Pentose phosphate pathway functions

Enzymes / Intermediates / Summary / of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway Functions... 

TPP-dependent enzymes are involved in oxidative decarboxylation of a-keto acids, making them available for energy metabolism. Transketolase is involved in the formation of NADPH and pentose in the pentose phosphate pathway. This reaction is important for several other synthetic pathways. It is furthermore assumed that the above-mentioned enzymes are involved in the function of neurotransmitters and nerve conduction, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear. 

The pentose phosphate pathway is an alternative route for the metabolism of glucose. It does not generate ATP but has two major functions (1) The formation of NADPH for synthesis of fatty acids and steroids and (2) the synthesis of ribose for nucleotide and nucleic acid formation. Glucose, fructose, and galactose are the main hexoses absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, derived principally from dietary starch, sucrose, and lactose, respectively. Fructose and galactose are converted to glucose, mainly in the liver. 

Wood T Physiological functions of the pentose phosphate pathway. Cell Biol Funct 1986 4 24l. 

The major biochemical features of neutrophils are summarized in Table 52-8. Prominent feamres are active aerobic glycolysis, active pentose phosphate pathway, moderately active oxidative phosphorylation (because mitochondria are relatively sparse), and a high content of lysosomal enzymes. Many of the enzymes listed in Table 52-4 are also of importance in the oxidative metabolism of neutrophils (see below). Table 52-9 summarizes the functions of some proteins that are relatively unique to neutrophils. 

The hexose monophosphate (HMP) shunt (pentose phosphate pathway) occurs in the cytoplasm of all cells, where it serves two major functions ... 

This pathway is variously known as the pentose phosphate, hexose monophosphate or phosphogluconate pathway, cycle or shunt. Although the pentose phosphate pathway achieves oxidation of glucose, this is not its function, as indicated by the distribution of the pathway in different tissues. Only one of the carbons is released as CO2, the key products are NADPH and ribose 5-phosphate, both of which are important for nucleotide phosphate formation and hence for synthesis of nucleic acids (Chapter 20). The... 

Fig. 5. Estimation of the flux partitioning ratio between pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis (4>ppp) from the lysine intensity ratio Im+i/m =1-11 using the optimization function fmincon implemented in Matlab. The numbered data points indicate the results obtained through the different iterations. Starting from ppp = 0.1, the optimal fit of experimental and calculated labeling was obtained after 14 iterations...

In this chapter we describe the individual reactions of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway and the functional significance of each pathway. We also describe the various fates of the pyruvate produced by glycolysis they include the fermentations that are used by many organisms in anaerobic niches to produce ATP and that are exploited industrially as sources of ethanol, lactic acid, and other... 

The glucose 6-phosphate thus formed can enter glycolysis or another pathway such as the pentose phosphate pathway, described in Section 14.5. Phosphoglucomutase employs essentially the same mechanism as phos-phoglycerate mutase (p. 531). The general name mu-tase is given to enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a functional group from one position to another in the same molecule. Mutases are a subclass of isomerases, enzymes that interconvert stereoisomers or structural or positional isomers (see Table 6-3). 

In hepatocytes and adipocytes, cytosolic NADPH is largely generated by the pentose phosphate pathway (see Fig. 14-21) and by malic enzyme (Fig. 21-9a). The NADP-linked malic enzyme that operates in the carbon-assimilation pathway of C4 plants (see Fig. 20-23) is unrelated in function. The pyruvate produced in the reaction shown in Figure 21-9a reenters the mitochondrion. In hepatocytes and in the mammary gland of lactating animals, the NADPH required for fatty acid biosynthesis is supplied primarily by the pentose phosphate pathway (Fig. 21-9b). 

As a general rule, NAD+ is associated with catabolic reactions and it is somewhat unusual to find NADP+ acting as an oxidant. However, in mammals the enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway are specific for NADP+. The reason is thought to lie in the need of NADPH for biosynthesis (Section I). On this basis, the occurrence of the pentose phosphate pathway in tissues having an unusually active biosynthetic function (liver and mammary gland) is understandable. 

In these tissues the cycle may operate as indicated in Fig. 17-8A with the C3 product also being used in biosynthesis. Furthermore, any of the products from C4 to C7 may be withdrawn in any desired amounts without disrupting the smooth operation of the cycle. For example, the C4 intermediate erythrose 4-P is required in synthesis of aromatic amino acids by bacteria and plants (but not in animals). Ribose 5-P is needed for formation of several amino acids and of nucleic acids by all organisms. In some circumstances the formation of ribose 5-P may be the only essential function for the pentose phosphate pathway.120... 

The pentose phosphate pathway serves a variety of functions (1) the production of NADPH for biosynthesis (2) the production of ribose, required mainly for nucleic acid synthesis, and (3) the interconversion of a variety of phosphorylated sugars. 

Figure 2.4. The provision of acetyl-CoA and NADPH for lipogenesis. PPP, pentose phosphate pathway T, tricarboxylate transporter K, a-ketoglutarate transporter. In ruminants, pyruvate dehydrogenase, ATP-citrate lyase and malic enzyme activities are low and perhaps non-functional. (From Murray et al., 1988. Harper s Biochemistry, 21st edn, p. 207, Appleton and Lange, Norwalk, CT reproduced with permission of The McGraw-Hill Companies).

The diagnosis of G6PD deficiency is made by quantitative or semiquantitative assay. The methods used are based on the normal function of the G6PD enzyme in catalyzing the initial step in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Screening tests depend on the inability of cells from deficient subjects to convert an oxidized substrate to a reduced state. The substrates... 

Shetty, K. 2004. Role of proline-linked pentose phosphate pathway in biosynthesis of plant phenolies for functional food and environmental applications a review. Proc. Biochem. 39 789-803. 

While the main function of glycolysis is to produce ATP, there are minor catabolic pathways that produce specialized products for cells. One, the pentose phosphate pathway, produces NADPH and the sugar ribose 5-phosphate. NADPH is used to reduce substrates in the synthesis of fatty acids, and ribose 5-phosphate is used in the synthesis of nucleic acids. 

Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin. The RDA of niacin for the adult man is 19 mg. Niacin is converted in the bi>dy to the cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD also exists in a phosphorylated form, NADP The phosphate group occurs on the 2-hydrr>xyl group of the AMP half of the coenzyme, NAD and NADP are used in the catalysis of oxidation and reduction reactions. These reactions are called redox reactions. NAD cycles between the oxidized form, NAD, and the reduced form, NADH + H. The coenzyme functions to accept and donate electrons. NADP behaves in a similar fashion. It occurs as NADP and NADPH + HT The utilization of NAD is illustrated in the sections on glycolysis, the malatc-aspartate shuttle, ketone body metabolism, and fatty acid oxidation. The utilization of NADP is illustrated in the sectirrns concerning fatty acid synthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway. 

The most commonly used enzyme for the functional assay is transketolase. Transketolase catalyzes two reactions in the pentose phosphate pathway (Figure 30-10). As an enzyme within the erythrocyte, transketolase is independent of nonspecific changes in the extracellular plasma. As vitamin Bi deficiency becomes more severe, (1) thiamine becomes limiting in the body cells, (2) the amount of the coenzyme is depleted, and (3) the transketolase activity sub-... 

Hothersall JD, Greenbaum AL, McLean P The Functional Significance of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway in Synaptosomes Protection Against Per-oxidative Damage by Catecholamines and Oxidants. J. Neurochem. 1982 39 13252. 

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