title: Cloning of a cDNA encoding adenylosuccinate lyase by functional complementation in Escherichia coli.
abstract: Adenylosuccinate lyase was cloned by functional complementation of an Escherichia coli purB mutant using an avian liver cDNA expression library. The derived amino acid sequence is homologous to the bacterial purB-encoded adenylosuccinate lyase which catalyzes the same two steps in purine biosynthesis as the enzyme from animals. Avian adenylosuccinate lyase also shows regions of extensive sequence similarity to the urea cycle enzyme, argininosuccinate lyase. This homology suggests a similar mechanism for catalysis. Homology of adenylosuccinate and argininosuccinate lyases is intriguing because chickens do not utilize the urea cycle in nitrogen excretion. This is the first report of the cloning of a eukaryotic cDNA encoding adenylosuccinate lyase, and it affords a route to isolate the corresponding human gene which has been suggested to be defective in autistic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aimi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Badylak
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Z D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zalkin
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000264:Adenylosuccinate Lyase / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008190:Lyases / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010957:Plasmids; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D008190:Lyases; D000264:Adenylosuccinate Lyase