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B6db references: 31953335

type Journal Article
authors Zhu D, Wei Y, Yin J, Liu D, Ang EL, Zhao H, Zhang Y
title A pathway for degradation of uracil to acetyl coenzyme A in Bacillus megaterium
journal Appl Environ Microbiol
Activity 2.6.1.18
Family 2.6.1.18.b
sel selected
ui 31953335
year (2020)
pages in press
 
keywords doi: 10.1128/AEM.02837-19
abstract Bacteria utilize diverse biochemical pathways for the degradation of the pyrimidine ring. The function of the pathways studied to date has been the release of nitrogen for assimilation. The most widespread of these pathways is the reductive pyrimidine catabolic pathway, which converts uracil into ammonia, carbon dioxide and β-alanine. Here we report the characterization of a β-alanine:pyruvate aminotransferase (PydD2), and a NAD+-dependent malonic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (MSDH), from a reductive pyrimidine catabolism gene cluster in Bacillus megaterium Together, these enzymes convert β-alanine into acetyl-CoA, a key intermediate in carbon and energy metabolism. We demonstrate the growth of B. megaterium in defined medium with uracil as its sole carbon and energy source. Homologs of PydD2 and MSDH are found in association with reductive pyrimidine pathway genes in many Gram positive bacteria in the order Bacillales. Our study provides a basis for further investigations of the utilization of pyrimidines as a carbon and energy source by bacteria.Importance Pyrimidine has wide occurrence in natural environments, where bacteria use it as nitrogen and carbon source for growth. Detailed biochemical pathways have been investigated with focus mainly on nitrogen assimilation in the past decades. Here we report the discovery and characterization of two important enzymes, PydD2 and MSDH, which constitute an extension for the reductive pyrimidine catabolic pathway. These two enzymes, prevalent in Bacillales based on our bioinformatics studies, allow stepwise conversion of β-alanine, a previous "end product" of the reductive pyrimidine degradation pathway to acetyl-CoA, as carbon and energy source.
last changed 2020/02/17 13:17

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