title: Growth-dependent regulation of mammalian pyrimidine biosynthesis by the protein kinase A and MAPK signaling cascades.
abstract: The carbamoyl phosphate synthetase domain of the multifunctional protein CAD catalyzes the initial, rate-limiting step in mammalian de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. In addition to allosteric regulation by the inhibitor UTP and the activator PRPP, the carbamoyl phosphate synthetase activity is controlled by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)- and protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated phosphorylation. MAPK phosphorylation, both in vivo and in vitro, increases sensitivity to PRPP and decreases sensitivity to the inhibitor UTP, whereas PKA phosphorylation reduces the response to both allosteric effectors. To elucidate the factors responsible for growth state-dependent regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis, the activity of the de novo pyrimidine pathway, the MAPK and PKA activities, the phosphorylation state, and the allosteric regulation of CAD were measured as a function of growth state. As cells entered the exponential growth phase, there was an 8-fold increase in pyrimidine biosynthesis that was accompanied by a 40-fold increase in MAPK activity and a 4-fold increase in CAD threonine phosphorylation. PRPP activation increased to 21-fold, and UTP became a modest activator. These changes were reversed when the cultures approach confluence and growth ceases. Moreover, CAD phosphoserine, a measure of PKA phosphorylation, increased 2-fold in confluent cells. These results are consistent with the activation of CAD by MAPK during periods of rapid growth and its down-regulation in confluent cells associated with decreased MAPK phosphorylation and a concomitant increase in PKA phosphorylation. A scheme is proposed that could account for growth-dependent regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis based on the sequential action of MAPK and PKA on the carbamoyl phosphate synthetase activity of CAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Frederic D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Sigoillot
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Hedeel I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Guy
mesh_terms: D000494:Allosteric Regulation; D000818:Animals; D002222:Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthase (Ammonia) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney; D007700:Kinetics; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010754:Phosphoribosyl Pyrophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014544:Uridine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011743:Pyrimidines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010754:Phosphoribosyl Pyrophosphate; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D002222:Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthase (Ammonia); D014544:Uridine Triphosphate