Valine Biosynthesis Share Four Enzymes

Isoleucine and Valine Biosynthesis Share Four Enzymes 

The first step in valine biosynthesis is a condensation between pyruvate and active acetaldehyde (probably hy-droxyethyl thiamine pyrophosphate) to yield a-acetolactate. The enzyme acetohydroxy acid synthase usually has a requirement for FAD, which, in contrast to most flavopro-teins, is rather loosely bound to the protein. The very same enzyme transfers the acetaldehyde group to a-ketobutyrate to yield a-aceto-a-hydroxybutyrate, an isoleucine precursor. Unlike pyruvate, the a-ketobutyrate is not a key intermediate of the central metabolic routes rather it is produced for a highly specific purpose by the action of a deaminase on L-threonine as shown in figure 21.10. 

Conversion of the acetohydroxy acids to the a,/3-dihydroxyacid precursors of valine and isoleucine is catalyzed by acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase. The a,/3-dihydroxy acids are both converted to the a-keto acid precursors of valine and isoleucine by a dihydroxy acid dehydrase. Finally, the two amino acids are formed in trans- 

The biosynthesis of isoleucine and valine. The reactions leading to valine are catalyzed by the same enzymes that catalyze the corresponding reactions in isoleucine biosynthesis. Common enzymes are screened in yellow. 

Branched-chain amino acid glutamate transaminase 

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