11. Interconversion of Nucleotides
The nucleoside monophosphates are the forms synthesized de novo. The triphosphates are the most
commonly used forms.
The monophosphates are converted to the di- and tri-phosphates by the sequential activities of nucleoside
monophosphate kinases and nucleoside diphosphate kinase. The reactions are reversible, so the
nucleoside mono-, di- and triphosphateforms are in equilibrium.
Nucleoside monophosphate kinases:
convert nucleoside monophosphates to diphosphates, using ATP as phosphate donor
nucleoside monophosphate kinases show substrate specificity (different enzymes phosphorylate AMP,
GMP, pyrimidines and deoxynucleotides)
Adenylate kinase: AMP + ATP 2 ADP
Thymidylate kinase: TMP + ATP TDP + ADP
Nucleoside diphosphate kinase:
converts nucleoside diphosphates to triphosphates, using ATP as phosphate donor
nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK) has broad specificity (one enzyme can phosphorylate purine
and pyrimidine ribo-and deoxyribonucletides)
examples:
GDP + ATP GTP + ADP
dGDP + ATP dGTP + ADP
UDP + ATP UTP + ADP
25. OROTACIDURIA
inherited disorder of pyrimidine synthesis
caused by a deficiency of the enzyme of
orotate-phosphoribosyltransferase and
decarboxylase.
Symptoms:
–excess of orotic acid and its excretion
with urine (1.0-1.5 g)
-mental and physical retardation
-megaloblastic anemia
26. – Treatment: patients are fed uridine
U UMP UDP UTP
UTP inhibits carbamoyl phosphate synthase II, preventing the
biosynthesis and accumulation of orotic acid
O
OH
OH
CH2
O
P
O
P
O
-O
-O
O-
-
O3PO
O
C
NH
O
HN
C
OOC
C
H
C
O
PPi
Orotate 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP)