Picolinate carboxylase

Figure 8.4. Pathways of tryptophan metaholism. Tryptophan dioxygenase, EC 1.13.11.11 formylkynurenine formamidase, EC 3.5.1.9 kynurenine hydroxylase, EC 1.14.13.9 kynureninase, EC 3.7.1.3 3-hydroxyanthranilate oxidase, EC 1.10.3.5 picolinate carboxylase, EC 4.1.1.45 kynurenine oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.7 kynurenine glyoxylate aminotransferase, 2.6.1.63 tryptophan hydroxylase, EC 1.14.16.4 and 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase, EC 4.1.1.26. Relative molecular masses (Mr) tryptophan, 204.2 serotonin, 176.2 kynurenine, 208.2 3-hydroxykynurenine, 223.2 kynurenic acid, 189.2 xanthurenic acid, 205.2 and quinolinic acid 167.1. CoA, coenzyme A.

Picolinate Carboxylase and Nonenzymic Cyclization to Quinolinic Acid... 

As shown in Figure 8.4, the synthesis of NAD from tryptophan involves the nonenzymic cyclization of aminocarhoxymuconic semialdehyde to quinolinic acid. The alternative metahoUc fate of aminocarhoxymuconic semialdehyde is decarboxylation, catalyzed hy picolinate carboxylase, leading into the oxidative branch of the pathway, and catabolism via acetyl coenzyme A. There is thus competition between an enzyme-catalyzed reaction that has hyperbolic, saturable kinetics, and a nonenzymic reaction thathas linear, first-order kinetics. 

The result of this is that at low rates of flux through the kynurenine pathway, which result in concentrations of aminocarhoxymuconic semialdehyde below that at which picolinate carboxylase is saturated, most of the flux will be byway of the enzyme-catalyzed pathway, leading to oxidation. There will be Utde accumulation of aminocarhoxymuconic semialdehyde to undergo nonenzymic cyclization. As the rate of formation of aminocarhoxymuconic semialdehyde increases, and picolinate carboxylase nears saturation, there will be an increasing amount available to undergo the nonenzymic reaction and onward metabolism to NAD. Thus, there is not a simple stoichiometric relationship between tryptophan and niacin, and the equivalence of the two coenzyme precursors will vary as the amount of tryptophan to be metabolized and the rate of metabolism vary. 

As might be expected, the synthesis of NAD from tryptophan is inversely related to the activity of picolinate carboxylase. Inhibition with pyrazinamide results in increased availability of aminocarhoxymuconic semialdehyde, and hence increased NAD formation. Equally, activation of picolinate carboxylase results in reduced availability of aminocarhoxymuconic semialdehyde for cyclization, and hence a reduced formation of NAD. 

Cats, which have some 30- to 50-fold higher activity of picolinate carboxylase than other species, are entirely reliant on a dietary source of preformed niacin, and are not capable of any significant synthesis of NAD from tryptophan. 

Ikeda, M., Tsuji, H., Nakamura, S., Ichiyama, A., Nishizuka, Y., and Hayaishi, O. (1965) Studies on the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. II. A role of picolinic carboxylase in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide from tryptophan in mammals. J. Biol. Chem. 240 1395-401. 

Decarboxylation of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid in the presence of picolinic carboxylase leads to the formation of picolinic acid. The steps involved in this transformation are not clear, nor are the enzymes involved known. 

Picolinic Carboxylase. An enzyme in liver decarboxylates the original carboxyl group of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid from the oxidation product. The product of the decarboxylation is picolinic acid. Picolinic carboxylase has no known cofactors. The mechanism of its action is thought to involve a temporary loss of the double bond during decarboxylation. This permits rotation of the amino group into a position favoring condensation to form the pyridine ring (XII). 

Nicotinic Add Metabolism. The sequence of reactions leading to the formation of pyridine compounds is of particular interest as a source of nicotinic acid. Nutritional, isotopic, and genetic experiments have all shown that tryptophan and its metabolic derivatives including 3-hydroxy-anthranilic acid are precursors of nicotinic acid in animals and in Neuro-spora. The terminal steps in this sequence are not known. Under certain physiological conditions an increase in picolinic carboxylase appears to reduce nicotinic acid synthesis. This implies a common pathway as far as the oxidation of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid. Whether quinolinic acid is a precursor of nicotinic acid is still uncertain. The enzyme that forms the amide of nicotinic acid also has not been isolated. Subsequent reactions of nicotinamide include the formation of the riboside with nucleoside phosphorylase and methylation by nicotinamide methyl-kinase. In animals W-methylnicotinamide is oxidized to the corresponding 6-pyridone by a liver flavoprotein. Nicotinic acid also forms glycine and ornithine conjugates. Both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria have been found to oxidize nicotinic acid in the 6-position. ... 

Picolinic carboxylase was discovered to undergo adaptive changes in level (336). The level is increased markedly in diabetes and other conditions leading to increased adrenal hormone secretion. This can be correlated with the depression of nicotinic acid formation from tryptophan that occurs in diabetic animals (336). The increase in picolinic acid carboxylase is dependent on the presence of adrenal hormones. 

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