pantothenate biosynthetic process

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the formation of pantothenate, the anion of pantothenic acid. It is a B complex vitamin that is a constituent of coenzyme A and is distributed ubiquitously in foods. [GOC:ai, ISBN:0721662544]

Pantothenate biosynthesis is a crucial metabolic pathway responsible for producing pantothenate (vitamin B5), a vital precursor for coenzyme A (CoA). CoA plays a pivotal role in numerous cellular processes, including energy metabolism, fatty acid synthesis, and amino acid catabolism.

The pathway typically commences with the condensation of β-alanine and pantoate, catalyzed by pantothenate synthetase. Pantoate is derived from ketopantoate, which is generated through a series of reactions starting from α-ketoisovalerate. α-ketoisovalerate, in turn, is a product of the valine degradation pathway. The pantoate pathway begins with the conversion of α-ketoisovalerate to α-hydroxyisovalerate by α-ketoisovalerate reductase. This is followed by the conversion of α-hydroxyisovalerate to ketopantoate by ketopantoate reductase.

Once pantothenate is synthesized, it is converted into 4'-phosphopantothenate by pantothenate kinase. This phosphorylated form then undergoes condensation with cysteine, catalyzed by phosphopantothenate cysteine ligase, to yield 4'-phosphopantothenoylcysteine. Subsequent decarboxylation of 4'-phosphopantothenoylcysteine by phosphopantothenoylcysteine decarboxylase yields pantetheine.

The final step in pantothenate biosynthesis is the phosphorylation of pantetheine by pantetheine kinase to produce CoA. CoA, as mentioned earlier, is a critical cofactor for numerous metabolic reactions, making pantothenate biosynthesis essential for cellular function. '
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Proteins (3)

Compounds (9)