One-carbon units transfer

Mechanistic aspects of the action of folate-requiring enzymes involve one-carbon unit transfer at the oxidation level of formaldehyde, formate and methyl (78ACR314, 8OMI2I6OO) and are exemplified in pyrimidine and purine biosynthesis. A more complex mechanism has to be suggested for the methyl transfer from 5-methyl-THF (322) to homocysteine, since this transmethylation reaction is cobalamine-dependent to form methionine in E. coli. 

DHFR has been the object of intense research for the last few decades. The enzyme catalyses the NADPH-dependent reduction of 7,8-dihydrofolate to 5,6,7,8 tetrahydrofolate, a chemical which participates in the thymidilate synthesis cycle. Thus, the enzyme is crucial in the synthesis of thymidine monophosphate as well as in various one-carbon unit transfer reactions. 

Tetrahydrofolate derivatives are involved in one carbon unit transfer at the oxidation levels of formate, formaldehyde and methanol. At the formate level of oxidation, two derivatives, fV(5,10)-methenyltetrahydrofolate (23) andfV(10)-formyltetrahydrofolate (24), act as cofactors. Reactions involving one-carbon unit transfers at formaldehyde and methanol levels of oxidation utilize fV(5,10)-methylenetetrahydrofolate (25) and N(5)-methyltetrahydrofolate (26), respectively. 

From 2-Aminobenzamides and Other One Carbon Unit Transfer Reagents... 

For ring closure of 2-aminobenzamide to quinazolin-4(37/)-ones 11, several other one carbon unit transfer reagents have been used. Some typical examples which illustrate the use of these reagents... 

One Carbon Unit Transfer Reagent R Reaction Conditions Yield (%) mp (%) Ref... 

The stereochemistry of many of the biological reactions involving serine and its derivatives has been studied using the labeled compounds prepared above. The carbon atom, C-3, of serine acts as a source of the one carbon unit transferred by the coenzyme tetrahydrofolic acid 87 (95) (Scheme 24). It is initially transferred to the coenzyme 87 to give 5,10-methylenetetrahydro-folic acid 56a and glycine 23 in a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme serine... 

The one-carbon unit transferred in this reaction is bound to tetrahydrofolate, forming A ,A/ °-methylenetetrahydrofolate, in which the methylene (one-carbon) unit is bound to two of the nitrogens of the carrier (Figure 23.12). Tetrahydrofolate is not the only carrier of one-carbon units. We have already encountered biotin, a carrier of GOg, and we have discussed the role that biotin plays in gluconeogenesis (Section 18.2) and in the anabolism of fatty acids (Section 21.6). 

Folate is involved in one-carbon unit transfer reactions during DNA synthesis, DNA methylation, and amino acid metabolism. Evidence to date shows that maternal dietary intake of folic acid is inversely associated with the risk of neural tube defect-affeeted pregnancies [9,10]. Neural tube defects (a term which includes spina bifida) are anatomieal birth anomalies affecting the brain and the spinal cord. As a result of these landmark findings, the first folic acid fortification program was introduced in the United States during 1998, in an attempt to reduce the prevalence... 

Folic acid 1941 1-2 One-carbon unit transfer therapy of certain ane-... 

The one-carbon unit of 5,10-methyleneTHF is transferred in two ways. Reversal of the SHMT reaction produces serine from glycine, but since serine is also produced from glycolysis via phosphoglycerate this reaction is unlikely to be important. However, one-carbon transfer from 5,10-methyleneTHF to deoxyuridylate to form thymidylic acid, a precursor of DNA, is of crucial importance to the cell. While the source of the one-carbon unit, namely 5,10-methyleneTHF, is at the formaldehyde level of oxidation, the one-carbon unit transferred to form thymidylic acid appears at the methanol level of oxidation. Electrons for this reduction come from THF itself to generate dihydrofolate as a product. The dihydrofolate must in turn be reduced back to THF in order to accept further one-carbon units. 

Tetrahydrofolic acid (H PteGlu) accqrts and transfers activated one-carbon units in the form of 5-methyl-,... 

A major class of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a group or moiety from one compound to another. The groups being transferred can be one-carbon units such as methyl, hydroxyhnethyl, carbamoyl, or amidino moieties. Enzymes transferring aldehyde or ketonic groups such as transketolase are members of this class. Other examples include acyltransferases, glycosyltransferases, aminotransferases, phosphotransferases, and sulfotrans-ferases. 

Both sulfonamides and trimethoprim (not a sulfonamide) sequentially interfere with folic acid synthesis by bacteria. Folic acid functions as a coenzyme in the transfer of one-carbon units required for the synthesis of thymidine, purines, and some amino acids and consists of three components a pteridine moiety, PABA, and glutamate (Fig. 44.1). The sulfonamides, as structural analogues, competitively block PABA incorporation sulfonamides inhibit the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase, which is necessary for PABA to be incorporated into dihydropteroic acid, an intermediate compound in the formation of folinic acid. Since the sulfonamides reversibly block the synthesis of folic acid, they are bacteriostatic drugs. Humans cannot synthesize folic acid and must acquire it in the diet thus, the sulfonamides selectively inhibit microbial growth. 

The only antimalarial drugs whose mechanisms of action are reasonably well understood are the drugs that inhibit the parasite s ability to synthesize folic acid. Parasites cannot use preformed folic acid and therefore must synthesize this compound from the following precursors obtained from their host p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), pteridine, and glutamic acid. The dihydrofolic acid formed from these precursors must then be hydrogenated to form tetrahydrofoUc acid. The latter compound is the coenzyme that acts as an acceptor of a variety of one-carbon units. The transfer of one-carbon units is important in the synthesis of the pyrimidines and purines, which are essential in nucleic acid synthesis. 

Conversion of dUMP to dTMP is catalyzed by thy-midylate synthase. A one-carbon unit at the hydroxymethyl (—CH2OH) oxidation level (see Fig. 18-17) is transferred from Af5,Af10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to dUMP, then reduced to a methyl group (Fig. 22-44). The reduction occurs at the expense of oxidation of tetrahydrofolate to dihydrofolate, which is unusual in tetrahydrofolate-requiring reactions. (The mechanism of this reaction is shown in Fig. 22-50.) The dihydrofolate is reduced to tetrahydrofolate by dihydrofolate reductase—a regeneration that is essential for the many processes that require tetrahydrofolate. In plants and at least one protist, thymidylate synthase and dihy-drofolate reductase reside on a single bifunctional protein. 

Serine can be converted to glycine and N5,N10-methylenetetra-hydrofolate (Figure 20.6A). Serine can also be converted to pyru vate by serine dehydratase (Figure 20.6B). [Note The role of tetrahydrofolate in the transfer of one-carbon units is presented on p. 265.]... 

Folic acid — Tetrahydro-folic acid Transfer one-carbon units 1 Synthesis of methionine, purines, and thymine 1... 

Folic acid s active form is tetrahydrofolic acid. Its function is to transfer one-carbon units... 

A key step in DNA biosynthesis, that of conversion of deoxyuridylate (dUMP) to deoxythymidylate (dTMP), is catalyzed by thymidylate synthetase which uses (25) as cofactor. This reaction involves both the transfer of a one carbon unit at the formaldehyde level and hydride transfer (from C-6 of (25)) to produce 7,8-dihydrofolate (27) and dTMP... 

A5-Methyltetrahydrofolate is the methyl-group donor substrate for methionine synthase, which catalyzes the transfer of the five-methyl group to the sulfhydryl group of homocysteine. This and selected reactions of the other folate derivatives are outlined in figure 10.15, which emphasizes the important role tetrahydrofolate plays in nucleic acid biosynthesis by serving as the immediate source of one-carbon units in purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis. 

Methotrexate acts by inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase, the enzyme requisite for the reduction of dihydrofolic acid (3) to 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolic acid (4). In turn, (4) is a precursor to a series of enzyme cofactors (5-7) essential for the transfer of one carbon unit necessary for the biosynthesis of purines and pyrimidines and hence, ultimately, DNA. As an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase, methotrexate kills cells during the S phase of the cell cycle, when the cells are in the log phase of growth. Unfortunately, this cytotoxicity is non-selective, and rapidly proliferating normal cells, e.g., gastrointestinal epithelium cells and bone marrow, are dramatically affected as well. In addition, recent use of high dose methotrexate therapy with leucovorin rescue has led to additional clinical problems arising from a dose-related nephrotoxic metabolite, 7-hydroxy methotrexate (8). Finally, the very polar nature of methotrexate renders it virtually impenetrable to the blood-brain barrier, which can necessitate direct intrathecal injection in order to achieve therapeutic doses for the treatment of CNS tumours. 

Tetrahydrofolate cofactors participate in one-carbon transfer reactions. As described above in the section on vitamin B12, one of these essential reactions produces the dTMP needed for DNA synthesis. In this reaction, the enzyme thymidylate synthase catalyzes the transfer of the one-carbon unit of N 5,N 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) to form dTMP (Figure 33-2, reaction 2). Unlike all of the other enzymatic reactions that utilize folate cofactors, in this reaction the cofactor is oxidized to dihydrofolate, and for each mole of dTMP produced, one mole of tetrahydrofolate is consumed. In rapidly proliferating tissues, considerable amounts of tetrahydrofolate can be consumed in this reaction, and continued DNA synthesis requires continued regeneration of tetrahydrofolate by reduction of dihydrofolate, catalyzed by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase. The tetrahydrofolate thus produced can then reform the cofactor N 5,N 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate by the action of serine transhydroxy- methylase and thus allow for the continued synthesis of dTMP. The combined catalytic activities of dTMP synthase, dihydrofolate reductase, and serine transhydroxymethylase are often referred to as the dTMP synthesis cycle. Enzymes in the dTMP cycle are the targets of two anticancer drugs methotrexate inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, and a metabolite of 5-fluorouracil inhibits thymidylate synthase (see Chapter 55 Cancer Chemotherapy). 

Methotrexate [meth oh TREX ate] (MTX) is structurally related to folic acid and acts as an antagonist of that vitamin by inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase1, the enzyme that converts folic acid to its active, coenzyme form, tetrahydrofolic acid (FH4) it therefore acts as an antagonist of that vitamin. Folate plays a central role in a variety of metabolic reactions involving the transfer of one-carbon units. (Figure 38.7)2. 

As the name suggests, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) is a compound of cobalt (Co(lll)). With a complex organic structure, this essential water-soluble vitamin is obtained from dietary animal sources and is required for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, where enzymes that use vitamin B12 are involved in the transfer of one-carbon units. The absorption of this vitamin from the gastrointestinal tract only occurs when intrinsic factor glycoprotein is present. While the body can store up to a 12-month supply of vitamin B12, rapid growth or conditions causing rapid cell turnover can increase the body s requirement for this vitamin. 

Histidine is converted into 4-imidazolone 5-propionate (Figure 23.24). The amide bond in the ring of this intermediate is hydrolyzed to the TV-formimino derivative of glutamate, which is then converted into glutamate by transfer of its formimino group to tetrahydrofolate, a carrier of activated one-carbon units (Section 24.2.6). 

Serine is the precursor of glycine and cysteine. In the formation of glycine, the side-chain methylene group of serine is transferred to tetrahydrofolate, a carrier of one-carbon units that will be discussed shortly. 

These tetrahydrofolate derivatives serve as donors of one-carbon units in a variety of biosyntheses. Methionine is regenerated from homocysteine by transfer of the methyl group ofF -methyltetrahydrofolate, as will be discussed shortly. We shall see in Chapter 25 that some of the carhon atoms of purines are acquired from derivatives of N lO-formyltetrahydrofolate. The methyl group of thymine, a pyrimidine, comes from N, N lO-methylenetetrahydrofolate. This tetrahydrofolate derivative can also donate a one-carhon unit in an alternative synthesis of glycine that starts with CO2 and NH4 +, a reaction catalyzed by glycine synthase (called the glycine cleavage enzyme when it operates in the reverse direction). 

Figure 24.11. Structure of Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase. This enzyme transfers a one-carbon unit from the side chain of serine to tetrahydrofolate. One subunit of the dimeric enzyme is shown.

Tetrahydrofolate, a carrier of activated one-carbon units, plays an important role in the metabolism of amino acids and nucleotides. This coenzyme carries one-carbon units at three oxidation states, which are interconvertible most reduced—methyl intermediate—methylene and most oxidized—formyl, formimino, and methenyl. The major donor of activated methyl groups is -adenosylmethionine, which is synthesized by the transfer of an adenosyl group from ATP to the sulfur atom of methionine. -Adenosylhomocysteine is formed when the activated methyl group is transferred to an acceptor. It is hydrolyzed to adenosine and homocysteine, the latter of which is then methylated to methionine to complete the activated methyl cycle. 

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