ribulose-5-phosphate and ribose-5-phosphate

Large numbers of genes essential for embryogenesis in

Topics: Arabidopsis; Cell Division; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Mutation; Pentose Phosphate Pathway; Plant Cells; Plant Proteins; Plastids; Purines; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Seeds; Substrate Specificity; Sugar Phosphates

Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (RPI) belongs to the non-oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway, catalysing the inter-conversion of D-ribose-5-phosphate and D-ribulose-5-phosphate. Trypanosomatids encode a type B RPI, whereas humans have a structurally unrelated type A, making RPIB worthy of exploration as a potential drug target. Null mutant generation in Leishmania infantum was only possible when an episomal copy of RPIB gene was provided, and the latter was retained both in vitro and in vivo in the absence of drug pressure. This suggests the gene is essential for parasite survival. Importantly, the inability to remove the second allele of RPIB gene in sKO mutants complemented with an episomal copy of RPIB carrying a mutation that abolishes isomerase activity suggests the essentiality is due to its metabolic function. In vitro, sKO promastigotes exhibited no defect in growth, metacyclogenesis or macrophage infection, however, an impairment in intracellular amastigotes' replication was observed. Additionally, mice infected with sKO mutants rescued by RPIB complementation had a reduced parasite burden in the liver. Likewise, Trypanosoma brucei is resistant to complete RPIB gene removal and mice infected with sKO mutants showed prolonged survival upon infection. Taken together our results genetically validate RPIB as a potential drug target in trypanosomatids.

Topics: Aldose-Ketose Isomerases; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Deletion; Gene Expression; Genes, Essential; Genetic Complementation Test; Humans; Leishmania infantum; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Life Cycle Stages; Liver; Mice; Plasmids; Protozoan Proteins; Pyrrolidinones; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Trypanosomiasis, African

Leishmaniases are caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and are considered the second-highest cause of death worldwide by parasitic infection. The drugs available for treatment in humans are becoming ineffective mainly due to parasite resistance; therefore, it is extremely important to develop a new chemotherapy against these parasites. A crucial aspect of drug design development is the identification and characterization of novel molecular targets. In this work, through an in silico comparative analysis between the genomes of Leishmania major and Homo sapiens, the enzyme ribose 5-phosphate isomerase (R5PI) was indicated as a promising molecular target. R5PI is an important enzyme that acts in the pentose phosphate pathway and catalyzes the interconversion of d-ribose-5-phosphate (R5P) and d-ribulose-5-phosphate (5RP). R5PI activity is found in two analogous groups of enzymes called RpiA (found in H. sapiens) and RpiB (found in L. major). Here, we present the first report of the three-dimensional (3D) structures and active sites of RpiB from L. major (LmRpiB) and RpiA from H. sapiens (HsRpiA). Three-dimensional models were constructed by applying a hybrid methodology that combines comparative and ab initio modeling techniques, and the active site was characterized based on docking studies of the substrates R5P (furanose and ring-opened forms) and 5RP. Our comparative analyses show that these proteins are structural analogs and that distinct residues participate in the interconversion of R5P and 5RP. We propose two distinct reaction mechanisms for the reversible isomerization of R5P to 5RP, which is catalyzed by LmRpiB and HsRpiA. We expect that the present results will be important in guiding future molecular modeling studies to develop new drugs that are specially designed to inhibit the parasitic form of the enzyme without significant effects on the human analog.

Topics: Aldose-Ketose Isomerases; Amino Acid Sequence; Antiprotozoal Agents; Catalytic Domain; Humans; Isomerism; Leishmania major; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Ligands; Molecular Docking Simulation; Molecular Sequence Data; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Static Electricity; Structural Homology, Protein; Substrate Specificity

Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (Rpi) catalyzes the conversion of D-ribose 5-phosphate (R5P) to D-ribulose 5-phosphate, which is an important step in the non-oxidative pathway of the pentose phosphate pathway and the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis. Recently, Rpis have been used to produce valuable rare sugars for industrial purposes. Of the Rpis, D-ribose-5-phosphate isomerase B from Clostridium thermocellum (CtRpi) has the fastest reactions kinetics. While Thermotoga maritime Rpi (TmRpi) has the same substrate specificity as CtRpi, the overall activity of CtRpi is approximately 200-fold higher than that of TmRpi. To understand the structural basis of these kinetic differences, we determined the crystal structures, at 2.1-Å resolution or higher, of CtRpi alone and bound to its substrates, R5P, D-ribose, and D-allose. Structural comparisons of CtRpi and TmRpi showed overall conservation of their structures with two notable differences. First, the volume of the CtRpi substrate binding pocket (SBP) was 20% less than that of the TmRpi SBP. Second, the residues next to the sugar-ring opening catalytic residue (His98) were different. We switched the key residues, involved in SBP shaping or catalysis, between CtRpi and TmRpi by site-directed mutagenesis, and studied the enzyme kinetics of the mutants. We found that tight interactions between the two monomers, narrow SBP width, and the residues near the catalytic residue are all critical for the fast enzyme kinetics of CtRpi.

Topics: Aldose-Ketose Isomerases; Amino Acid Sequence; Bacterial Proteins; Binding Sites; Clostridium thermocellum; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Models, Molecular; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Protein Binding; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Substrate Specificity; Thermotoga maritima

The oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (oxPPP) is part of central metabolism, consisting of two distinct phases: the oxidative phase and the non-oxidative phase. The non-oxidative phase of the oxPPP generates carbon skeletons for the synthesis of nucleotides, aromatic amino acids, phenylpropanoids and their derivatives, which are essential for plant growth and development. However, it is not well understood how the non-oxidative phase of the oxPPP contributes to plant growth and development. Here, we report the characterization of Arabidopsis T-DNA knockout mutants of the RPI2 gene (At2g01290), which encodes a cytosolic ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (RPI) that catalyzes the reversible interconversion of ribulose-5-phosphate and ribose-5-phosphate in the non-oxidative phase of the oxPPP. Although recombinant Arabidopsis RPI2 protein exhibits marked RPI enzymatic activity, knockout of the RPI2 gene does not significantly change the total RPI activity in the mutant plants. Interestingly, knockout of RPI2 interferes with chloroplast structure and decreases chloroplast photosynthetic capacity. The rpi2 mutants accumulate less starch in the leaves and flower significantly later than wild-type when grown under short-day conditions. Furthermore, the rpi2 mutants display premature cell death in the leaves when grown at an above-normal temperature (26 degrees C). These results demonstrate that a deficiency in the non-oxidative phase of the cytosolic oxPPP has pleiotropic effects on plant growth and development and causes premature cell death.

Topics: Aldose-Ketose Isomerases; Amino Acid Sequence; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Cell Death; Chloroplasts; DNA, Bacterial; DNA, Plant; Flowers; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Gene Knockout Techniques; Molecular Sequence Data; Photosynthesis; Phylogeny; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Sequence Alignment

Recent work has raised a question as to the involvement of erythrose-4-phosphate, a product of the pentose phosphate pathway, in the metabolism of the methanogenic archaea (R. H. White, Biochemistry 43:7618-7627, 2004). To address the possible absence of erythrose-4-phosphate in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, we have assayed cell extracts of this methanogen for the presence of this and other intermediates in the pentose phosphate pathway and have determined and compared the labeling patterns of sugar phosphates derived metabolically from [6,6-2H2]- and [U-13C]-labeled glucose-6-phosphate incubated with cell extracts. The results of this work have established the absence of pentose phosphate pathway intermediates erythrose-4-phosphate, xylose-5-phosphate, and sedoheptulose-7-phosphate in these cells and the presence of D-arabino-3-hexulose-6-phosphate, an intermediate in the ribulose monophosphate pathway. The labeling of the D-ara-bino-3-hexulose-6-phosphate, as well as the other sugar-Ps, indicates that this hexose-6-phosphate was the precursor to ribulose-5-phosphate that in turn was converted into ribose-5-phosphate by ribose-5-phosphate isomerase. Additional work has demonstrated that ribulose-5-phosphate is derived by the loss of formaldehyde from D-arabino-3-hexulose-6-phosphate, catalyzed by the protein product of the MJ1447 gene.

Topics: Aldose-Ketose Isomerases; Archaeal Proteins; Carbon Radioisotopes; Deuterium; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Genes, Archaeal; Glucose-6-Phosphate; Hexosephosphates; Methanococcus; Molecular Structure; Pentose Phosphate Pathway; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Sugar Phosphates

To identify the genes involved in pyridoxine synthesis in yeast, auxotrophic mutants were prepared. After transformation with a yeast genomic library, a transformant (A22t1) was obtained from one of the auxotrophs, A22, which lost the pyridoxine auxotrophy. From an analysis of the plasmid harboured in A22t1, the RKI1 gene coding for ribose 5-phosphate ketol-isomerase and residing on chromosome no. 15 was identified as the responsible gene. This notion was confirmed by gene disruption and tetrad analysis on a diploid prepared from the wild-type and the auxotroph. The site of mutation on the RKI1 gene was identified as position 566 with a transition from guanine to adenine, resulting in amino acid substitution of Arg-189 with lysine. The enzymic activity of the Arg189-->Lys (R189K) mutant of ribose 5-phosphate ketolisomerase was 0.6% when compared with the wild-type enzyme. Loss of the structural integrity of the protein seems to be responsible for the greatly diminished activity, which eventually leads to a shortage of either ribose 5-phosphate or ribulose 5-phosphate as the starting or intermediary material for pyridoxine synthesis.

Topics: Aldose-Ketose Isomerases; Amino Acid Substitution; Carrier Proteins; Chromosome Mapping; Genes, Fungal; Mutation, Missense; Point Mutation; Pyridoxine; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; Transformation, Genetic; Vesicular Transport Proteins

Recently, several patients with abnormal polyol profiles in body fluids have been reported, but the origins of these polyols are unknown. We hypothesized that they are derived from sugar phosphate intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and we developed a semiquantitative method for profiling of pentose phosphate pathway intermediates.. Sugar phosphates in blood spots were simultaneously analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using an ion-pair-loaded C(18) HPLC column. The tandem mass spectrometer was operated in the multiple-reaction monitoring mode. Enzymatically prepared D-[(13)C(6)]glucose 6-phosphate was used as internal standard. The method was used to study sugar phosphates abnormalities in a patient affected with a deficiency of transaldolase (TALDO1; EC 2.2.1.2).. In control blood spots, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, pentulose 5-phosphates, pentose 5-phosphates, hexose 6-phosphates, and sedoheptulose 7-phosphate were detected. Detection limits ranged from approximately 100 to approximately 500 nmol/L. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and erythrose 4-phosphate were undetectable. Intra- and interassay imprecision (CVs) were 10-17% and 12-21%, respectively. In blood from the TALDO1-deficient patient, sedoheptulose 7-phosphate was increased.. The new method allows investigation of patients in whom a defect in the PPP is suspected. Measurements of sugar phosphate intermediates of the PPP may provide new insights into metabolic defects underlying the accumulating polyols.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood Specimen Collection; Child; Child, Preschool; Chromatography, Liquid; Fructosephosphates; Glucose-6-Phosphate; Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Mass Spectrometry; Middle Aged; Pentose Phosphate Pathway; Pentosephosphates; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sugar Phosphates; Transaldolase

(31)P NMR spectroscopy offers a possibility to obtain a survey of all low-molecular-weight phosphorylated compounds in yeast. The yeast cells have been extracted using chloroform into a neutral aqueous phase. The use of high fields and the neutral pH extracts, which are suitable for NMR analysis, results in well-resolved (31)P NMR spectra. Two-dimensional NMR experiments, such as proton-detected heteronuclear single quantum ((1)H-(31)P HSQC) and (31)P correlation spectroscopy ((31)P COSY), have been used to assign the resonances. In the phosphomonoester region many of the signals could be assigned to known metabolites in the glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathways, although some signals remain unidentified. Accumulation of ribulose 5-phosphate, xylulose 5-phosphate, and ribose 5-phosphate was observed in a strain lacking transketolase activity when grown in synthetic complete medium. No such accumulation occurred when the cells were grown in yeast-peptone-dextrose medium. Trimetaphosphate (intracellular concentration about 0.2 mM) was detected in both cold methanol-chloroform and perchloric acid extracts.

Topics: Culture Media; Hydrogen; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Molecular Weight; Mutation; Pentosephosphates; Phosphates; Phosphorus; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Transketolase

The degree of control exerted by transketolase over metabolite flux in the nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathway in human erythrocytes was investigated using transketolase antiserum to modulate the activity of that enzyme. 31P NMR enabled the simultaneous measurement of the levels of pentose phosphate pathway metabolites following incubation of hemolysates with ribose 5-phosphate. The variations in metabolic flux which occurred as the transketolase activity of hemolysate samples was altered indicated that a high degree of control was exerted by transketolase. Investigations using transaldolase-depleted hemolysates showed that transaldolase exhibits a lesser degree of control over pathway flux. Experimental data were compared with simulations generated by a computer model encompassing the reactions of the classical nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathway. The sensitivity coefficients (also called "control strengths" or "flux-control coefficients") calculated from the computer simulations were 0.74 and 0.03 for transketolase and transaldolase, respectively.

Topics: Blotting, Western; Computer Simulation; Erythrocytes; Humans; Immune Sera; Kinetics; Luminescent Measurements; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Pentose Phosphate Pathway; Pentosephosphates; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Transketolase

A modification of the method of Kauffman et al. (F. C. Kauffman, J. G. Brown, J. V. Passonneau, and O. H. Lowry (1969) J. Biol. Chem. 244, 3647-3653) for the spectrophotometric determination of xylulose 5-phosphate, ribulose 5-phosphate, and combined ribose 5-phosphate and sedoheptulose 7-phosphate in tissue extract is presented. Using commercially available enzymes all three assays come to a clear endpoint with the assays described. Values for these metabolites in liver in three dietary states are reported; 48 h starved, ad libitum feeding of standard NIH rat ration, and meal feeding of a fat-free diet. Xylulose 5-phosphate values were 3.8 +/- 0.3, 8.6 +/- 0.3, and 66.3 +/- 8.3 nmol/g. Ribulose 5-phosphate values were 3.4 +/- 0.3, 5.8 +/- 0.2, and 37.1 +/- 5.3 nmol/g. Combined ribose 5-phosphate and sedoheptulose 7-phosphate were 29.3 +/- 0.3, 38.2 +/- 1.2, and 108.2 +/- 14.5 nmol/g. The ratio of measured tissue content of [xylulose 5-phosphate]/[ribulose 5-phosphate] was found to be 1.12 +/- 0.07 in starved animals, 1.48 +/- 0.04 in ad libitum fed animals and 1.78 +/- 0.03 in low-fat meal fed animals. These data are in good agreement with the range of equilibrium constants reported for this reaction, suggesting that the ribulose 5-phosphate 3-epimerase reaction (EC 5.1.3.1) is a near equilibrium reaction despite a more than 10-fold change in the tissue content of these metabolites.

Topics: Animals; Diet; Liver; Male; Pentose Phosphate Pathway; Pentosephosphates; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Starvation; Sugar Phosphates

Topics: Humans; Pentosephosphates; Phosphates; Ribose; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Xylulose

Topics: Gluconates; Pentoses; Phosphates; Ribosemonophosphates; Ribulosephosphates; Yeasts