Biomaterial Database

Evidence for distinct kynureninase and hydroxykynureninase activities in Neurospora crassa. 1971

F H Gaertner, and K W Cole, and G R Welch

Previous studies have indicated that a single enzyme, "kynureninase," catalyzes the reactions of l-kynurenine to anthranilate and l-3-hydroxykynurenine to 3-hydroxyanthranilate in Neurospora crassa and in other organisms. The present report describes separate enzymes which catalyze these reactions in N. crassa. The first, a kynureninase, preferentially catalyzes kynurenine to anthranilate and is induced over 400-fold by tryptophan or a catabolite of tryptophan. The second, a hydroxykynureninase, is constitutive or noninducible by tryptophan and preferentially catalyzes l-3-hydroxykynurenine to 3-hydroxyanthranilate. The physiological significance of these enzymes may be inferred from the facts that (i) the noninducible enzyme hydroxykynureninase appears to be the main enzyme present in uninduced cells that is capable of catalyzing l-3-hydroxykynurenine to 3-hydroxyanthranilate for the indispensible synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and (ii) the inducible enzyme kynureninase is induced by tryptophan to a concentration far in excess of that needed to meet the requirements of the cells for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, resulting in the excretion of anthranilate into the medium.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007737	Kynurenine	A metabolite of the essential amino acid tryptophan metabolized via the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway.
D008278	Magnesium Sulfate	A small colorless crystal used as an anticonvulsant, a cathartic, and an electrolyte replenisher in the treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. It causes direct inhibition of action potentials in myometrial muscle cells. Excitation and contraction are uncoupled, which decreases the frequency and force of contractions. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1992, p1083)	Magnesium Sulfate, Heptahydrate,Heptahydrate Magnesium Sulfate,Sulfate, Magnesium
D008956	Models, Chemical	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of chemical processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Chemical Models,Chemical Model,Model, Chemical
D009243	NAD	A coenzyme composed of ribosylnicotinamide 5'-diphosphate coupled to adenosine 5'-phosphate by pyrophosphate linkage. It is found widely in nature and is involved in numerous enzymatic reactions in which it serves as an electron carrier by being alternately oxidized (NAD+) and reduced (NADH). (Dorland, 27th ed)	Coenzyme I,DPN,Diphosphopyridine Nucleotide,Nadide,Nicotinamide-Adenine Dinucleotide,Dihydronicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide,NADH,Adenine Dinucleotide, Dihydronicotinamide,Dinucleotide, Dihydronicotinamide Adenine,Dinucleotide, Nicotinamide-Adenine,Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide,Nucleotide, Diphosphopyridine
D009491	Neurospora	A genus of ascomycetous fungi, family Sordariaceae, order SORDARIALES, comprising bread molds. They are capable of converting tryptophan to nicotinic acid and are used extensively in genetic and enzyme research. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Neurosporas
D011732	Pyridoxal Phosphate	This is the active form of VITAMIN B 6 serving as a coenzyme for synthesis of amino acids, neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine), sphingolipids, aminolevulinic acid. During transamination of amino acids, pyridoxal phosphate is transiently converted into pyridoxamine phosphate (PYRIDOXAMINE).	Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate,Pyridoxal-P,Phosphate, Pyridoxal,Pyridoxal 5 Phosphate,Pyridoxal P
D002474	Cell-Free System	A fractionated cell extract that maintains a biological function. A subcellular fraction isolated by ultracentrifugation or other separation techniques must first be isolated so that a process can be studied free from all of the complex side reactions that occur in a cell. The cell-free system is therefore widely used in cell biology. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p166)	Cellfree System,Cell Free System,Cell-Free Systems,Cellfree Systems,System, Cell-Free,System, Cellfree,Systems, Cell-Free,Systems, Cellfree
D002848	Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose	A type of ion exchange chromatography using diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE-CELLULOSE) as a positively charged resin. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	DEAE-Cellulose Chromatography,Chromatography, DEAE Cellulose,DEAE Cellulose Chromatography
D003470	Culture Media	Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN.	Media, Culture
D004790	Enzyme Induction	An increase in the rate of synthesis of an enzyme due to the presence of an inducer which acts to derepress the gene responsible for enzyme synthesis.	Induction, Enzyme