domains present in the N-terminus of RifA direct the selection and loading of the starter unit, 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (AHBA), onto the PKS. AHBA is made by the products of several other genes in the Rf cluster through a variant of the shikimate pathway (August, P.R. et al., inter alia). RifF, produced by the gene immediately downstream of rifE, is thought to catalyse the intramolecular cyclization of the PKS product, thereby forming the ansamacrolide precursor of Rf B. 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

3-Oxoacyl-(Acyl-Carrier-Protein) Synthase↗

Chlorogenic acid biosynthesis: characterization of a light-induced microsomal 5-O-(4-coumaroyl)-D-quinate/shikimate 3'-hydroxylase from carrot (Daucus carota L.) cell suspension cultures.

Microsomal preparations from carrot (Daucus carota L.) cell suspension cultures catalyze the formation of trans-5-O-caffeoyl-D-quinate (chlorogenate) from trans-5-O-(4-coumaroyl)-D-quinate. trans-5-O-(4-Coumaroyl)shikimate is converted to about the same extent to trans-5-O-caffeoylshikimate. trans-4-O-(4-Coumaroyl)-D-quinate, trans-3-O-(4-coumaroyl)-D-quinate, trans-4-coumarate, and cis-5-O-(4-coumaroyl)-D-quinate do not act as substrates. The reaction is strictly dependent on molecular oxygen and on NADPH as reducing cofactor. NADH and ascorbic acid cannot substitute for NADPH. Cytochrome c, Tetcyclacis, and carbon monoxide inhibit the reaction suggesting a cytochrome P-450-dependent mixed-function monooxygenase. Competition experiments as well as induction and inhibition phenomena indicate that there is only one enzyme species which is responsibl for the hydroxylation of the 5-O-(4-coumaric) esters of both D-quinate and shikimate. The activity of this enzyme is greatly increased by in vivo irradiation of the cells with blue/uv light. We conclude that the biosynthesis of the predominant caffeic acid conjugates in carrot cells occurs via the corresponding 4-coumaric acid esters. Thus, in this system, 5-O-(4-coumaroyl)-D-quinate can be seen as the final intermediate in the chlorogenic acid pathway.

Carbon Monoxide↗

Overproduction by gene amplification of the multifunctional arom protein confers glyphosate tolerance to a plastid-free mutant of Euglena gracilis.

Cells of the plastid-free mutant line of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris, W10BSmL, can be adapted to glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] by gradually increasing the concentration of the herbicide in the culture medium. The molecular basis of glyphosate tolerance is the selective ca. ten-fold overproduction of the multifunctional arom protein catalyzing steps 2-6 in the pre-chorismate pathway. Determination of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase (E.C.2.5.1.19), shikimate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (E.C.1.1.1.25) and shikimate kinase (E.C.2.7.1.71) activities after non-denaturing gel electrophoresis, in combination with two-dimensional separations, revealed an increase in all three enzyme activities associated with overproduction of a 165 kDa protein in cells adapted to 6 mM glyphosate. Further evidence for an involvement of the multifunctional arom protein in aromatic amino acid synthesis in the plastid-free W10BSmL cells was obtained by Northern hybridization with ARO1-, aroA-, aroL- and aroE-specific Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene probes encoding the entire arom protein or parts of the EPSP synthase, shikimate:NADP+ oxidoreductase and shikimate kinase domains, respectively. Overproduction in adapted relative to control cells of a 5.3 kb transcript that cross-hybridized with all of the different probes could be demonstrated. The elevated content of the arom transcript correlated with a selective amplification of two out of five genomic sequences that hybridized with the S. cerevisiae ARO1 gene probe in Southern blots. One of the amplified genomic fragments is assumed to encode the previously identified monofunctional 59 kDa EPSP synthase, which is thought to be an organellar protein, that accumulates to a certain extent in its enzymatically active precursor form of 64.5 kDa in the plastid-free W10BSmL cells.

3-Phosphoshikimate 1-Carboxyvinyltransferase↗

The Herbicidally Active Compound N-2-(6-Methyl-Pyridyl)-Aminomethylene Bisphosphonic Acid Inhibits In Vivo Aromatic Biosynthesis.

The effect of N-2-(6-methyl-pyridyl)-aminomethylene bisphosphonic acid (M-pyr-AMBPA), a compound previously shown to exhibit herbicidal properties on whole plants and to inhibit in vitro activity of the first enzyme in the shikimate pathway, 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase, was investigated on Nicotiana plumbaginifolia suspension cultured cells and compared to that of the herbicide glyphosate. The addition of M-pyr-AMBPA from 10(-4) to 10(-3) M was found to cause a severe cell growth reduction. Kinetic analysis of partially purified DAHP synthase accounted for non-competitive inhibition type with respect to both phospho-enol-pyruvate and erythrose-4-phosphate, with K(I) values of 0.43 and 0.62 mM, respectively. Amino acid pool measurements of cells grown in the presence of sublethal doses of M-pyr-AMBPA pointed to an actual reduction of free aromatic amino acids, showing that DAHP synthase inhibition takes place in vivo, and suggesting that the interference of this aminophosphonate with plant aromatic biosynthesis may account for a large part of its phytotoxicity. However, exogenous supply of a mixture of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan failed to achieve full reversal of cell growth inhibition, yet the occurrence of other target(s) cannot be ruled out.

Journal Article↗

The three-dimensional structure of shikimate kinase.

The three-dimensional structure of shikimate kinase from Erwinia chrysanthemi has been determined by multiple isomorphous replacement. Two models are presented: a high resolution 1.9 A model and a 2.6 A model which contains bound Mg-ADP. The enzyme is an alpha/beta protein consisting of a central sheet of five parallel beta-strands flanked by alpha-helices with overall topology similar to adenylate kinase. Evidence is presented that shikimate kinase undergoes major conformational changes on ligand binding. It resembles adenylate kinase in having a P-loop containing core structure and two flexible domains which undergo induced fit movement on substrate binding. The binding of Mg2+ in the active site of shikimate kinase involves direct interaction with two protein side-chains which is different from the situation found in adenylate kinase. Shikimate kinase has a readily identifiable Walker A-motif and a recognisable but modified Walker B-motif. Comparison of shikimate kinase to adenylate kinase has led to the identification of an adenine-binding motif (I/VDAXQ/NXP). Difference Fourier calculations have revealed the shikimate binding site which corresponds to the location of the AMP-binding site in adenylate kinase. A model for shikimate-binding is presented.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Evidence that the reaction of the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 1-carboxyvinyltransferase proceeds through the O-phosphothioketal of pyruvic acid bound to Cys115 of the enzyme.

The enzyme UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 1-carboxyvinyltransferase (enolpyruvyltransferase, EC 2.5.1.7) catalyses the transfer of the intact 1-carboxyvinyl moiety of phosphoenolpyruvate to the 3'-hydroxyl group of the glucosamine moiety of UDP-(2')-N-acetylglucosamine with the concomitant release of inorganic phosphate, the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan. Overexpression of the enzyme from Enterobacter cloacae in Escherichia coli allowed the isolation of large amounts of purified enzyme (approx. 900 mg/20 g fresh mass bacteria). By incubating the enzyme with 14C-labelled phosphoenolpyruvate, 32P-labelled orthophosphate and unlabelled UDP-(2')-N-acetyl-(3')-1-carboxyvinylglucosamine, we were able to isolate and characterise a reaction intermediate, covalently bound to the protein. It contains stoichiometric quantities of the C3 moiety (0.98 mol/mol) as well as of the phosphate moiety (0.95 mol/mol) of phosphoenolpyruvate relative to protein. The rapid turnover of this protein-bound intermediate in the presence of UDP-(2')-N-acetylglucosamine towards the product UDP-(2')-N-acetyl-(3')-1-carboxyvinylglucosamine suggests that the intermediate is kinetically competent. We also present evidence that the intermediate is bound as the O-phosphothioketal of pyruvic acid to Cys115 of the enzyme. This is the same Cys residue to which phosphomycin, an irreversible inhibitor of the UDP-GlcNAc carboxyvinyltransferase, binds covalently. Exchange of Cys115 for a Ser residue resulted in an inactive enzyme, demonstrating the essential role of Cys115 for the reaction. The only other enzyme known to catalyse the transfer of the intact 1-carboxyvinyl moiety of phosphoenolpyruvate to a substrate is the 3-phosphoshikimate 1-carboxyvinyltransferase (EC 2.5.1.19), the sixth enzyme of the shikimate pathway. The reaction of this synthase is known to proceed through a single, tightly but not covalently bound, tetrahedral intermediate. Even though the two enzymes share similarities in their primary amino acid sequences, their reaction mechanisms appear to be substantially different.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Structure of the Aspergillus nidulans qut repressor-encoding gene: implications for the regulation of transcription initiation.

The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the qutR gene has been determined and shown to encode an inferred protein (QUTR) of 929 amino acids (aa). The inferred aa sequence shows a high level of similarity throughout its length with the aa sequence of the three C-terminal domains (shikimate kinase; 3-dehydroquinase; shikimate dehydrogenase) of the pentafunctional AROM protein of Aspergillus nidulans that catalyses steps 2-6 in the shikimate pathway. The inferred QUTR aa sequence has a completely conserved aa sequence motif, Gly, Xaa4, Gly, Lys, Ser, that is found in proteins that bind purine nt, suggesting that the inferred protein may have an in vivo kinase activity. The inferred QUTR protein also has a peptide sequence, DMVRLTQPAT, related to the active-site peptide in type-I 3-dehydroquinases. In active 3-dehydroquinases, the Arg (of QUTR) is replaced by Lys, which is involved in Schiff base formation as part of the reaction mechanism. The change from Lys----Arg in the inferred QUTR protein may allow the protein to bind but not metabolise the substrate for 3-dehydroquinase enzymes, namely 3-dehydroquinate. These observations are entirely consistent with the genetical model for how the QUTR protein functions, as it predicts that the protein can recognise and bind, but not metabolise, quinate, 3-dehydroquinate, and dehydroshikimate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Discovery of Helicobacter pylori shikimate kinase inhibitors: bioassay and molecular modeling.

Shikimate kinase (SK) is the fifth enzyme in the shikimate pathway and catalyzes the phosphate transfer from ATP to shikimate in generating shikimate 3-phosphate and ADP. SK has been developed as a promising target for the discovery of antibacterial agents. In this report, two small molecular inhibitors (compound 1, 3-methoxy-4-{[2-({2-methoxy-4-[(4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-5-ylidene)methyl]phenoxy}methyl)benzyl]oxy}benzaldehyde; compound 2, 5-bromo-2-(5-{[1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3,5-dioxo-4-pyrazolidinylidene]methyl}-2-furyl)benzoic acid) against Helicobacter pylori SK (HpSK) were successfully identified with IC(50) values of 5.5+/-1.2 and 6.4+/-0.4 microM, respectively. The inhibition kinetics shows that compound 1 is a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to both shikimate and MgATP, and compound 2 is a competitive inhibitor toward shikimate and noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to MgATP. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology based analysis reveals that the equilibrium dissociation constants (K(D)s) of compounds 1 and 2 with HpSK enzyme are 4.39 and 3.74 microM, respectively. The molecular modeling and docking of two inhibitors with HpSK reveals that the active site of HpSK is rather roomy and deep, forming an L-shape channel on the surface of the protein, and compound 1 prefers the corner area of L-shape channel, while compound 2 binds the short arm of the channel of SK in the binding interactions. It is expected that our current work might supply useful information for the development of novel SK inhibitors.

Algorithms↗

Disruption of a global regulatory gene to enhance central carbon flux into phenylalanine biosynthesis in Escherichia coli.

Genetic engineering of microbes for commercial metabolite production traditionally has sought to alter the levels and/or intrinsic activities of key enzymes in relevant biosynthetic pathway(s). Microorganisms exploit similar strategies for flux control, but also coordinate flux through sets of related pathways by using global regulatory circuits. We have engineered a global regulatory system of Escherichia coli, Csr (carbon storage regulator), to increase precursor for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. Disruption of csrA increases gluconeogenesis, decreases glycolysis, and thus elevates phosphoenolpyruvate, a limiting precursor of aromatics. A strain in which the aromatic (shikimate) pathway had been optimized produced twofold more phenylalanine when csrA was disrupted. Overexpression of tktA (transketolase) to increase the other precursor, erythrose-4-phosphate, yielded approximately 1.4-fold enhancement, while both changes were additive. These effects of csrA were not mediated by increasing the regulatory enzymes of phenylalanine biosynthesis. This study introduces the concept of "global metabolic engineering" for second-generation strain improvement.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Purification and properties of shikimate kinase II from Escherichia coli K-12.

Shikimate kinase II was purified to near homogeneity from an Escherichia coli strain which overproduced the enzyme. The apparent Km of this isoenzyme for shikimate was 200 microM, and for ATP it was 160 microM. The Km for shikimate is approximately 100-fold lower than the Km of shikimate kinase I, suggesting that shikimate kinase II is the isoenzyme normally functioning in aromatic biosynthesis. Shikimate kinase II is dependent on metal ions for activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Domain structure and function within the QUTA protein of Aspergillus nidulans: implications for the control of transcription.

QUTA is a positively acting regulatory protein that regulates the expression of the eight genes comprising the quinic acid utilization gene (qut) gene cluster in Aspergillus nidulans. It has been proposed that the QUTA protein is composed of two domains that are related to the N-terminal two domains-dehydroquinate (DHQ) synthase and 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase-of the pentadomain AROM protein. The AROM protein is an enzyme catalysing five consecutive steps in the shikimate pathway, two of which are common to the qut pathway. A genetic and molecular analysis of non-inducible qutA mutants showed that all 23 mutations analysed map within the N-terminal half of the encoded QUTA protein. One dominant mutation (qutA382) introduces a stop codon at the boundary between the two domains that were identified on the basis of amino acid sequence alignments between the QUTA protein and the N-terminal two domains of the pentafunctional AROM protein. The truncated protein encoded by mutant qutA382 has DNA-binding ability but no transcription activation function. A second dominant mutation (in strain qutA214) is missense, changing 457E-->K in a region of localized high negative charge and potentially identifies a transcription activation domain in the N-terminus of the EPSP-synthase-like domain of the QUTA protein. A series of qualitative and quantitative Northern blot experiments with mRNA derived from wild-type and mutant qutA strains supported the view that the QUTA protein regulates the expression of the qut gene cluster, including the qutA gene which encodes it. A series of Western blot and zinc-binding experiments demonstrated that a putative zinc binuclear cluster motif located within the N-terminus of the QUTA protein is able to bind zinc in vitro.

3-Phosphoshikimate 1-Carboxyvinyltransferase↗

Mechanisms of sulfadoxine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum.

Three possible mechanisms of resistance to sulfadoxine were investigated in resistant Plasmodium falciparum: drug uptake, metabolism and alternate pathways. Uptake of [35S] sulfadoxine was markedly reduced in resistant plasmodia. By Thin Layer Radiochromatography it could be demonstrated that plasmodia do not metabolize sulfadoxine to pharmacologically inactive forms. Metabolism of sulfadoxine to the toxic analog of dihydropteroate is reduced in resistant plasmodia. Para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) is not an essential nutrient for sulfonamide-resistant plasmodia. Instead, they seem to be able to synthesize pABA de novo. Four enzymes of the respective biosynthetic chain were demonstrated in isolated plasmodia: 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthetase (EC 4.2.1.15), shikimate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.25), shikimate kinase (EC 2.7.1.71) and pABA synthetase. We conclude that these three effects account for the reduced sulfonamide stress observed in the resistant parasite.

3-Deoxy-7-Phosphoheptulonate Synthase↗

Stimulation, monitoring, and analysis of pathway dynamics by metabolic profiling in the aromatic amino acid pathway.

Using a concerted approach of biochemical standard preparation, analytical access via LC-MS/MS, glucose pulse, metabolic profiling, and statistical data analysis, the metabolism dynamics in the aromatic amino acid pathway has been stimulated, monitored, and analyzed in different tyrosine-auxotrophic L-phenylalanine-producing Escherichia coli strains. During the observation window from -4 s (before) up to 27 s after the glucose pulse, the dynamics of the first five enzymatic reactions in the aromatic amino acid pathway was observed by measuring intracellular concentrations of 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate DAH(P), 3-dehydroquinate (3-DHQ), 3-dehydroshikimate (3-DHS), shikimate 3-phosphate (S3P), and shikimate (SHI), together with the pathway precursors phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and P5P, the lumped pentose phosphate pool as an alternative to the nondetectable erythrose 4-phosphate (E4P). Provided that a sufficient fortification of the carbon flux into the pathway of interest is ensured, respective metabolism dynamics can be observed. On the basis of the intracellular pool measurements, the standardized pool velocities were calculated, and a simple, data-driven criterion--called "pool efflux capacity" (PEC)--is derived. Despite its simplifying system description, the criterion managed to identify the well-known AroB limitation in the E. coli strain A (genotype delta(pheA tyrA aroF)/pJF119EH aroF(fbr) pheA(fbr) amp) and it also succeeded to identify AroL and AroA (in strain B, genotype delta(pheA tyrA aroF)/pJF119EH aroF(fbr) pheA(fbr) aroB amp) as promising metabolic engineering targets to alleviate respective flux control in subsequent L-Phe producing strains. Furthermore, using of a simple correlation analysis, the reconstruction of the metabolite sequence of the observed pathway was enabled. The results underline the necessity to extend the focus of glucose pulse experiments by studying not only the central metabolism but also anabolic pathways.

Amino Acids, Aromatic↗

[Gene-enzyme relationships of the arom aggregate of Schizosaccharomyces pombe].

The gene-enzyme relationships of the arom multienzyme complex of Schizosaccharomyces pombe that catalyzes steps two through six in the prechorismate polyaromatic amino acid biosynthetic pathway have been studied. The various mutants were subjected to biochemical analysis by direct enzymic assays. These studies have established that aro-3A, aro-3B, aro-3C, aro-3D, and aro-3E mutants lack, respectively, the enzymic activities 5-dehydroquinate synthase, 5-dehydroquinase, shekimate kinase, 3-enolpyruvylshikimate 5-phosphate synthase, and shikimate: NADP oxidoreductase. In S. pombe lack enzymic activities for the inducible quinate catabolic pathway. The functional significance of the arom aggregate is discussed.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

The refolding of type II shikimate kinase from Erwinia chrysanthemi after denaturation in urea.

Shikimate kinase was chosen as a convenient representative example of the subclass of alpha/beta proteins with which to examine the mechanism of protein folding. In this paper we report on the refolding of the enzyme after denaturation in urea. As shown by the changes in secondary and tertiary structure monitored by far UV circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence, respectively, the enzyme was fully unfolded in 4 m urea. From an analysis of the unfolding curve in terms of the two-state model, the stability of the folded state could be estimated as 17 kJ.mol-1. Approximately 95% of the enzyme activity could be recovered on dilution of the urea from 4 to 0.36 m. The results of spectroscopic studies indicated that refolding occurred in at least four kinetic phases, the slowest of which (k = 0.009 s-1) corresponded with the regain of shikimate binding and of enzyme activity. The two most rapid phases were associated with a substantial increase in the binding of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid with only modest changes in the far UV CD, indicating that a collapsed intermediate with only partial native secondary structure was formed rapidly. The relevance of the results to the folding of other alpha/beta domain proteins is discussed.

Circular Dichroism↗

Enzymological features of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis reflect the phylogeny of mycoplasmas.

Acholeplasma laidlawii possesses a biochemical pathway for tyrosine and phenylalanine biosynthesis, while Mycoplasma iowae and Mycoplasma gallinarum do not. The detection of 7-phospho-2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptonate (DAHP) synthase (EC 4.1.2.15), dehydro-shikimate reductase (EC 1.1.1.25) and 3-enol-pyruvoylshikimate-5-phosphate synthase (EC 2.5.1.19) activities in cell-free extracts established the presence in A. laidlawii of a functional shikimate pathway. L-Phenylalanine synthesis occurs solely through the phenylpyruvate route via prephenate dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.51), no arogenate dehydratase activity being found. Although arogenate dehydrogenase was detected, L-tyrosine synthesis appears to occur mainly through the 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate route, via prephenate dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.1.12), which utilized NAD+ as a preferred coenzyme substrate. L-Tyrosine was found to be the key regulatory molecule governing aromatic biosynthesis. DAHP synthase was feedback inhibited by L-tyrosine, but not by L-phenylalanine or L-tryptophan; L-tyrosine was a potent feedback inhibitor of prephenate dehydrogenase and an allosteric activator of prephenate dehydratase. Chorismate mutase (EC 5.4.99.5) was sensitive to product inhibition by prephenate. Prephenate dehydratase was feedback inhibited by L-phenylalanine. It was also activated by hydrophobic amino acids (L-valine, L-isoleucine and L-methionine), similar to results previously found in a number of other genera that share the Gram-positive line of phylogenetic descent. Aromatic-pathway-encoded cistrons present in saprophytic large-genome mycoplasmas may have been eliminated in the parasitic small-genome mycoplasmas.

3-Deoxy-7-Phosphoheptulonate Synthase↗