Enzymes aminotransferase

One of the known mechanisms of biosynthesis is shown in the next scheme. The enzyme aminotransferase transfers the amino group from the precursor amino acid to the a-ketoacid, which is rearranged into the product amino acid. In this process, the precursor amino acid is transformed into the corresponding a-ketoacid. It must be pointed out that besides transferring the amino group, the enzyme aminotransferase also preserves the stereochemistry the L-precursor amino acid leads to the formation of the L-product aminoacid. This mechanism presented below is for the biosynthesis of L-glutamic acid. 

Liver In a retrospective review of 200 adult and pediatric recipients of hemopoietic stem cell transplants who took more than two consecutive doses of voriconazole, clinical hepatotoxicity was defined as any rises in liver enzymes (aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase) that led to withdrawal of voriconazole and biochemical hepatotoxicity as a rise in one or more liver enz5nnes to more than three times the upper limit of the reference range or more than three times the baseline value if abnormal at... 

Enzymes, measured in clinical laboratories, for which kits are available include y-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine transferase [9000-86-6] (ALT), aldolase, a-amylase [9000-90-2] aspartate aminotransferase [9000-97-9], creatine kinase and its isoenzymes, galactose-l-phosphate uridyl transferase, Hpase, malate dehydrogenase [9001 -64-3], 5 -nucleotidase, phosphohexose isomerase, and pymvate kinase [9001-59-6]. One example is the measurement of aspartate aminotransferase, where the reaction is followed by monitoring the loss of NADH ... 

In another procedure, D-amino acid oxidase (52) is usehil to produce L-amino acids from DL-amino acids. a-Ketocarboxylic acids which are formed by the action of enzymes on D-amino acids, are aminated to form L-amino acids by coupling through the action of amino acid aminotransferases (53). 

Another class of therapeutic agents is used for the treatment of certain genetic diseases or other enzymatic disorders caused by the dysfunction or absence of one particular enzyme. This often leads to an unwanted accumulation or imbalance of metaboUtes in the organism. Eor example, some anticonvulsive agents are inhibitors for y-aminobutyric acid aminotransferase [9037-67-6]. An imbalance of two neurotransmitters, glutamate and y-aminobutyric acid, is responsible for the symptoms. Inhibition of the enzyme leads to an increase of its substrate y-aminobutyric acid, decreasing the imbalance and subsequently relieving the symptoms of the disease. 

One class of enzymes that follow a ping-pong-type mechanism are aminotransferases (previously known as transaminases). These enzymes catalyze the transfer of an amino group from an amino acid to an a-keto acid. The products are a new amino acid and the keto acid corresponding to the carbon skeleton of the amino donor ... 

FIGURE 14.22 Glutamate aspartate aminotransferase, an enzyme conforming to a double-displacement bisnbstrate mechanism. Glutamate aspartate aminotransferase is a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme. The pyridoxal serves as the —NH, acceptor from glntamate to form pyridoxamine. Pyridoxamine is then the amino donor to oxaloacetate to form asparate and regenerate the pyridoxal coenzyme form. (The pyridoxamine enzyme is the E form.)... 

Most amino acids lose their nitrogen atom by a transamination reaction in which the -NH2 group of the amino acid changes places with the keto group of ct-ketoglutarate. The products are a new a-keto acid plus glutamate. The overall process occurs in two parts, is catalyzed by aminotransferase enzymes, and involves participation of the coenzyme pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), a derivative of pyridoxine (vitamin UJ. Different aminotransferases differ in their specificity for amino acids, but the mechanism remains the same. 

When administering tacrine, the nurse must monitor the patient for liver damage. This is best accomplished by monitoring alanine aminotransferase (AIT) levels. ALT is an enzyme found predominately in the liver. Disease or injury to the liver causes a release of tiiis enzyme into the bloodstream, resulting in elevated ALT levels, hi patients taking tacrine, ALT levels should be obtained weekly from at least week 4 to week 16 after die initiation of tiierapy. After week 16, transaminase levels are monitored every 3 months. 

In nature, aminotransferases participate in a number of metabolic pathways [4[. They catalyze the transfer of an amino group originating from an amino acid donor to a 2-ketoacid acceptor by a simple mechanism. First, an amino group from the donor is transferred to the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate with formation of a 2-keto add and an enzyme-bound pyridoxamine phosphate intermediate. Second, this intermediate transfers the amino group to the 2-keto add acceptor. The readion is reversible, shows ping-pong kinetics, and has been used industrially in the production ofamino acids [69]. It can be driven in one direction by the appropriate choice of conditions (e.g. substrate concentration). Some of the aminotransferases accept simple amines instead of amino acids as amine donors, and highly enantioselective cases have been reported [70]. 

Use of the plasma enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in monitoring the progress of infectious hepatitis. 

Figure 8-11. Representations of three classes of Bi-Bi reaction mechanisms. Horizontal lines represent the enzyme. Arrows indicate the addition of substrates and departure of products. Top An ordered Bi-Bi reaction, characteristic of many NAD(P)H-dependent oxidore-ductases. Center A random Bi-Bi reaction, characteristic of many kinases and some dehydrogenases. Bottom A ping-pong reaction, characteristic of aminotransferases and serine proteases.

The enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine synthetase, and aminotransferases occupy central positions in amino acid biosynthesis. The combined effect of... 

Pantothenic acid is present in coenzyme A and acyl carrier protein, which act as carriers for acyl groups in metabolic reactions. Pyridoxine, as pyridoxal phosphate, is the coenzyme for several enzymes of amino acid metabolism, including the aminotransferases, and of glycogen phosphorylase. Biotin is the coenzyme for several carboxylase enzymes. 

Rej. R. and Vanderlinde, R. E. Effects of buffers on asperate aminotransferase activity and association of the enzyme with pyridoxal phosphate. Clin. Chem. (1975), 21, 1585-1591. 

Use of zileuton is uncommon due to the need for dosing four times a day, potential drug interactions, and the potential for hepatotoxicity with the resulting need for frequent monitoring of liver enzymes. In patients started on zileuton, serum alanine aminotransferase concentrations should be monitored before treatment begins, monthly for the first 3 months, every 2 to 3 months for the remainder of the first year, and then periodically thereafter for as long as the patient continues to receive the medication. Zileuton also inhibits the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) mixed function enzyme system and has been shown to decrease the clearance of theophylline, R-warfarin and propranolol.34... 

Tolcapone has been associated with several cases of severe liver failure, including fatalities, and has been removed from the market in some countries. Thus, it should only be used in patients who cannot take or do not respond to entacapone. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase concentrations should be monitored at baseline, then every 2 to 4 weeks for 6 months, and then periodically for the remainder of therapy. Patients who fail to show symptomatic benefit after 3 weeks should discontinue tolcapone. Entacapone has not been associated with liver damage, so monitoring of liver enzymes is not currently recommended.24,25,29... 

Figure 1. Schematic outline of various products and associated enzymes from the shikimate and phenolic pathways in plants (and some microorganisms). Enzymes (1) 3-deoxy-2-oxo-D-arabino-heptulosate-7-phosphate synthase (2) 5-dehydroquinate synthase (3) shikimate dehydrogenase (4) shikimate kinase (5) 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (6) chorismate synthase (7) chorismate mutase (8) prephenate dehydrogenase (9) tyrosine aminotransferase (10) prephenate dehydratase (11) phenylalanine aminotransferase (12) anthranilate synthase (13) tryptophan synthase (14) phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (15) tyrosine ammonia-lyase and (16) polyphenol oxidase. (From ACS Symposium Series No. 181, 1982) (62).

McKenna,M. C.,Stevenson,J. H.,Huang,X. etal. Differential distribution of the enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase in cortical synaptic mitochondria contributes to metabolic compartmentation in cortical synaptic terminals. Neurochem. Int. 37 229-241, 2000. 

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