Biomaterial Database

Biochemical genetics of nucleotide sugar interconversion reactions. 2008

Wolf-Dieter Reiter

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA. wdreiter@uconn.edu

During the past few years, substantial progress has been made to understand the enzymology and regulation of nucleotide sugar interconversion reactions that are irreversible in vivo on thermodynamic grounds. Feedback inhibition of enzymes by metabolic end products appears to be a common theme but some experimental results on recombinant enzymes are difficult to interpret. Using a combination of metabolic flux analysis, enzyme assays, and bioinformatics approaches, the significance of several proposed alternate pathways has been clarified. Expression of plant nucleotide sugar interconversion enzymes in yeast has become a promising approach to understand metabolic regulation and produce valuable compounds. In a major advance for the understanding of the synthesis of arabinosylated cell wall polysaccharides, reversibly glycosylated proteins turned out to act as mutases that interconvert the pyranose and furanose forms of UDP-L-arabinose.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D009711	Nucleotides	The monomeric units from which DNA or RNA polymers are constructed. They consist of a purine or pyrimidine base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group. (From King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Nucleotide
D010940	Plant Proteins	Proteins found in plants (flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, etc.). The concept does not include proteins found in vegetables for which PLANT PROTEINS, DIETARY is available.	Plant Protein,Protein, Plant,Proteins, Plant
D010944	Plants	Multicellular, eukaryotic life forms of kingdom Plantae. Plants acquired chloroplasts by direct endosymbiosis of CYANOBACTERIA. They are characterized by a mainly photosynthetic mode of nutrition; essentially unlimited growth at localized regions of cell divisions (MERISTEMS); cellulose within cells providing rigidity; the absence of organs of locomotion; absence of nervous and sensory systems; and an alternation of haploid and diploid generations. It is a non-taxonomical term most often referring to LAND PLANTS. In broad sense it includes RHODOPHYTA and GLAUCOPHYTA along with VIRIDIPLANTAE.	Plant
D011994	Recombinant Proteins	Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology.	Biosynthetic Protein,Biosynthetic Proteins,DNA Recombinant Proteins,Recombinant Protein,Proteins, Biosynthetic,Proteins, Recombinant DNA,DNA Proteins, Recombinant,Protein, Biosynthetic,Protein, Recombinant,Proteins, DNA Recombinant,Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant DNA Proteins,Recombinant Proteins, DNA
D002237	Carbohydrate Dehydrogenases	Reversibly catalyze the oxidation of a hydroxyl group of carbohydrates to form a keto sugar, aldehyde or lactone. Any acceptor except molecular oxygen is permitted. Includes EC 1.1.1.; EC 1.1.2.; and 1.1.99.	Carbohydrate Oxidoreductases,Dehydrogenases, Carbohydrate,Oxidoreductases, Carbohydrate
D002238	Carbohydrate Epimerases	Enzymes that catalyze the epimerization of chiral centers within carbohydrates or their derivatives. EC 5.1.3.	Carbohydrate Isomerases,Epimerases, Carbohydrate,Isomerases, Carbohydrate
D015971	Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action in enzyme synthesis.	Enzymologic Gene Expression Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression, Enzymologic,Regulation, Gene Expression, Enzymologic
D050260	Carbohydrate Metabolism	Cellular processes in biosynthesis (anabolism) and degradation (catabolism) of CARBOHYDRATES.	Metabolism, Carbohydrate