Metabolic precursors in astrophysical ice analogs: implications for meteorites and comets

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (59) ◽  
pp. 11787-11790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen E. Smith ◽  
Perry A. Gerakines ◽  
Michael P. Callahan

We report the synthesis of nicotinic and quinolinic acid, molecules involved in the NAD biosynthetic pathway, in astrophysical ice analogs.

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 1178-1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Veen ◽  
C. Lang

Micro-organisms have recently received broad attention as sources of novel lipids. An increased understanding of the effects of fats and oils and their composition on the metabolism and on health has shifted the focus towards the use of lipids for disease treatment and prevention and for the promotion of good health. A large range of lipidic products produced by yeast is known today. Ergosterol and its metabolic precursors are major lipidic components of industrial and commercial interest. Having in mind the aim to increase the productivity of ergosterol and its precursor metabolites, both the knowledge of regulatory mechanisms of the biosynthetic pathway and its interactions with other lipid pathways like those of sphingolipids, phospholipids and fatty acids are crucial.


2002 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine L. R. Merry ◽  
John T. Gallagher

Heparan sulphate (HS) is an essential co-receptor for a number of growth factors, morphogens and adhesion proteins. The biosynthetic modifications involved in the generation of a mature HS chain may determine the strength and outcome of HS–ligand interactions. These modifications are catalysed by a complex family of enzymes, some of which occur as multiple gene products. Various mutant mice have now been generated, which lack the function of isolated components of the HS biosynthetic pathway. In this discussion, we outline the key findings of these studies, and use them to put into context our own work concerning the structure of the HS generated by the Hs2st-/- mice.


Author(s):  
Kamila B. Muchowska ◽  
Sreejith Jayasree VARMA ◽  
Joseph Moran

How core biological metabolism initiated and why it uses the intermediates, reactions and pathways that it does remains unclear. Life builds its molecules from CO<sub>2 </sub>and breaks them down to CO<sub>2 </sub>again through the intermediacy of just five metabolites that act as the hubs of biochemistry. Here, we describe a purely chemical reaction network promoted by Fe<sup>2+ </sup>in which aqueous pyruvate and glyoxylate, two products of abiotic CO<sub>2 </sub>reduction, build up nine of the eleven TCA cycle intermediates, including all five universal metabolic precursors. The intermediates simultaneously break down to CO<sub>2 </sub>in a life-like regime resembling biological anabolism and catabolism. Introduction of hydroxylamine and Fe<sup>0 </sup>produces four biological amino acids. The network significantly overlaps the TCA/rTCA and glyoxylate cycles and may represent a prebiotic precursor to these core metabolic pathways.


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