Mechanistic evaluation of a nucleoside tetraphosphate with a thymidylyltransferase

Biochemistry. 2015 Mar 3;54(8):1703-7. doi: 10.1021/bi501438p. Epub 2015 Feb 16.

Abstract

Pyrimidine polyphosphates were first detected in cells 5 decades ago; however, their biological significance remains only partially resolved. Such nucleoside polyphosphates are believed to be produced nonspecifically by promiscuous enzymes. Herein, synthetically prepared deoxythymidine 5'-tetraphosphate (p4dT) was evaluated with a thymidylyltransferase, Cps2L. We have identified p4dT as a substrate for Cps2L and evaluated the reaction pathway by analysis of products using high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry, and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Product analysis confirmed production of dTDP-Glc and triphosphate (P3) and showed no trace of dTTP-Glc and PPi, which could arise from alternative pathways for the reaction mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Nucleotidyltransferases / chemistry*
  • Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism
  • Poly T / chemistry*
  • Poly T / metabolism
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / enzymology*
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Poly T
  • Nucleotidyltransferases
  • glucose-1-phosphate thymidylyltransferase