Biomaterial Database

Arginine catabolism in Aphanocapsa 6308. 1978

P J Weathers, and H L Chee, and M M Allen

The catabolic products of arginine metabolism were observed in Aphanocapsa 6308, a unicellular cyanobacterium, by thin layer chromatography of growth media, by limiting growth conditions, and by enzymatic analysis. Of the organic, nitrogenous compounds examined, only arginine supported growth in CO2-free media. The excretion of ornithine at a concentration level greater than citrulline suggested the existence in Aphanocapsa 6308 of the arginine dihydrolase pathway which produced ornithine, CO2,NH4,+ adenosine 5'-triphosphate. Its existence was confirmed by enzymatic analysis. Although cells could not grow on urea as a sole carbon source a very active urease and subsequently an arginase were also demonstrated, indicating that Aphanocapsa can metabolize arginine via the arginase pathway. The level of enzymes for both pathways indicates a lack of genetic control. It is suggested that the arginase pathway provides only nitrogen for the cells wheras the arginine dihydrolase pathway provides not only nitrogen, but also CO2 and adenosine 5'-triphosphate.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009952	Ornithine	An amino acid produced in the urea cycle by the splitting off of urea from arginine.	2,5-Diaminopentanoic Acid,Ornithine Dihydrochloride, (L)-Isomer,Ornithine Hydrochloride, (D)-Isomer,Ornithine Hydrochloride, (DL)-Isomer,Ornithine Hydrochloride, (L)-Isomer,Ornithine Monoacetate, (L)-Isomer,Ornithine Monohydrobromide, (L)-Isomer,Ornithine Monohydrochloride, (D)-Isomer,Ornithine Monohydrochloride, (DL)-Isomer,Ornithine Phosphate (1:1), (L)-Isomer,Ornithine Sulfate (1:1), (L)-Isomer,Ornithine, (D)-Isomer,Ornithine, (DL)-Isomer,Ornithine, (L)-Isomer,2,5 Diaminopentanoic Acid
D002245	Carbon Dioxide	A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals.	Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon
D002956	Citrulline
D006867	Hydrolases	Any member of the class of enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of the substrate and the addition of water to the resulting molecules, e.g., ESTERASES, glycosidases (GLYCOSIDE HYDROLASES), lipases, NUCLEOTIDASES, peptidases (PEPTIDE HYDROLASES), and phosphatases (PHOSPHORIC MONOESTER HYDROLASES). EC 3.	Hydrolase
D000255	Adenosine Triphosphate	An adenine nucleotide containing three phosphate groups esterified to the sugar moiety. In addition to its crucial roles in metabolism adenosine triphosphate is a neurotransmitter.	ATP,Adenosine Triphosphate, Calcium Salt,Adenosine Triphosphate, Chromium Salt,Adenosine Triphosphate, Magnesium Salt,Adenosine Triphosphate, Manganese Salt,Adenylpyrophosphate,CaATP,CrATP,Manganese Adenosine Triphosphate,MgATP,MnATP,ATP-MgCl2,Adenosine Triphosphate, Chromium Ammonium Salt,Adenosine Triphosphate, Magnesium Chloride,Atriphos,Chromium Adenosine Triphosphate,Cr(H2O)4 ATP,Magnesium Adenosine Triphosphate,Striadyne,ATP MgCl2
D000332	Aerobiosis	Life or metabolic reactions occurring in an environment containing oxygen.	Aerobioses
D000458	Cyanobacteria	A phylum of oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria comprised of unicellular to multicellular bacteria possessing CHLOROPHYLL a and carrying out oxygenic PHOTOSYNTHESIS. Cyanobacteria are the only known organisms capable of fixing both CARBON DIOXIDE (in the presence of light) and NITROGEN. Cell morphology can include nitrogen-fixing heterocysts and/or resting cells called akinetes. Formerly called blue-green algae, cyanobacteria were traditionally treated as ALGAE.	Algae, Blue-Green,Blue-Green Bacteria,Cyanophyceae,Algae, Blue Green,Bacteria, Blue Green,Bacteria, Blue-Green,Blue Green Algae,Blue Green Bacteria,Blue-Green Algae
D000641	Ammonia	A colorless alkaline gas. It is formed in the body during decomposition of organic materials during a large number of metabolically important reactions. Note that the aqueous form of ammonia is referred to as AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE.
D001119	Arginase	A ureahydrolase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of arginine or canavanine to yield L-ornithine (ORNITHINE) and urea. Deficiency of this enzyme causes HYPERARGININEMIA. EC 3.5.3.1.	Arginase A1,Arginase A4,Hepatic Proliferation Inhibitor,Liver Immunoregulatory Protein,Liver-Derived Inhibitory Protein,Liver-Derived Lymphocyte Proliferation Inhibiting Protein,Immunoregulatory Protein, Liver,Inhibitor, Hepatic Proliferation,Inhibitory Protein, Liver-Derived,Liver Derived Inhibitory Protein,Liver Derived Lymphocyte Proliferation Inhibiting Protein,Proliferation Inhibitor, Hepatic,Protein, Liver Immunoregulatory,Protein, Liver-Derived Inhibitory
D001120	Arginine	An essential amino acid that is physiologically active in the L-form.	Arginine Hydrochloride,Arginine, L-Isomer,DL-Arginine Acetate, Monohydrate,L-Arginine,Arginine, L Isomer,DL Arginine Acetate, Monohydrate,Hydrochloride, Arginine,L Arginine,L-Isomer Arginine,Monohydrate DL-Arginine Acetate