Hydroxyproline degradation

Removal of a-amino nitrogen by transamination (see Figure 28-3) is the first catabolic reaction of amino acids except in the case of proline, hydroxyproline, threonine, and lysine. The residual hydrocarbon skeleton is then degraded to amphibolic intermediates as outhned in Figure 30-1. 

Plaquet et al. (PI) found in the urine of rachitic children peptides consisting of proline, hydroxyproline, and glycine, which they believed to be the products of collagen degradation. Two similar peptides containing considerable amounts of proline and hydroxyproline were isolated from the urine of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis by Mechanic et al. (Ml). One of these peptides consisted of three proline, two hydroxyproline, and nine glutamic acid residues, the second one consisted of four proline, four hydroxyproline, and one glutamic acid residues. The N-terminal amino acid in the first peptide was demonstrated to be hydroxyproline. 

Modified amino acids, which occur in special proteins such as hydroxyproline in collagen and 3-methylhistidine in actin and myosin, can be used as indicators of the degradation of these proteins. 

Figure 3.4 Factors affecting foreign body reaction and potential points of intervention at the level of the myofibroblast (1) inhibit synthesis or release of TGF-P (2) block stimulation by TGF-P of its membrane receptors on the activated fibroblast (3) inhibit the Smad proteins, which transfer the TGF-P effect to the nucleus (4) inhibit transcription of procollagen mRNA (5) inhibit translation of the message to form procollagen (6) inhibit prolyl-4-hydroxylase, which creates hydroxyproline and facilitates helix formation (7) inhibit lysyl oxidase, which cross-links the collagen (8) enhance the function of MMPs, which degrade collagen, or inhibit TIMPs, which degrade MMPs.

In Paget s disease, one observes an increased level of collagen degradation and appearance of hydroxyproline in the urine. 

Figure 20.19 Biosynthesis and degradation of proline, hydroxyproline and ornithine. Proline oxidase and S-pyrroIine-5-carboxylic acid dehydrogenase are both mitochondrial enzymes. A and B indicate defects in hyperprolinemia I and II, respectively.

AA serves as an important cofactor for enzymes. Lack of AA in food causes scurvy in humans due to inefficient collagen synthesis, caused by the inactivation of the Fe(II)-activating prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase which catalyze the formation of hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine as essential components for collagens. Prolyl hydroxylases can also hydroxylate conserved prolyl residues in the alpha subunit of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor, which signals for proteasomal degradation of the transcription factor . The proper action of these hydrolases requires dioxygen, thus they can act... 

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