Publications

• Removal of phosphoglycolate in hyperthermophilic archaea.

  Michimori Y., Izaki R., Su Y., Fukuyama Y., Shimamura S., Nishimura K., Miwa Y., Hamakita S., Shimosaka T., Makino Y., Takeno R., Sato T., Beppu H., Cann I., Kanai T., Nunoura T., Atomi H.

  Many organisms that utilize the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle for autotrophic growth harbor metabolic pathways to remove and/or salvage 2-phosphoglycolate, the product of the oxygenase activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). It has been presumed that the occurren ... >> More

  Many organisms that utilize the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle for autotrophic growth harbor metabolic pathways to remove and/or salvage 2-phosphoglycolate, the product of the oxygenase activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). It has been presumed that the occurrence of 2-phosphoglycolate salvage is linked to the CBB cycle, and in particular, the C2 pathway to the CBB cycle and oxygenic photosynthesis. Here, we examined 2-phosphoglycolate salvage in the hyperthermophilic archaeon <i>Thermococcus kodakarensis</i>, an obligate anaerobe that harbors a Rubisco that functions in the pentose bisphosphate pathway. <i>T. kodakarensis</i> harbors enzymes that have the potential to convert 2-phosphoglycolate to glycine and serine, and their genes were identified by biochemical and/or genetic analyses. 2-phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity increased 1.6-fold when cells were grown under microaerobic conditions compared to anaerobic conditions. Among two candidates, TK1734 encoded a phosphatase specific for 2-phosphoglycolate, and the enzyme was responsible for 80% of the 2-phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity in <i>T. kodakarensis</i> cells. The TK1734 disruption strain displayed growth impairment under microaerobic conditions, which was relieved upon addition of sodium sulfide. In addition, glycolate was detected in the medium when <i>T. kodakarensis</i> was grown under microaerobic conditions. The results suggest that <i>T. kodakarensis</i> removes 2-phosphoglycolate via a phosphatase reaction followed by secretion of glycolate to the medium. As the Rubisco in <i>T. kodakarensis</i> functions in the pentose bisphosphate pathway and not in the CBB cycle, mechanisms to remove 2-phosphoglycolate in this archaeon emerged independent of the CBB cycle. << Less

  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 121:e2311390121-e2311390121(2024) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 21 other entries.

• Identification of a mutation affecting an alanine-alpha-ketoisovalerate transaminase activity in Escherichia coli K-12.

  Falkinham J.O.

  A mutation affecting alanine-alpha-ketoisovalerate transaminase activity has been shown to be cotransducible with ilv gene cluster. The transaminase deficiency results in conditional isoleucine auxotrophy in the presence of alanine.

  Mol Gen Genet 176:147-149(1979) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Aspartate aminotransferase Rv3722c governs aspartate-dependent nitrogen metabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

  Jansen R.S., Mandyoli L., Hughes R., Wakabayashi S., Pinkham J.T., Selbach B., Guinn K.M., Rubin E.J., Sacchettini J.C., Rhee K.Y.

  Gene rv3722c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is essential for in vitro growth, and encodes a putative pyridoxal phosphate-binding protein of unknown function. Here we use metabolomic, genetic and structural approaches to show that Rv3722c is the primary aspartate aminotransferase of M. tuberculosis, ... >> More

  Gene rv3722c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is essential for in vitro growth, and encodes a putative pyridoxal phosphate-binding protein of unknown function. Here we use metabolomic, genetic and structural approaches to show that Rv3722c is the primary aspartate aminotransferase of M. tuberculosis, and mediates an essential but underrecognized role in metabolism: nitrogen distribution. Rv3722c deficiency leads to virulence attenuation in macrophages and mice. Our results identify aspartate biosynthesis and nitrogen distribution as potential species-selective drug targets in M. tuberculosis. << Less

  Nat. Commun. 11:1960-1960(2020) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]