Pyridoxal-5-phosphate Phosphatase 4 Pyridoxine Kinase

Three enzymes play an active role in the metabolism of vitamin B6 in human erythrocytes. Pyridoxal kinase uses ATP to phosphorylate pyridoxine, pyri-doxamine, and pyridoxal. Pyridoxamine oxidase oxidizes pyridoxamine-5 -phosphate and pyridoxine-5 -phosphate to pyridoxal-5 -phosphate. The phosphatase activity produces pyridoxal from pyridoxal-5 -phosphate. The assay of the three enzymes required separation of the semicarbazone derivatives of pyridoxal-5 -phosphate and pyridoxal. The mobile phase used by Ubbink and Schnell (1988) contained 2.5% acetonitrile. Detection was by fluorescence. 

The phosphorylated vitamers are dephosphorylated by membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase in the intestinal mucosa pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxine are all absorbed rapidly by carrier-mediated diffusion. Intestinal mucosal cells have pyridoxine kinase and pyridoxine phosphate oxidase (see Figure 9.1), so that there is net accumulation of pyridoxal phosphate by metabolic trapping. Much of the ingested pyridoxine is released into the portal circulation as pyridoxal, after dephosphorylation at the serosal surface. 

Tissue uptake of vitamin Be is again by carrier-mediated diffusion of pyridoxal (and other unphosphorylated vitamers), followed by metabolic trapping by phosphorylation. Circulating pyridoxal and pyridoxamine phosphates are hydrolyzed by extracellular alkaline phosphatase. All tissues have pyridoxine kinase activity, but pyridoxine phosphate oxidase is found mainly in the liver, kidney, and brain. 

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