Pantothenic acid group

Consider the role of the pantothenic acid groups in animal fatty acyl synthase and the size of the pantothenic acid group itself, and estimate a maximal separation between the malonyl transferase and the ketoacyl-ACP synthase active sites. 

Biosynthesis of coen2yme A (CoA) ia mammalian cells incorporates pantothenic acid. Coen2yme A, an acyl group carrier, is a cofactor for various en2ymatic reactions and serves as either a hydrogen donor or an acceptor. Pantothenic acid is also a stmctural component of acyl carrier protein (AGP). AGP is an essential component of the fatty acid synthetase complex, and is therefore requited for fatty acid synthesis. Free pantothenic acid is isolated from hver, and is a pale yeUow, viscous, and hygroscopic oil. 

Relatively Httie is known about the bioavailabiUty of pantothenic acid in human beings, and only approximately 50% of pantothenic acid present in the diet is actually absorbed (10). Liver, adrenal glands, kidneys, brain, and testes contain high concentrations of pantothenic acid. In healthy adults, the total amount of pantothenic acid present in whole blood is estimated to be 1 mg/L. A significant (2—7 mg/d) difference is observed among different age-group individuals with respect to pantothenic acid intake and urinary excretion, indicating differences in the rate of metaboHsm of pantothenic acid. 

Currentiy (ca 1997) pantothenic acid is produced mainly by chemical methods. Initial efforts ia this area are summari2ed ia Reference 14. Several groups are actively involved ia developing syntheses of pantothenic acid or its precursor, (R)-pantolactone (9) by microbial methods. 

The 4-phosphopantetheine group of CoA is also utilized (for essentially the same purposes) in acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) involved in fatty acid biosynthesis (see Chapter 25). In acyl carrier proteins, the 4-phosphopantetheine is covalently linked to a serine hydroxyl group. Pantothenic acid is an essential factor for the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrates in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and other pathways. In view of its universal importance in metabolism, it is surprising that pantothenic acid deficiencies are not a more serious problem in humans, but this vitamin is abundant in almost all foods, so that deficiencies are rarely observed. 

Pantothenic acid is an essential component of coenzyme A (CoA) (Fig. 2) and - as pantetheine - of fatty acid synthase. The HS-group of cysteamine is... 

NAD and NADP and FMN and FAD, respectively. Pantothenic acid is a component of the acyl group carrier coenzyme A. As its pyrophosphate, thiamin participates in decarboxylation of a-keto acids and folic acid and cobamide coenzymes function in one-carbon metabolism. 

Pantothenic acid has a central role in acyl group metabolism when acting as the pantetheine functional moiety of coenzyme A or acyl carrier protein (ACP) (Figure 45-18). The pantetheine moiety is formed after combination of pantothenate with cysteine, which provides... 

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. 

The remaining molecules, vitamin C, pantothenic acid, and pyridoxamine, have comparatively large numbers of O—H and N—H groups. These groups allow each of these vitamin molecules to form many hydrogen bonds, so they are all water-soluble (all the B vitamins are soluble in water). 

ATP and magnesium were required for the activation of acetate. Acetylations were inhibited by mercuric chloride suggesting an SH group was involved in the reaction either on the enzyme or, like lipoic acid, as a cofactor. Experiments from Lipmann s laboratory then demonstrated that a relatively heat-stable coenzyme was needed—a coenzyme for acetylation—coenzyme A (1945). The thiol-dependence appeared to be associated with the coenzyme. There was also a strong correlation between active coenzyme preparations and the presence in them of pantothenic acid—a widely distributed molecule which was a growth factor for some microorganisms and which, by 1942-1943, had been shown to be required for the oxidation of pyruvate. 

Once the human body has a supply of pantothenic acid, it can add the remaining parts to create the intact molecule. The business part of coenzyme A is a terminal sulfhydryl (—SH) group. It is here that acyl (e.g., the acetyl group, —COCH3) groups are attached in the process of acyl transfer reactions. There are a large number of such reactions in human metabolism and they are concerned with all aspects of... 

Acyl residues are usually activated by transfer to coenzyme A (2). In coenzyme A (see p. 12), pantetheine is linked to 3 -phos-pho-ADP by a phosphoric acid anhydride bond. Pantetheine consists of three components connected by amide bonds—pantoic acid, alanine, and cysteamine. The latter two components are biogenic amines formed by the decarboxylation of aspartate and cysteine, respectively. The compound formed from pantoic acid and p-alanine (pantothenic acid) has vitamin-like characteristics for humans (see p. 368). Reactions between the thiol group of the cysteamine residue and carboxylic acids give rise to thioesters, such as acetyl CoA. This reaction is strongly endergonic, and it is therefore coupled to exergonic processes. Thioesters represent the activated form of carboxylic adds, because acyl residues of this type have a high chemical potential and are easily transferred to other molecules. This property is often exploited in metabolism. 

Pantothenic acid is an acid amide consisting of p-alanine and 2,4-dihydroxy-3,3 -di-methylbutyrate (pantoic acid). It is a precursor of coenzyme A, which is required for activation of acyl residues in the lipid metabolism (see pp. 12,106). Acyl carrier protein (ACP see p.l68) also contains pantothenic acid as part of its prosthetic group. Due to the widespread availability of pantothenic acid in food (Greek pantothen = from everywhere ), deficiency diseases are rare. 

RDA have been established for many essential nutrients however, present knowledge of human nutritional needs of pantothenic acid and biotin is incomplete. Therefore, to ensure adequate nutrient intake, obtain the recommended allowances from as varied a selection of foods as possible. Nutritionists suggest that dietary planning include regular intake of each of the four basic food groups ... 

Pantothenic acid Coenzyme A Transfer of acetyl groups... 

The B-group is a heterogeneous collection of water-soluble vitamins, most of which function as co-enzymes or are precursors of co-enzymes. The B-group vitamins are thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine (and related substances, vitamin B6), folate and cobalamin (and its derivatives, vitamin B12). 

Coenzyme A Acyl groups Pantothenic acid and other compounds... 

FIGURE 16-3 Coenzyme A (CoA). A hydroxyl group of pantothenic acid is joined to a modified ADP moiety by a phosphate ester bond, and its carboxyl group is attached to /3-mercaptoethylamine in amide linkage. The hydroxyl group at the 3 position of the ADP moiety has a phosphoryl group not present in free ADP. The —SH group of the mercaptoethylamine moiety forms a thioester with acetate in acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) (lower left). 

FIGURE 21-4 Acyl carrier protein (ACP). The prosthetic group is 4 -phosphopantetheine, which is covalently attached to the hydroxyl group of a Ser residue in ACP. Phosphopantetheine contains the B vitamin pantothenic acid, also found in the coenzyme A molecule. Its —SH group is the site of entry of malonyl groups during fatty acid synthesis. 

Some enzymes associate with a nonprotein cofactor that is needed for enzymic activity. Commonly encountered cofactors include metal ions such as Zn2+ or Fe2+, and organic molecules, known as coenzymes, that are often derivatives of vitamins. For example, the coenzyme NAD+contains niacin, FAD contains riboflavin, and coenzyme A contains pantothenic acid. (See pp. 371-379 for the role of vitamins as precursors of coenzymes.) Holoenzyme refers to the enzyme with its cofactor. Apoenzyme refers to the protein portion of the holoenzyme. In the absence of the appropriate cofactor, the apoenzyme typically does not show biologic activity. A prosthetic group is a tightly bound coenzyme that does not dissociate from the enzyme (for example, the biotin bound to carboxylases, see p. 379). 

Pantothenic acid is a component of coenzyme A, which functions in the transfer of acyl groups (Figure 28.17). Coenzyme A contains a thiol group that carries acyl compounds as activated thiol esters. Examples of such structures are succinyl CoA, fatty acyl CoA, and acetyl CoA. Pantothenic acid is also a component of fatty acid synthase (see p. 182). Eggs, liver, and yeast are the most important sources of pan tothenic acid, although the vitamin is widely distributed. Pantothenic acid deficiency is not well characterized in humans, and no RDA has been established. 

Attachment of phosphopantetheine to proteins is catalyzed by a phosphotransferase that utilizes CoA as the donor. A phosphodiesterase removes the phosphopantetheine, providing a turnover cycle.15, 5b A variety of synthetic analogs have been made.4 16 The reactive center of CoA and phosphopantetheine is the SH group, which is carried on a flexible arm that consists in part of the (3-alanine portion of pantothenic acid. A mystery is why pantoic acid, a small odd-shaped molecule that the human body cannot make, is so essential for life. The hydroxyl group is a potential reactive site and the two methyl groups may enter into formation of a "trialkyl lock" (p. 485), part of a sophisticated "elbow" or shoulder for the SH-bearing arm. 

Fig. 1. Structure of CoA, composed of three parts a nucleotide pan derived from 3 -adenosine-5 -pbosphate, forming a phosphodiester bond with a 4-phospho derivative of pantothenic acid, and a third pan derived horn the amino acid, cysteine. The side chain SH group of the latter is ftee in this compound and is readily acylated, and thus able to act as a carrier for acyl groups in biochemical reactions in which it transfers that group between two substrates...

Phosphopantetheine coenzymes are the biochemically active forms of the vitamin pantothenic acid. In figure 10.11, 4 -phosphopantetheine is shown as covalently linked to an adenylyl group in coenzyme A or it can also be linked to a protein such as a serine hydroxyl group in acyl carrier protein (ACP). It is also found bonded to proteins that catalyze the activation and polymerization of amino acids to polypeptide antibiotics. Coenzyme A was discovered, purified, and structurally characterized by Fritz Lipmann and colleagues in work for which Lipmann was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1953. 

Structures of the vitamin pantothenic acid (in red) and coenzyme A. The terminal —SH (in blue) is the reactive group in coenzyme A (CoASH). 

Coenzyme A Pantothenic acid (B5) ADP Acetyl group and other acyl groups Bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes... 

Note 1 Group B vitamins are thiamine (Thiam), riboflavin (Rflv), niacin (Niac), folic acid (F.a.), pantothenic acid (P.a.), and pyridoxins (Pydx). 

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