Pyridoxine vitamin pyridoxal phosphate

Vitamin Bg status can be evaluated by direct measurement of plasma pyridoxine or pyridoxal phosphate by microbiological, enzymatic, radioimmunological, or chemical methods. Measurement of urinary xanthurenic acid or other intermediates of the kynurenine pathway (Chapter 17) are used to assess indirectly the adequacy of vitamin Bg for metabolic needs. 

The role of erythrocytes in vitamin B6 metabolism remains uncertain. Mouse and human erythrot es have higher oxidase activity and, therefore, convert pyridoxine to pyridoxal phosphate appreciably faster than erythrocytes from rat, hamster, and rabbit (Fonda, 1988). Anemic rats showed increased urinary loss of label administered as pyridoxal, suggesting that uptake by erythrocytes may conserve pyridoxal (Ink and Henderson, 1984). 

Holtz, P. and Bachmann, F., Einflufi von Vitamin Be (Pyridoxin) und Pyridoxal-phosphat auf die Dopadecarboxylase tierischer Organe, Naturwiss. 39, 235 (1952). 

Most amino acids lose their nitrogen atom by a transamination reaction in which the -NH2 group of the amino acid changes places with the keto group of ct-ketoglutarate. The products are a new a-keto acid plus glutamate. The overall process occurs in two parts, is catalyzed by aminotransferase enzymes, and involves participation of the coenzyme pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), a derivative of pyridoxine (vitamin UJ. Different aminotransferases differ in their specificity for amino acids, but the mechanism remains the same. 

In general, pyridoxamine and pyridoxin are more stable than pyridoxal. All vitamers are relatively heat-stable in acid media, but heat labile in alkaline media. All forms of vitamin B6 are destroyed by UV light in both neutral and alkaline solution. The majority of vitamin B6 in the human body is stored in the form of pyridoxal phosphate in the muscle, bound to glycogen phos-phorylase. 

Six compounds have vitamin Bg activity (Figure 45-12) pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, and their b -phosphates. The active coenzyme is pyridoxal 5 -phos-phate. Approximately 80% of the body s total vitamin Bg is present as pyridoxal phosphate in muscle, mostly associated with glycogen phosphorylase. This is not available in Bg deficiency but is released in starvation, when glycogen reserves become depleted, and is then available, especially in liver and kidney, to meet increased requirement for gluconeogenesis from amino acids. 

FIGURE 10.2 Structural formula of vitamin and related compounds. 1 — pyridoxine, 2 — pyridoxal, 3 — pyridoxamine, 4 — 4-pyridoxic acid 5 — pyridoxal-5 -phosphate. 

Homocystinuria can be treated in some cases by the administration of pyridoxine (vitamin Bs), which is a cofactor for the cystathionine synthase reaction. Some patients respond to the administration of pharmacological doses of pyridoxine (25-100 mg daily) with a reduction of plasma homocysteine and methionine. Pyridoxine responsiveness appears to be hereditary, with sibs tending to show a concordant pattern and a milder clinical syndrome. Pyridoxine sensitivity can be documented by enzyme assay in skin fibroblasts. The precise biochemical mechanism of the pyridoxine effect is not well understood but it may not reflect a mutation resulting in diminished affinity of the enzyme for cofactor, because even high concentrations of pyridoxal phosphate do not restore mutant enzyme activity to a control level. 

The usable range for T. pyriformis is from 0.3-300 mug/ml. The organism utilizes pyridoxal, pyridoxamine pyridoxine, and pyridoxal-5-phosphate. Pyridoxamine + pyridoxal yielded the best growth approximately 120 times more pyridoxine is required to yield the same growth as pyridoxamine (Fig. 4). As with nicotinic acid and its amide, when these compounds are added together in the same concentration, the increment of growth is less than the sum of the individual increments. Upon an intramuscular load dose of 100 mg of pyridoxine, peak vitamin Bs levels are reached 2 hours after injection. The curves for 4 normal individuals are illustrated in Fig. 5. 

Group-transfer reactions often involve vitamins3, which humans need to have in then-diet, since we are incapable of realizing their synthesis. These include nicotinamide (derived from the vitamin nicotinic acid) and riboflavin (vitamin B2) derivatives, required for electron transfer reactions, biotin for the transfer of C02, pantothenate for acyl group transfer, thiamine (vitamin as thiamine pyrophosphate) for transfer of aldehyde groups and folic acid (as tetrahydrofolate) for exchange of one-carbon fragments. Lipoic acid (not a vitamin) is both an acyl and an electron carrier. In addition, vitamins such as pyridoxine (vitamin B6, as pyridoxal phosphate), vitamin B12 and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) participate as cofactors in an important number of metabolic reactions. 

Vitamin Bg a family of molecules having vitamin Be activity these include pyridoxal, pyridoxine, and pyridoxamine precursors to the coenzyme pyridoxal phosphate. 

We have just noted the role that pyridoxal phosphate plays as a coenzyme (cofactor) in transamination reactions (see section 15.6). Pyridoxal 5 -phosphate (PLP) is crucial to a number of biochemical reactions. PLP, together with a number of closely related materials that are readily converted into PLP, e.g. pyridoxal, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine, are collectively known as vitamin Bg, which is essential for good health. 

Pyridoxine (vitamin 65) deficiency sometimes is observed in adults taking high doses of INH and is probably caused by the drug s competition with pyridoxal phosphate for the enzyme apotryptophanase. 

Pyridoxine (vitamin Bg, 18) (Fig. 13) assists in the balancing of sodium and potassium as well as promoting red blood cell production. A lack of pyridoxine can cause anemia, nerve damage, seizures, skin problems, and sores in the mouth. It is required for the production of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, as it is the precursor to pyridoxal phosphate, which is the cofactor for the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase enzyme. 

Vitamin Bg is a mixture of six interrelated forms pyridoxine (or pyridoxol) (Figure 19.23), pyri-doxal, pyridoxamine, and their 5 -phosphates derivatives. Interconversion is possible between all forms. The active form of the vitamin is pyridoxal phosphate, which is a coenzyme correlated with the function of more than 60 enzymes involved in transamination, deamination, decarboxylation, or desulfuration reactions. 

Vitamin B6 occurs naturally in three related forms pyridoxine (6.26 the alcohol form), pyridoxal (6.27 aldehyde) and pyridoxamine (6.28 amine). All are structurally related to pyridine. The active co-enzyme form of this vitamin is pyridoxal phosphate (PLP 6.29), which is a co-factor for transaminases which catalyse the transfer of amino groups (6.29). PLP is also important for amino acid decarboxylases and functions in the metabolism of glycogen and the synthesis of sphingolipids in the nervous system. In addition, PLP is involved in the formation of niacin from tryptophan (section 6.3.3) and in the initial synthesis of haem. 

Pyridoxal phosphate Amino groups Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)... 

All aminotransferases have the same prosthetic group and the same reaction mechanism. The prosthetic group is pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), the coenzyme form of pyridoxine, or vitamin B6. We encountered pyridoxal phosphate in Chapter 15, as a coenzyme in the glycogen phosphorylase reaction, but its role in that reaction is not representative of its usual coenzyme function. Its primary role in cells is in the metabolism of molecules with amino groups. 

Vitamin B6 is a collective term for pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridox amine, all derivatives of pyridine. They differ only in the nature of the functional group attached to the ring (Figure 28.10). Pyridoxine occurs primarily in plants, whereas pyridoxal and pyridoxamine are found in foods obtained from animals. All three compounds can serve as precur sors of the biologically active coenzyme, pyridoxal phosphate. Pyridoxal phosphate functions as a coenzyme for a large number of enzymes, par ticularly those that catalyze reactions involving amino acids. 

Isoniazid (isonicotinic acid hydrazide), a drug frequently used to treat tuberculosis, can induce a B6 deficiency by forming an iiactive derivative with pyridoxal phosphate. Dietary supplementation with B is, thus, an adjunct to isoniazide treatment. Otherwise, cletary deficiencies in pyridoxine are rare but have been observed in newborn infants fed formulas low in vitamin B6, in women taking oral contraceptives, and in alcoholics. 

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxal) has the active form, pyridoxal phosphate. It functions as a cofactor for enzymes, particularly in amino acid metabolism. Deficiency of this vitamin is rare, but causes glossitis and neuropathy. The deficiency can be induced by isoniazid, which causes sensory neuropathy at high doses. 

VITAMIN B (Pyridoxine). Infrequently called adermine or pyridoxol, this vitamin participates in protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. The metabolically active form of B6 is pyridoxal phosphate, the structures of which are ... 

The six principal B6 vitamers are widely distributed in foods (102,103). They include pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxamine (PM), and their 5 -phosphate esters, pyridoxine phosphate (PNP), pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), and pyridoxamine phosphate (PMP) (Fig. 5). The predominate B6 vitamer in animal-based foods is PLP, whereas plant products generally contain PN and PM or their phosphorylated forms. Conjugated vitamers in the form of PN-glycosides have also been isolated from plant-based foods. Pyridoxal is readily converted to PM during cooking and food processing. Total vitamin B6 is the sum of the six principal vitamers inclusion of the conjugated forms depends on the extraction procedure. 

Pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine, which occur in foodstuffs, are collectively known as vitamin Bg. In the body, all three are converted to pyridoxal phosphate which is the coenzyme for amino-acid decarboxylase and for transaminase. The structures of the three active forms of vitamin Bg and the pyridoxal phosphate, are shown below (55). 

Lumeng et al. (58) have reported the plasma content of Bg vitamers and its relationship to hepatic vitamin Bg metabolism. Orally ingested pyridoxine is rapidly metabolised in liver and its products are released into the circulation in the form of pyridoxal phosphate, pyridoxal, and pyridoxic acid. 

Fig. 4. Structures of (a) pyridoxine (vitamin Bg), (b) pyridoxal phosphate and (c) pyridoxamine phosphate.

Figure 9.1. Interconversion of the vitamin Be vitamers. Pyridoxal kinase, EC 2.7.1.38 pyridoxine oxidase, EC 1.1.1.65 pyridoxamine phosphate oxidase, EC 1.4.3.5 and pyridoxal oxidase, EC 1.1.3.12. Relative molecular masses (Mr) pyridoxine, 168.3 (hydrochloride, 205.6) pyridoxal, 167.2 pyridoxamine, 168.3 (dihydrochloride, 241.1) pyridoxal phosphate, 247.1 pyridoxamine phosphate, 248.2 and 4-pyridoxlc acid, 183.2.

Pyridoxine is rapidly converted to pyridoxal phosphate in the liver and other tissues. Pyridoxal phosphate does not cross cell membranes, and efflux of the vitamin from most tissues is as pyridoxal. Pyridoxal phosphate is exported from the liver bound to albumin by formation of a Schiff base to lysine (Zhang et al., 1999). Much of the free pyridoxal phosphate in the liver (i.e., that which is not protein bound) is hydrolyzed to pyridoxal, which is also exported, and circulates bound to both albumin and hemoglobin in erythrocytes. 

Although pyridoxine is taken up and phosphorylated by muscle (and other tissues), the resultant pyridoxine phosphate is not oxidized to pyridoxal phosphate. It has been suggested that the neurotoxicity of high intakes of pyridoxine (Section 9.9.6.4) may be caused by the uptake and trapping of pyridoxine, and hence competition with pyridoxal, resulting in depletion of tissue pyridoxal phosphate and a deficiency of the metabolically active form of the vitamin. 

Vitamin B or pyridoxine participates in over 100 enzymatic reactions as the cofactor, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP). It exists in three forms the alcohol, the amine, or the aldehyde. Pyridoxal phosphate is an essential cofactor for enzymes involved in the synthesis of many neurotransmitters. 

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