Biochemistry Flashcards
Common features of Purine and Pyrimidine Nucleotide synthesis:
–Nucleotides are synthesized from smaller molecules
–Ribose 5-phosphate from the pentose phosphate pathway is utilized
–Base rings are built from smaller components (e.g. amino acids, CO2)
–Single purines or pyrimidines are built first and other nucleotides are derived from these
–1-carbon carrier tetrahydrofolate is required
–Process is highly regulated to ensure organismal cellular requirements are met and generate the correct amounts of each nucleotide
–Loss of normal regulation can result in disease
Why is tetrahydrofolate important for purine and pyrimidine synthesis?
THF is a 1-carbon carrier, which adds a carbon to the 2 and 8 position of purines
ribose-5-phosphate is the precursor to _____, an activated form of ribose that initiates synthesis
PRPP
_____ is the common precursor to purine nucleotides and the branch point for the synthesis of different purines.
IMP
Where does ribose-5-phosphate come from? Why is it important to nucleotide biosynthesis?
Ribose-5-P is derived from glucose, primarily from the Pentose Phosphate Pathway or via phosphorolysis of nucleosides (salvage pathway). It is the starting point of purine biosynthesis along with ATP.
______ is the precursor to PRPP
Ribose-5-Phosphate
What is PRPP?
5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate
Pentose molecule that participates in synthesis and salvage of purines and pyrimidines
Ribose-5-P + ATP –> PRPP is catalyzed by WHAT enzyme?
PRPP synthetase
This is an important enzyme for regulation of PRPP synthesis, but is technically NOT the committed step.
Arts syndrome is a(n) ____ disorder in ______
X-linked genetic disorder in PRPP synthetase enzyme (responsible for catalyzing ribose-5-P –> PRPP).
Presents with severe nervous system abnormalities
What controls the production of PRPP?
- Amount of ribose-5-phosphate controls the rate of formation
- Pi activates PRPP synthetase (high Pi indicates low nucleotide levels)
- Purine nucleotides inhibit PRPP synthetase
Increases in PRPP synthetase lead to WHAT?
Increased levels of purines and gout
What are the consequences of reduced PRPP synthetase activity?
Reduced purine levels; hypoxanthine is absent from urine and uric acid is reduced in serum
e.g. Arts Syndrome
Glutamine + PRPP –> _____?
5-phosphoribosylamine
(Glutamine contributes the first NH2)
What is the committed step of purine biosynthesis?
Glutamine + PRPP –> 5-phosphoribosylamine (catalyzed by glutamine phosphoribosyl amidotransferase)
This reaction is irreversible
How is the committed step of purine biosynthesis regulated?
The step is glutamine + PRPP –> 5-phosphoribosylamine (catalyzed by glutamine phosphoribosyl amidotransferase)
Reaction is inhibited by AMP, GMP, IMP, and XMP
Reaction/enzyme is stimulated by PRPP
The monomer form of glutamine phosphoribosyl amidotransferase is _____ and the dimer form is _____
monomer form is ACTIVE
dimer form is INACTIVE
High ____ shifts the enzyme glutamine phosphoribosyl amidotransferase to the more active _____ form
High PRPP
more active MONOMERIC form
___ levels vary greatly in the cell and play a key role in regulating purine synthesis. Why?
PRPP levels.
PRPP levels are usually well below the Km for PRPP
glutamine phosphoribosyl amidotransferase is regulated via ____ kinetics with glutamine and _____ kinetics with PRPP. Which influences the enzyme rate more?
Glutamine - hyperbolic kinetics
PRPP - sigmoidal kinetics
Glutamine levels are near Km and don’t vary much - doesn’t influence rate significantly.
PRPP levels vary widely and can be much lower than Km, so this plays an important role in enzyme activity
Describe the regulation of glutamine phosphoribosyl amidotransferase by AMP, GMP, and IMP
There are two distinct regulatory binding sites on this enzyme.
AMP has its own site
GMP, IMP, and XMP have a separate site.
One alone inhibits the reaction somewhat. Presence of AMP + GMP/IMP causes even more inhibition.
IMP is the common precursor of ____ nucleotides
purine
_____ is a carbon donor at 2 steps of IMP (purine) synthesis
N-formyl-tetrahydrofolate
(derived from folate)
Sulfa antibiotics inhibit bacterial ____ synthesis
folic acid
(which inhibits nucleic acid synthesis)
Because humans don’t synthesize folic acid but acquire it by the diet, these drugs don’t interfere with human purine synthesis and DNA replication
How is Methotrexate used to treat cancer?
•Methotrexate is an anti-tumor drug that reduces synthesis of tetrahydrofolic acid compounds, including N10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate by inhibiting DHFR
–Reduces purine synthesis, which slows down DNA replication
–Slows tumor cell growth, but also affects normally dividing cells leading to adverse side effects
IMP is a precursor for both ___ and ___
AMP and GMP
____ is the base of IMP
Hypoxanthine
AMP synthesis requires ___ for energy, along with ___
Requires GTP for energy
Aspartate –> releases fumarate
GMP synthesis uses ___ for energy, along with WHAT
ATP for energy
along with NAD and glutamine
If ATP is high then GMP/GTP is ______
Increased
If GTP is high then AMP/ATP is _____
increased
_____ competitively inhibits IMP dehydrogenase
GMP
____ competitively inhibits adenylosuccinate synthetase
AMP
Mycophenolic acid (Ribavirin) inhibits _____ and _____
IMP dehydrogenase and GMP formation
IMP dehydrogenase is inhibited by _____ and _____. Why is this useful?
Inhibited by Ribavirin and Mycophenolic acid
Employed as an immunosuppressant to reduce lymphocyte proliferation and prevention of graft rejection
______ converts AMP to ADP
Adenylate kinase (AMP kinase)
Requires ATP
______ converts GMP to GDP
guanylate kinase (GMP kinase)
Requires ATP
_____ converts ADP, GDP, and other NDPs to triphosphates
Nucleoside diphosphate kinase
(enzyme has broad specificity)
Requires ATP
The purine ring is built on ____
5-phosphoribosyl 1-amine
Nucleic acid is digested in the stomach by ____
pepsin
____ and ____ secreted by the pancreas digest
RNA and DNA –> oligonucleotides
RNAses and DNAses
–> oligonucleotides