Biosynthesis of the pigments of life: formation of the macrocycle

Battersby, Alan R.; Fookes, Christopher J. R.; Matcham, George W. J.; McDonald, Edward

doi:10.1038/285017a0

Cited by 222 publications

(155 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Now, Protoporphyrin IX is an important precursor to biologically essential prosthetic groups such as cytochrome C in mammals and chlorophylls in herbs. As a result, a number of organisms are able to synthesize Protoporphyrin IX from basic precursors such as glycine and succinyl CoA, or glutamate [2][3][4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A biological melange and a peculiar led light could be a thaumaturgic approach to defeat manifold types of folliculitis in man and woman

Martini¹

2017

Our Dermatol Online

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A biological melange and a peculiar led light could be a thaumaturgic approach to defeat manifold types of folliculitis in man and woman

Martini¹

2017

Our Dermatol Online

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“…We previously reported that A. nidulans dissimilated nitrate to generate ammonium via NO 2 Ϫ under hypoxic conditions (36). We also reported that hypoxic A. nidulans cells accumulate NO 2 Ϫ , which damages purine residues of DNA (33). A recent report has suggested that A. nidulans NAD(P)H-NO 2 Ϫ reductase (NiR, the product of the niiA gene) plays a potential role in NO detoxification by sequestering NO-generating NO 2 Ϫ (32).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Microorganisms generate NO as an intermediate of denitrification (10). Bacterial nitrification and denitrification processes involve nitrite (NO 2 Ϫ ) as an intermediate, and improper aeration often results in the accumulation of NO 2 Ϫ , which is concentration-dependently dismutated to NO, especially in an acidic environment (43). Thus, NO is ubiquitous in the microbial milieu, and exposure to NO 2 Ϫ and NO should induce microbial mechanisms to survive RNS toxicity.…”

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“…Another bacterial flavorubredoxin-type Nor is NorVW, which contains a di-iron catalytic center and reduces and detoxifies NO (7). The primary function of cytochrome c NO 2 Ϫ reductases (NiRs) is the unambiguously dissimilatory reduction of NO 2 Ϫ . Nevertheless, reports indicate that the Escherichia coli isozyme reduces NO to less-harmful ammonium both in vitro (35) and in vivo (28) and facilitates RNS tolerance.…”

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Heme-Biosynthetic Porphobilinogen Deaminase Protects Aspergillus nidulans from Nitrosative Stress

Zhou

Narukami

Nameki

et al. 2012

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Microorganisms have developed mechanisms to combat reactive nitrogen species (RNS); however, only a few of the fungal genes involved have been characterized. Here we screened RNS-resistant Aspergillus nidulans strains from fungal transformants obtained by introducing a genomic DNA library constructed in a multicopy vector. We found that the AN0121.3 gene (hemC) encodes a protein similar to the heme biosynthesis enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D) and facilitates RNS-tolerant fungal growth. The overproduction of PBG-D in A. nidulans promoted RNS tolerance, whereas PBG-D repression caused growth that was hypersensitive to RNS. PBG-D levels were comparable to those of cellular protoheme synthesis as well as flavohemoglobin (FHb; encoded by fhbA and fhbB) and nitrite reductase (NiR; encoded by niiA) activities. Both FHb and NiR are hemoproteins that consume nitric oxide and nitrite, respectively, and we found that they are required for maximal growth in the presence of RNS. The transcription of hemC was upregulated by RNS. These results demonstrated that PBG-D is a novel NO-tolerant protein that modulates the reduction of environmental NO and nitrite levels by FHb and NiR. N itric oxide (NO) is the best-characterized of the reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which react to and damage DNA, lipids, and enzymes, as do reactive oxygen species (31, 39). Both enzymatic and chemical reactions can generate NO under physiological conditions. Mammalian NO synthase oxidizes arginine to produce NO, which transduces signals for neuronal communication, inflammation, and smooth-muscle relaxation (24). Macrophages produce NO by inducible NO synthase to fight infective microorganisms and parasites (5). Microorganisms generate NO as an intermediate of denitrification (10). Bacterial nitrification and denitrification processes involve nitrite (NO 2 Ϫ ) as an intermediate, and improper aeration often results in the accumulation of NO 2 Ϫ , which is concentration-dependently dismutated to NO, especially in an acidic environment (43). Thus, NO is ubiquitous in the microbial milieu, and exposure to NO 2 Ϫ and NO should induce microbial mechanisms to survive RNS toxicity.Microorganisms have developed constitutive and inducible strategies for combating RNS. Flavohemoglobin (FHb) is the best known enzyme that is involved in the RNS response, and it is widespread in bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi (29). It comprises protoheme-containing hemoglobin-like and flavincontaining ferredoxin-NAD(P)H reductase-like domains that are located in the amino-and carboxy-terminal regions, respectively (16). Flavohemoglobin functions as a nitric oxide dioxygenase (NOD), converts oxygen and NO to less-toxic nitrate, and facilitates NO tolerance (9). Besides FHb, bacteria and fungi produce cytochrome b-and cytochrome P450-type NO reductases (Nor), which reduce NO to nitrous oxide and consequently minimize NO toxicity (34, 42). Another bacterial flavorubredoxin-type Nor is NorVW, which contains a di-iron catalytic center and reduces and detoxifies NO (...

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“…4 Both haemin (the oxidized ferric form of heme [haem], also called hematin [haematin]) and chlorophyll are members of a family of vivid compounds, the modified tetrapyrroles or porphyrins, which Sir Alan Battersby dubbed the "pigments of life" 5,6 and which Nature uses in numerous roles in the biosphere among the broad gamut of its varied life forms. 7 Porphura, the origin of the word porphyrin, and all its related variations, comes from ó o (porphuros) the Greek for purple.…”

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Mbbs

2006

Hepatology

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Biosynthesis of the pigments of life: formation of the macrocycle

Cited by 222 publications

References 24 publications

A biological melange and a peculiar led light could be a thaumaturgic approach to defeat manifold types of folliculitis in man and woman

A biological melange and a peculiar led light could be a thaumaturgic approach to defeat manifold types of folliculitis in man and woman

Heme-Biosynthetic Porphobilinogen Deaminase Protects Aspergillus nidulans from Nitrosative Stress

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