Skip to main content
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1969 Dec;100(3):1378–1384. doi: 10.1128/jb.100.3.1378-1384.1969

Pyrimidine Synthesis in Neurospora crassa: Regulation of Enzyme Activities

Dina F Caroline a,1, Rowland H Davis a
PMCID: PMC250345  PMID: 5361219

Abstract

The regulation of several enzymes involved in pyrimidine biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa has been studied. Elevation of ATCase (l-aspartate carbamoyltransferase) activity is found in all pyrimidine-requiring mutants when they are starved for uridine. DHOase (dihydroorotase) is an unstable enzyme, and it is impossible to conclude what type of regulation, if any, controls this enzyme. DHOdehase (dihydroorotate dehydrogenase) activity shows a marked elevation in uridine-starved pyr-2 cultures, a mutant blocked late in the pathway. Several mutants blocked early in the pathway show much smaller increases in DHOdehase activity and possible explanations for this are discussed. Differences in the modes of regulation of the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathways in various organisms are compared.

Full text

PDF
1378

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BECKWITH J. R., PARDEE A. B., AUSTRIAN R., JACOB F. Coordination of the synthesis of the enzymes in the pyrimidine pathway of E. coli. J Mol Biol. 1962 Dec;5:618–634. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(62)80090-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Buttin G. Les systemes enzymatiques inductibles du metabolisme des oses chez Escherichia coli. Adv Enzymol Relat Areas Mol Biol. 1968;30:81–137. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Caroline D. F. Pyrimidine synthesis in Neurospora crassa: gene-enzyme relationships. J Bacteriol. 1969 Dec;100(3):1371–1377. doi: 10.1128/jb.100.3.1371-1377.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cline A. L., Bock R. M. Translational control of gene expression. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1966;31:321–333. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1966.031.01.042. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cánovas J. L., Ornston L. N., Stanier R. Y. Evolutionary significance of metabolic control systems. The beta-ketoadipate pathway provides a case history in bacteria. Science. 1967 Jun 30;156(3783):1695–1699. doi: 10.1126/science.156.3783.1695. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DAVIS R. H., WOODWARD V. W. The relationship between gene suppression and aspartate transcarbamylase activity in pyr-3 mutants of Neurospora. Genetics. 1962 Aug;47:1075–1083. doi: 10.1093/genetics/47.8.1075. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. DONACHIE W. D. THE REGULATION OF PYRIMIDINE BIOSYNTHESIS IN NEUROSPORA CRASSA. I. END-PRODUCT INHIBITION AND REPRESSION OF ASPARTATE CARBAMOYLTRANSFERASE. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1964 Feb 10;82:284–292. doi: 10.1016/0304-4165(64)90299-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Davis R. H. Carbamyl phosphate synthesis in Neurospora crassa. II. Genetics, metabolic position, and regulation of arginine-specific carbamyl phosphokinase. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1965 Aug 24;107(1):54–68. doi: 10.1016/0304-4165(65)90388-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gross S. R. The regulation of synthesis of leucine biosynthetic enzymes in Neurospora. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1965 Dec;54(6):1538–1546. doi: 10.1073/pnas.54.6.1538. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HOROWITZ N. H., NETZENBERG R. L. BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF GENETICS. Annu Rev Biochem. 1965;34:527–564. doi: 10.1146/annurev.bi.34.070165.002523. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hayward W. S., Belser W. L. Regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis in Serratia marcescens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1965 Jun;53(6):1483–1489. doi: 10.1073/pnas.53.6.1483. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Isaac J. H., Holloway B. W. Control of pyrimidine biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Bacteriol. 1968 Nov;96(5):1732–1741. doi: 10.1128/jb.96.5.1732-1741.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. LACROUTE F., SLONIMSKI P. P. ETUDE PHYSIOLOGIQUE DES MUTANTS R'ESISTANT AU 5-FLUOROURACILE CHEZ LA LEVURE. C R Hebd Seances Acad Sci. 1964 Feb 17;258:2172–2174. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lacroute F. Regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Bacteriol. 1968 Mar;95(3):824–832. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.3.824-832.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. PALLERONI N. J., STANIER R. Y. REGULATORY MECHANISMS GOVERNING SYNTHESIS OF THE ENZYMES FOR TRYPTOPHAN OXIDATION BY PSEUDOMONAS FLUORESCENS. J Gen Microbiol. 1964 May;35:319–334. doi: 10.1099/00221287-35-2-319. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Pinsky L., Krooth R. S. Studies on the control of pyrimidine biosynthesis in human diploid cell strains, I. Effect of 6-azauridine on cellular phenotype. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1967 Apr;57(4):925–932. doi: 10.1073/pnas.57.4.925. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Pinsky L., Krooth R. S. Studies on the control of pyrimidine biosynthesis in human diploid cell strains. II. Effects of 5-azaorotic acid, barbituric acid, and pyrimidine precursors on cellular phenotype. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1967 May;57(5):1267–1274. doi: 10.1073/pnas.57.5.1267. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. STADTMAN E. R. Symptosium on multiple forms of enzymes and control mechanisms. II. Enzyme multiplicity and function in the regulation of divergent metabolic pathways. Bacteriol Rev. 1963 Jun;27:170–181. doi: 10.1128/br.27.2.170-181.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Schimke R. T. Studies on the roles of synthesis and degradation in the control of enzyme levels in animal tissues. Bull Soc Chim Biol (Paris) 1966;48(10):1009–1030. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Stanier R. Y. Simultaneous Adaptation: A New Technique for the Study of Metabolic Pathways. J Bacteriol. 1947 Sep;54(3):339–348. doi: 10.1128/jb.54.3.339-348.1947. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Umbarger H. E. Intracellular Regulatory Mechanisms: Regulation in multicellular forms may be an elaboration upon the pattern evolved in microorganisms. Science. 1964 Aug 14;145(3633):674–679. doi: 10.1126/science.145.3633.674. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Wuu K., Krooth R. S. Dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase activity of human diploid cell strains. Science. 1968 May 3;160(3827):539–541. doi: 10.1126/science.160.3827.539. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. YATES R. A., PARDEE A. B. Control by uracil of formation of enzymes required for orotate synthesis. J Biol Chem. 1957 Aug;227(2):677–692. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES