Pentose phosphate pathway reactions

Xylulose-5-phosphate is also produced in the Calvin cycle by a reversal of the pentose phosphate pathway reaction catalyzed by transketolase. 

Table 29.2. Cellular Needs Dictate the Direction of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway Reactions...

This is not the place to expose in detail the problems and the solutions already obtained in studying biochemical reaction networks. However, because of the importance of this problem and the great recent interest in understanding metabolic networks, we hope to throw a little light on this area. Figure 10.3-23 shows a model for the metabolic pathways involved in the central carbon metabolism of Escherichia coli through glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway [22]. 

Most of the enzymes mediating the reactions of the Calvin cycle also participate in either glycolysis (Chapter 19) or the pentose phosphate pathway (Chapter 23). The aim of the Calvin scheme is to account for hexose formation from 3-phosphoglycerate. In the course of this metabolic sequence, the NADPH and ATP produced in the light reactions are consumed, as indicated earlier in Equation (22.3). 

Cells require a constant supply of N/ X)PH for reductive reactions vital to biosynthetic purposes. Much of this requirement is met by a glucose-based metabolic sequence variously called the pentose phosphate pathway, the hexose monophosphate shunt, or the phosphogluconate pathway. In addition to providing N/VDPH for biosynthetic processes, this pathway produces ribos 5-phosphate, which is essential for nucleic acid synthesis. Several metabolites of the pentose phosphate pathway can also be shuttled into glycolysis. 

FIGURE 23.27 The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase reaction is the committed step in the pentose phosphate pathway. 

This enzyme interconverts ribulose-5-P and ribose-5-P via an enediol intermediate (Figure 23.30). The reaction (and mechanism) is quite similar to the phosphoglucoisomerase reaction of glycolysis, which interconverts glucose-6-P and fructose-6-P. The ribose-5-P produced in this reaction is utilized in the biosynthesis of coenzymes (including N/ DH, N/ DPH, F/ D, and Big), nucleotides, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). The net reaction for the first four steps of the pentose phosphate pathway is... 

Even when the latter choice has been made, however, the cell must still be cognizant of the relative needs for ribose-5-phosphate and N/VDPH (as well as ATP). Depending on these relative needs, the reactions of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway can be combined in novel ways to emphasize the synthesis of needed metabolites. There are four principal possibilities. 

BOTH RIBOSE-5-P AND NADPH ARE NEEDED BY THE CELL In this case, the first four reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway predominate (Figure 23.37). N/VDPH is produced by the oxidative reactions of the pathway, and ribose-5-P is the principal product of carbon metabolism. As stated earlier, the net reaction for these processes is... 

FIGURE 23.37 Wlien biosynthetic demands dictate, the first four reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway predominate and the principal products are ribose-5-P and NADPH. 

One of the steps in the pentose phosphate pathway for glucose catabolism is the reaction of sedoheptulose 7-phosphate with glyceraldehyde 3-pho phate in the presence of a transaldolase to yield erythrose 4-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate. 

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. 

Generally, NAD-linked dehydrogenases catalyze ox-idoreduction reactions in the oxidative pathways of metabolism, particularly in glycolysis, in the citric acid cycle, and in the respiratory chain of mitochondria. NADP-linked dehydrogenases are found characteristically in reductive syntheses, as in the extramitochon-drial pathway of fatty acid synthesis and steroid synthesis—and also in the pentose phosphate pathway. 

REACTIONS OF THE PENTOSE PHOSPHATE PATHWAY OCCUR IN THE CYTOSOL... 

Figure 20-h Flow chart of pentose phosphate pathway and its connections with the pathway of glycolysis. The full pathway, as indicated, consists of three interconnected cycles in which glucose 6-phosphate is both substrate and end product. The reactions above the broken line are nonreversible, whereas all reactions under that line are freely reversible apart from that catalyzed by fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. 

Figure 20-3. Role of the pentose phosphate pathway in the glutathione peroxidase reaction of erythrocytes. (G-S-S-G, oxidized glutathione G-SH, reduced glutathione Se, selenium cofactor.)...

Glucuronate is reduced to L-gulonate in an NADPH-dependent reaction L-gulonate is the direct precursor of ascorbate in those animals capable of synthesizing this vitamin. In humans and other primates as well as guinea pigs, ascorbic acid cannot be synthesized because of the absence of L-g ulonolactone oxidase. L-Gulonate is metabolized ultimately to D-xylulose 5-phosphate, a constituent of the pentose phosphate pathway. 

In addition to the common pathways, glycolysis and the TCA cycle, the liver is involved with the pentose phosphate pathway regulation of blood glucose concentration via glycogen turnover and gluconeogenesis interconversion of monosaccharides lipid syntheses lipoprotein formation ketogenesis bile acid and bile salt formation phase I and phase II reactions for detoxification of waste compounds haem synthesis and degradation synthesis of non-essential amino acids and urea synthesis. 

A positive AG for this reaction conld also be achieved by a marked decrease in the concentration of glucose 6-phosphate. Why is this not feasible Glucose 6-phosphate is an important metabolic intermediate and is involved in several metabolic pathways (e.g. glycogen synthesis, glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway). Lowering its concentration by the two orders of magnitude, which would be necessary, would markedly decrease the rates at which these important pathways could proceed. 

The NADPH is produced from glucose 6-phosphate in the first three reactions in the pentose phosphate pathway (see below). Hence the pentose phosphate pathway is essential in the erythrocyte and glycolysis provides the substrate glucose 6-phosphate. Individuals with a reduced amount of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase can suffer from oxidative damage to their cells and hence haemolysis. 

The second part consists of a series of reactions in which ribulose 5-phosphate is reconverted back to glucose 6-phosphate (i.e. 5C 6C ) (Figure 6.20) (Appendix 6.8). Some key processes that depend on NADPH, and therefore the pentose phosphate pathway, are identified in Table 6.3 and presented in Figure 6.21. 

Figure 11.4 Condensation, dehydration and reduction reactions in fatty add synthesis. These reactions constitute the major components of the pathway of fatty acid synthesis and are all catalysed by fatty acid synthase. The reduction reactions, indicated by addition of 2H in the diagram, involve the conversion of NADPH to NADP . (The re-conversion of NADP back to NADPH occurs in the pentose phosphate pathway.) The condensation reaction results in an increase in size of acyl-ACP by two carbon units in each step. The two carbons for each extension are each provided by malonyl-CoA. ACP - acyl carrier protein.

The reduced coenzyme NADPH is required for the reduction reactions shown in Figure 11.5. It is also required for elongation and desaturation of fatty acids. The major source of NADPH for these reactions is the pentose phosphate pathway, which is described in detail in Chapter 6. 

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