Arginine catabolism

Schneider BL, AK Kiupakis, LR Reitzer (1998) Arginine catabolism and the arginine succinyltransferase pathway in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 180 4278-4286. 

Endogenous NO is produced almost exclusively by L-arginine catabolism to L-citrul-line in a reaction catalyzed by a family of nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) [3]. In the first step, Arg is hydroxylated to an enzyme-bound intermediate "-hydroxy-1.-arginine (NHA), and 1 mol of NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form) and O2 are consumed. In the second step, N H A is oxidized to citrulline and NO, with consumption of 0.5 mol of NADPH and 1 mol of 02 (Scheme 1.1). Oxygen activation in both steps is carried out by the enzyme-bound heme, which derives electrons from NADPH. Mammalian NOS consists of an N-terminal oxy-... 

Arginase has been widely reported among helminths and there is evidence that arginine can be catabolized to COj (1). In some trematodes, such as F. hepatica and S. mansoni, proline is the end product of arginine catabolism. 

When alanine is a major end-product of glucose catabolism, substantial amounts of nitrogenous compounds must be available to contribute the amino group. In a number of species alanine formation is accompanied by proteolysis which would release a pool of amino acids from which the nitrogen could be derived. In G. lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis arginine catabolism is a likely provider of nitrogen for alanine synthesis. The efflux of alanine from G. lamblia is due to an alanine antiport which is also responsible for alanine uptake and acts to maintain a balance between intracellular and extracellular alanine concentrations (36). 

The catabolism of amino acids results in the release of nitrogen. Many parasites excrete the excess nitrogen in the form of ammonia. In protozoa there is no evidence for a complete urea cycle which would allow the conversion of ammonia into urea, and urea released by some species (49,50) is likely to be formed solely as a product of arginine catabolism. Urea makes up between 2 and 10% of the total nitrogenous end-product of helminths, but evidence for a functional urea cycle in parasitic species has been equivocal (1). Arginase and ornithine carbamoyltransferase do occur widely but the other urea cycle enzymes do not. Small quantities of uric acid are excreted by some cestodes and trematodes. 

Bera, T. (1987) The y-guanidinobutyramide pathway of L-arginine catabolism in Leishmania donovani promastigotes. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 23 183-192. 

Linstead, D. and Cranshaw, M. A. (1983) The pathway of arginine catabolism in the parasitic flagellate Trichomonas vaginalis. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 8 241-252. 

Although the overall reaction is reversible with a measurable equilibrium constant, the reaction is probably virtually irreversible in vivo because of the ubiquitous pyrophosphatases. It is undoubtedly this step that prevents conversion of arginine to ornithine by reversal of the ornithine cycle and requires an arginase for arginine catabolism (see page 386). 

Many plants such as tulip, certain conifers and fruit trees, and members of the Graminae utilize arginine as a main storage form of nitrogen (Bidwell and Durzan, 1975). There are essentially three major metabolic pathways for arginine catabolism. The first is one also commonly found in mammals shown below ... 

De Angelis, M., Mariotti, L., Rossi, J., Servili, M. F. P. F., Rollan, G., Gobbetti, M. (2002). Arginine catabolism by sourdough lactic acid bacteria purification and characterization of the arginine deiminase pathway enzymes from Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis CBl. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68, 6193-6201. 

Rollan, G., Lorca, G. L., Font de Valdez, G. (2003). Arginine catabolism and acid tolerance response in Lactobacillus reuteri isolated from sourdough. Food Microbiology, 20, 313-349. 

Liu, S.-Q, G.G. Pritchard, M.J. Hardman, and G.J. Pilone. 1995b. Occurrence of arginine deiminase pathway enzymes in arginine catabolism by wine lactic acid bacteria. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61 310-316. 

Arginine catabolism by sourdough lactic acid bacteria purification and characterization of the arginine deiminase pathway enzymes from Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis CBl. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68, pp. 6193-6201. 

Zhang XH, Shen L, Li FJ, Meng DM, Sheng JP (2011) Methyl salicylate-induced arginine catabolism is associated with up-regulation of polyamine and nitric oxide levels and improves chilling... 

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