Phosphoribosylglycinamide formyltransferase | |||||||||
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Identifiers | |||||||||
EC no. | 2.1.2.2 | ||||||||
CAS no. | 2604945 | ||||||||
Alt. names | 2-amino-N-ribosylacetamide 5'-phosphate transformylase, GAR formyltransferase, GAR transformylase, glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase, GAR TFase, 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate:2-amino-N-ribosylacetamide ribonucleotide transformylase | ||||||||
Databases | |||||||||
IntEnz | IntEnz view | ||||||||
BRENDA | BRENDA entry | ||||||||
ExPASy | NiceZyme view | ||||||||
KEGG | KEGG entry | ||||||||
MetaCyc | metabolic pathway | ||||||||
PRIAM | profile | ||||||||
PDB structures | RCSB PDB PDBe PDBsum | ||||||||
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Phosphoribosylglycinamide formyltransferase (EC 2.1.2.2), also known as glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GAR Tfase), [1] is an enzyme with systematic name 10-formyltetrahydrofolate:5'-phosphoribosylglycinamide N-formyltransferase. [2] [3] [4] This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction
This tetrahydrofolate (THF)–dependent enzyme catalyzes a nucleophilic acyl substitution of the formyl group from 10-formyltetrahydrofolate (fTHF) to N1-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)glycinamide (GAR) to form N2-formyl-N1-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)glycinamide (fGAR) as shown above. [5] This reaction plays an important role in the formation of purine through the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway. This pathway creates inosine monophosphate (IMP), a precursor to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and guanosine monophosphate (GMP). AMP is a building block for important energy carriers such as ATP, NAD+ and FAD, and signaling molecules such as cAMP. GARTfase's role in de novo purine biosynthesis makes it a target for anti-cancer drugs [6] and its overexpression during postnatal development has been connected to Down syndrome. [7] There are two known types of genes encoding GAR transformylase in Escherichia coli : purN and purT, while only purN is found in humans. [8] Many residues in the active site are conserved across bacterial, yeast, avian and human enzymes. [9]
In humans, GARTfase is part of trifunctional enzyme which also includes glycinamide ribonucleotide synthase (GARS) and aminoimidazole ribonucleotide synthetase (AIRS). This protein (110kDa) catalyzes steps 2, 3 and 5 of de novo purine biosynthesis. The proximity of these enzyme units and flexibility of the protein serves to increase pathway throughput. GARTfase is located on the C-terminal end of the protein. [11]
Human GARTfase has been crystallized by vapor-diffusion sitting drop method and imaged at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL) by at least two groups. [1] [6]
The structure can be described by two subdomains which are connected by a seven-stranded beta sheet. The N-terminal domain consists of a Rossman type mononucleotide fold, with a four strand part of the beta sheet surrounded on each side by two alpha helices. The beta sheet continues into the C-terminal domain, where on one side it is covered by a long alpha helix and on the other it is partially exposed to solvent. It is the cleft between the two subdomains where the active site lies. [9]
The cleft consists of the GAR binding site and the folate-binding pocket. The folate-binding pocket is delineated by pteridine-binding cleft, the formyl transfer region and the benzoylglutamate region which bind the pteridine head and a benzoylglutamate tail connected by a formyl bound nitrogen of fTHF. This folate-binding region has been the subject of much research because its inhibition by small molecules has led to the discovery of antineoplastic drugs. The folate-binding loop has been shown to change conformation depending on the pH of solution and as such human GAR transformylase shows highest activity around pH 7.5–8. Lower pH (~4.2) conditions change the conformation of the substrate (GAR) binding loops as well. [1]
Klein et al. first suggested a water-molecule-assisted mechanism. A single water molecule possibly held in place by hydrogen bonding with the carboxylate group of the persistent Asp144 residue transfers protons from the GAR-N to the THF-N. The nucleophilic nitrogen on the terminal amino group of GAR attacks the carbonyl carbon of the formyl group on THF pushing negative charge onto the oxygen. Klein suggests that His108 stabilizes the transition state by hydrogen bonding with the negatively charged oxygen and that the reformation of the carbonyl double bond results in breaking the THF-N - formyl bond. Calculations by Qiao et al. suggest that the water assisted stepwise proton transfer from Gar-N to THF-N is 80-100 kj/mol more favorable than the concerted transfer suggested by Klein. The mechanism shown is suggested by Qiao et al., who admittedly did not consider surrounding residues in their calculations. [12] [13] Much of the early active site mapping on GAR TFase was determined with the bacterial enzyme owing to the quantity available from its overexpression in E. coli. [14] Using a bromoacetyl dideazafolate affinity analog James Inglese and colleagues first identified Asp144 as an active site residue likely involved in the formyl transfer mechanism. [15]
Studies of the purT variant of GAR transformylase in E. coli found that the reaction proceeds through a formyl phosphate intermediate. While the in vitro reaction can proceed without THF, overall the in vivo reaction is the same. [16]
GART catalyzes the third step in de novo purine biosynthesis, the formation of N2-formyl-N1-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)glycinamide (fGAR) by formyl addition to N1-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)glycinamide (GAR). [4] In E. coli, the purN enzyme is a 23 kDa protein [17] but in humans it is part of a trifunctional protein of 110 kDa which includes AIRS and GARS functionalities. [11] This protein catalyzes three different steps of the de novo purine pathway.
Due to their increased growth rate and metabolic requirements, cancer cells rely on de novo nucleotide biosynthesis to achieve levels of AMP and GMP necessary. [18] Being able to block any of the steps of the de novo purine pathway would present significant reduction in tumor growth. Studies have been done both on the substrate binding [19] and folate binding site [20] to find inhibitors.
GARTfase is suspected to be connected with Down syndrome. The gene encoding the trifunctional protein human GARS-AIRS-GART is located on chromosome 21q22.1, in the Down syndrome critical region. The protein is overexpressed in the cerebellum during the postnatal development of individuals with Down syndrome. Typically, this protein is undetectable in cerebellum shortly after birth, but found in high levels in prenatal development. [7] [21]
In biochemistry, a ribonucleotide is a nucleotide containing ribose as its pentose component. It is considered a molecular precursor of nucleic acids. Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of DNA and RNA. Ribonucleotides themselves are basic monomeric building blocks for RNA. Deoxyribonucleotides, formed by reducing ribonucleotides with the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), are essential building blocks for DNA. There are several differences between DNA deoxyribonucleotides and RNA ribonucleotides. Successive nucleotides are linked together via phosphodiester bonds.
In molecular biology, biosynthesis is a multi-step, enzyme-catalyzed process where substrates are converted into more complex products in living organisms. In biosynthesis, simple compounds are modified, converted into other compounds, or joined to form macromolecules. This process often consists of metabolic pathways. Some of these biosynthetic pathways are located within a single cellular organelle, while others involve enzymes that are located within multiple cellular organelles. Examples of these biosynthetic pathways include the production of lipid membrane components and nucleotides. Biosynthesis is usually synonymous with anabolism.
Formylation refers to any chemical processes in which a compound is functionalized with a formyl group (-CH=O). In organic chemistry, the term is most commonly used with regards to aromatic compounds. In biochemistry the reaction is catalysed by enzymes such as formyltransferases.
Phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine cyclo-ligase is the fifth enzyme in the de novo synthesis of purine nucleotides. It catalyzes the reaction to form 5-aminoimidazole ribotide (AIR) from formylglycinamidine-ribonucleotide FGAM. This reaction closes the ring and produces a 5-membered imidazole ring of the purine nucleus (AIR):
Purine metabolism refers to the metabolic pathways to synthesize and break down purines that are present in many organisms.
Phosphoribosyl-N-formylglycineamide is a biochemical intermediate in the formation of purine nucleotides via inosine-5-monophosphate, and hence is a building block for DNA and RNA. The vitamins thiamine and cobalamin also contain fragments derived from FGAR.
The enzyme Phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase, or AIR carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.21) is involved in nucleotide biosynthesis and in particular in purine biosynthesis. It catalyzes the conversion of 5'-phosphoribosyl-5-aminoimidazole ("AIR") into 5'-phosphoribosyl-4-carboxy-5-aminoimidazole ("CAIR") as described in the reaction:
Trifunctional purine biosynthetic protein adenosine-3 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the GART gene.
10-Formyltetrahydrofolate (10-CHO-THF) is a form of tetrahydrofolate that acts as a donor of formyl groups in anabolism. In these reactions 10-CHO-THF is used as a substrate in formyltransferase reactions.
In enzymology, a 5-(carboxyamino)imidazole ribonucleotide mutase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
In enzymology, a phosphoribosylaminoimidazolecarboxamide formyltransferase, also known by the shorter name AICAR transformylase, is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
In enzymology, a 5-(carboxyamino)imidazole ribonucleotide synthase (EC 6.3.4.18) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
Phosphoribosylamine—glycine ligase, also known as glycinamide ribonucleotide synthetase (GARS), (EC 6.3.4.13) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
In molecular biology, the protein domain SAICAR synthase is an enzyme which catalyses a reaction to create SAICAR. In enzymology, this enzyme is also known as phosphoribosylaminoimidazolesuccinocarboxamide synthase. It is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
In enzymology, a phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine synthase (EC 6.3.5.3) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
In enzymology, an IMP cyclohydrolase (EC 3.5.4.10) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
5′-Phosphoribosyl-5-aminoimidazole is a biochemical intermediate in the formation of purine nucleotides via inosine-5-monophosphate, and hence is a building block for DNA and RNA. The vitamins thiamine and cobalamin also contain fragments derived from AIR. It is an intermediate in the adenine pathway and is synthesized from 5′-phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine by AIR synthetase.
Glycineamide ribonucleotide is a biochemical intermediate in the formation of purine nucleotides via inosine-5-monophosphate, and hence is a building block for DNA and RNA. The vitamins thiamine and cobalamin also contain fragments derived from GAR.
Stephen James Benkovic is an American chemist known for his contributions to the field of enzymology. He holds the Evan Pugh University Professorship and Eberly Chair in Chemistry at The Pennsylvania State University. He has developed boron compounds that are active pharmacophores against a variety of diseases. Benkovic has concentrated on the assembly and kinetic attributes of the enzymatic machinery that performs DNA replication, DNA repair, and purine biosynthesis.
The purinosome is a putative multi-enzyme complex that carries out de novo purine biosynthesis within the cell. It is postulated to include all six of the human enzymes identified as direct participants in this ten-step biosynthetic pathway converting phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate to inosine monophosphate: