Biomaterial Database

Mechanism of adenine toxicity in Escherichia coli. 1982

R A Levine, and M W Taylor

The mechanism of adenine toxicity in an hpt gpt strain of Escherichia coli that is extremely sensitive to adenine inhibition was investigated. Adenine-resistant derivatives had secondary mutations in adeninephosphoribosyltransferase or the purR repressor. Growth studies with various purine salvage pathway mutants and the ability of guanosine to prevent adenine toxicity indicated that adenine exerts its toxic effects by depleting guanine nucleotide pools. In the presence of adenine, ATP pools increased twofold in wild-type cells and stabilized after 5 min. In contrast, ATP pools continued to rise in hpt gpt cells up to 25 min and increased sevenfold after adenine addition. hpt gpt cells were shown to have higher levels of adeninephosphoribosyltransferase than did the wild-type cells. In response to adenine addition, GTP pools dropped three- to fourfold in all strains tested. Although GTP levels returned to near normal values in wild-type cells after 35 min, no restoration of GTP pools was observed in the hpt gpt strain during this period. Measurements of guanine pools before and after the addition of adenine indicated that guaninephosphoribosyltransferase plays an important role in maintaining GTP pools by converting the free guanine to GMP during guanine nucleotide depletion.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007041	Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate and hypoxanthine, guanine, or MERCAPTOPURINE to the corresponding 5'-mononucleotides and pyrophosphate. The enzyme is important in purine biosynthesis as well as central nervous system functions. Complete lack of enzyme activity is associated with the LESCH-NYHAN SYNDROME, while partial deficiency results in overproduction of uric acid. EC 2.4.2.8.	Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase,HPRT,Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase,IMP Pyrophosphorylase,HGPRT,HPRTase,Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase,Phosphoribosyltransferase, Guanine,Phosphoribosyltransferase, Hypoxanthine,Phosphoribosyltransferase, Hypoxanthine-Guanine,Pyrophosphorylase, IMP
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D010430	Pentosyltransferases	Enzymes of the transferase class that catalyze the transfer of a pentose group from one compound to another.
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D006151	Guanosine	A purine nucleoside that has guanine linked by its N9 nitrogen to the C1 carbon of ribose. It is a component of ribonucleic acid and its nucleotides play important roles in metabolism. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
D006160	Guanosine Triphosphate	Guanosine 5'-(tetrahydrogen triphosphate). A guanine nucleotide containing three phosphate groups esterified to the sugar moiety.	GTP,Triphosphate, Guanosine
D000225	Adenine	A purine base and a fundamental unit of ADENINE NUCLEOTIDES.	Vitamin B 4,4, Vitamin B,B 4, Vitamin
D000228	Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase	An enzyme catalyzing the formation of AMP from adenine and phosphoribosylpyrophosphate. It can act as a salvage enzyme for recycling of adenine into nucleic acids. EC 2.4.2.7.	AMP Pyrophosphorylase,Transphosphoribosidase,APRTase,Phosphoribosyltransferase, Adenine,Pyrophosphorylase, AMP
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